Small dogs have different nutritional needs than other large dogs. A small puppy needs proper nutrition to be full of life, both mentally and physically. If you have a growing dog, you need to know that he needs in his diet more proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals that an adult dog. There are many ways to create a proper diet for your dog, but in general you must feed your dog the same food because variety can cause digestion problems and to throw away any uneaten food after 20 minutes.
To find out what is the best puppy diet you get some help from the breeder. A responsible breeder will give you advice regarding your puppy’s diet – check here. Puppies grow fast and you need to make sure that you start him off right by giving him the best nutrition.
What is the best type of puppy food?
The best nutrition you can provide to your puppy is the dog food, which is designed specifically for the nutritional needs of dogs. A small puppy needs a balanced nutrition because excesses can be in the detrimental of your dog. You should choose a quality dog formula suited for small dogs, according also to his age. When the puppy reaches adulthood, a proper diet should be maintained in order to meet the adult dog’s requirements.
Dog food is divided in three types: moist, semi-moist and dry-kibble. The dry type remains the best option because it contains more meat proteins, is more practical, cost-effective, better for keeping the teeth clean, easier to digest. Moist puppy food is more expensive and it contains fewer nutrients.
How often a puppy should be fed?
A puppy should be fed three or four times a day until he reaches six months old. After this age, you can reduce his meals to twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. Meals should be given at the same time every day. This regime must be kept for the rest of his life.
It may be times when your puppy doesn’t have an appetite. You shouldn’t be worry about that, as long as the puppy has the same energy level and doesn’t skip more than one meal.
Always give your puppy food in the same bowl and in the same place to teach him good eating habits.
How much a puppy should be fed?
The amount of food a puppy needs depend on the breed, his nutritional needs, growth, development, energy level. You can also read the puppy food packaging to see the recommended amount of food for puppies. You must be careful not to over-feed your puppy, so that he does not become overweight. Overfeeding can cause excess weight gain, obesity in adulthood and other health problems.
When you change your puppy’s diet, the transition is very important and must be done gradually. Switching to a new food can cause digestive upset. If you want to change its diet, do it gradually over a period of a few days to a week.