How to Feed Puppies
Puppies, just like human babies, need proper nutrition for normal healthy growth and development. Making the right choices about your new puppy's nutrition will help you to get him off to a good start.
1.Learn about a puppy’s nutritional needs. Puppies have a lot of growing to do, so their bodies require more calcium, protein, and calories than an adult dog. Therefore, it is essential to feed your puppy food that is meant for puppies and identified on the label as food for "Growth".
2.Choose a brand of dog food that uses high-quality ingredients. The first ingredients on the list should be a meat protein like “chicken” or “beef’ and not a grain like “corn” or “wheat.” The caloric content of the food is often found on the manufacturer’s website and not on the bag. There will be information on the protein, fat and fiber in the nutrient analysis section. Most puppies are fed a diet in the mid 20 to 30% protein range.
3.Use a body condition scoring system (BCS). A BCS will help you determine whether your puppy or adult dog is at a healthy weight.A dog that is neither under nor overweight will have ribs that are not visible, but easily palpated with the flat of your hand. It will also have a nice waist just in front of the hips and a flank tuck when viewed from the side.