Healthy Dog Food for Puppies

Puppies have very special nutritional, caloric and energy needs that differ greatly from those of an adult dog. Large breed puppies in particular need a specific ratio of nutrients. Because of their unique needs, you should only feed puppies a food formulated for them; they should not eat adult dog food.

  1. Special Blends

    • Nearly every dog food manufacturer creates a special blend for puppies. These blends typically have more protein than adult dog food and are supplemented with the vitamins and minerals a growing puppy needs. Puppies tend to be more active than adult dogs and have higher calorie requirements. Feed large-breed puppies such as golden retrievers, German shepherds and Alaskan malamutes a large-breed puppy food. Regular puppy food can cause these breeds to grow too quickly, which will damage their ligaments and bones.

    Frequency

    • Puppies need to eat frequently. Since they're so active, many breeds are prone to low blood sugar. For the first six months of his life, your puppy needs to eat at least four times a day. Feed him in the morning upon rising, at lunch, mid-afternoon and at dinner time.

    Amounts

    • Feed your puppy at the same times every day. Start with the recommended amount of food on the bag for your puppy's size. Give her 15 minutes to eat her food. Whatever she doesn't finish, take away. If she eats it all quickly, give her more food, but do not allow her to eat however much food she wants within the 15 minutes. Do not free feed your puppy. Free feeding can cause pickiness, weight problems and health issues. Always make sure your puppy has clean, fresh water.

    Scheduling

    • Scheduling your puppy's meals will make house-training much easier. By feeding your puppy at the same time every day he will eliminate at about the same time every day. Being able to predict when your puppy needs to go outside will help prevent accidents in the house.

    Supplements

    • If you feed your puppy a nutritionally complete, name-brand puppy food, she shouldn't need nutritional supplements. However, you can provide treats for her enjoyment and for training purposes. Edible bones, such as Nylabones, will help keep her occupied and teach her what she may and may not chew.