One of the most important ways to keep a puppy happy and health is provide him with proper nutrition. Puppies require different feeding schedules and nutrients than older dogs. They also often have very sensitive systems that need to be catered to.
Things You'll Need
- Puppy food
- Scale
- Bowl
Instructions
Choose a food that fulfills the puppy's nutritional needs. It is always a good idea to ask your veterinarian for a list of food brands he or she recommends. Use that list to compare each brand for yourself. Make sure the first few ingredients are good sources of animal protein, such as chicken, turkey or beef.
Be aware that many low-cost commercial foods are filled with by-products and chemicals. These may save you money in the short term, but will put your puppy's health at risk and could cause you expensive medical bills down the road.
Find out what food the breeder/pet store was feeding the puppy prior to him coming home with you. It is never a good idea to switch foods quickly. This is true for both puppies and older dogs. Instead, keep your puppy on the same food and feeding schedule as he was on previously. Give him a week to get adjusted to all of the other changes in his life and then start slowly switching him over to your food of choice.
Gradually added more of your food and less of the previous food, spreading the switch over a one- to two-week period. For example, on days one and two of the switch, include 75% of the old food and 25% of the new food; on days three and four, prepare a 50/50 mix; on days five and six, prepare 25% old food and 75% new food. By day seven, the puppy can eat new food exclusively.
If your puppy seems to have digestive distress, he might need more time to become accustomed to the new food.
Plan a consistent feeding schedule. During the first few months it is important for puppies to be fed at least three times per day. Determine a schedule that both you and puppy can stick to, as consistency in feeding helps prevent intestinal upset. Consider not feeding your puppy right before bedtime to limit the number of nighttime potty trips you have to make.
Weigh your puppy weekly to determine the amount to feed. Puppies gain weight quickly during the first few months, it is important to keep track on weight gain to determine the proper feeding amount. Almost all foods will have a table with a suggested food amount per weight. If you have any questions, or think your puppy is either gaining too fast or too slow, contact your veterinarian for advice.
Pick healthy, age-appropriate treats. Although it is tempting to give your puppy lots of between-meal treats, it is best to keep these limited to special occasions. Most veterinarians recommend that treats make up no more than 10 percent of your puppy's daily caloric intake.