Should I Add Water To My Puppys Dry Food
Most people tend to forego adding water to their puppys meals after a few days of feeding it with hard food. However, that is not a good idea.
Unlike adult dogs that can eat dry food with ease, your puppys digestive system is still delicate and cannot handle dry food as efficiently.
So, when feeding your puppy dry dog food, it is recommended that you add water. Below are the main benefits of adding water when feeding your puppy with dry food.
Is Wet Or Dry Food Better For Puppies
For neonatal puppies, dry food soften with water is better than wet food. This is because wet food has a very high moisture content and a lower calorie content, so the puppies feel full before theyre able to consume enough calories to meet their bodies needs.
Because dry food has a higher calorie content than wet food, it is a better choice for puppies during the weaning process. Once the puppies have been weaned and are eating solid food consistently, the choice to feed wet food or dry food is just a matter of preference. As long as the diet you choose is complete and balanced and age-appropriate for your puppy, theres no significant difference in health benefits between wet food and dry food.
Starting A Puppy On Solid Food
The process of weaning a puppy from its mother or from nursing milk is a gradual process that usually happens over the course of three or four weeks. First, you introduce the solid food mushed, and then you reduce the liquid content until it is just the solid food left. It can take a month to start a puppy on solid foods, regardless of the food
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What Foods Are Dangerous For My Puppy
Some foods that people enjoy can be harmful to dogs. Keep your puppy away from avocados, chocolate, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, and raw bread dough made with yeast. Also avoid onions, garlic, and chives milk and large amounts of dairy products such as cheese alcohol coffee and caffeine salty food, such as potato chips and food sweetened with xylitol, such as gum, baked goods, and candy. Xylitol, also used in products such as toothpaste, can cause liver failure and hypoglycemia in dogs.
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Lets Start With Newborns
It is important that newborn puppies ingest colostrum within 24 to 72 hours after birth. As older animals cannot absorb some of the nutrients provided by it. Colostrum is a richer type of milk produced by the mothers mammary glands during the first days after birth. It contains antibodies , growth hormones, and other important substances. If it isnt possible to feed the puppies with natural colostrum, there are puppy colostrum formulas in the market too.
Maternal milk is enough as the sole source of nutrition until 3 to 4 weeks of age. Solid food should be introduced afterwards. Puppies should be gradually transitioned to a complete high-quality puppy diet, ideally, that has passed feeding trials, and no nutritional supplements should be part of the regimen.
Weaning should take place at weeks 7 to 9, and never before 6 weeks of age. As this can result in behavioural problems. We all know how exciting it is to bring a new puppy home. However, you should never accept a puppy younger than 8 weeks of age. As the initial social phase with the litter and mother is crucial for the development of healthy social skills and an overall calmer and more confident character.
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Do All Puppies Have Worms
Intestinal parasites are very common in puppies. Symptoms of intestinal parasites include poor overall condition, chronic soft or bloody stools, loss of appetite, a pot-bellied appearance, a dull, dry haircoat, and weight loss. Some parasites are transmitted from the mother to her offspring either in utero or in the milk and others are carried by fleas or other insects. Some are transmitted through the stool of an infected dog. Very few of these parasites are visible in the stool, so their eggs must be detected by the veterinarian with a microscope.
“Intestinal parasites are very common in puppies.”
A microscopic examination of the feces will reveal the eggs of most of these parasites. Generally this test should be performed at the time of the first vaccinations. However, it may be performed as early as two to three weeks of age if an intestinal parasite problem is suspected. The Companion Animal Parasite council recommends deworming puppies for roundworms and hookworms every two weeks starting at two weeks of age. Other treatment may be needed based on the results of a fecal examination. Your veterinarian should be consulted for specific recommendations for your puppies. You should not administer any over-the-counter deworming compounds without first consulting your veterinary hospital.
| Contributors: Krista Williams, BSc, DVM Ernest Ward, DVM |
When Should My Puppies Receive Vaccinations
Puppies are protected against many canine diseases before and shortly after birth by passive antibody transfer from their mother. Some antibodies cross the placenta and enter the puppies’ circulation. However, the majority of antibodies are provided in the mother’s first milk known as colostrum. These maternal antibodies protect the puppies against the diseases to which the mother is immune during the first few weeks of life. This explains why it is often recommended to booster the mother’s vaccinations within a few months prior to breeding.
Although very protective, maternal antibodies last for only a few weeks after this time, the puppy becomes susceptible to disease. The vaccination program should be started at about six to eight weeks of age. This is the age when many maternal antibodies are beginning to die and the puppy becomes susceptible to infectious disease. Puppies should be vaccinated against canine distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza virus, and rabies. Other vaccines are also available for certain situations, and will be discussed at the time of the first visit for vaccinations.
Maternal antibodies are passed in the mother’s milk only during the first one to three days after delivery. If, for any reason, the puppies do not nurse during this important period of time, their vaccinations should begin earlier than six weeks of age, depending on likely disease exposure. A veterinarian can make specific recommendations for each particular situation.
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How To Bottle Feed Puppies
Whenever possible, puppies should be nursed and raised by their mothers. There are times, however, when bottle feeding puppies becomes necessary . But bottle feeding the wrong thing, the wrong way, the wrong amount or on the wrong schedule can lead to illness or even death. Here is how to bottle feed puppies:
It is usually not necessary to determine exactly how much puppies are eating as long as they gain weight daily and dont act hungry until just before the next feeding is due. Commercially available milk replacers provide puppy feeding charts or guidelines for what a typical puppy might eat over the course of a dayfor example, 2 teaspoons per 4 ounces bodyweight. Follow these closely, as puppies who drink too much at one feeding can develop diarrhea, and if you have any questions or concerns, talk to your veterinarian.
When Can Puppies Eat Dry Food
Feeding Your Puppy: Whats the best dry puppy food? Healthiest puppy food? Best puppy food grain for sensitive stomachs? Our guide.
Feeding Your Puppy: Whats the best dry puppy food? Healthiest puppy food? Best puppy food grain for sensitive stomachs? Our guide.
Theres nothing quite like the early days of puppyhood. Its the start of your journey together a special friendship that lasts a lifetime. At the start, you teach them new tricks, watch their confidence grow and spend countless hours cuddling up to them on the sofa. These moments make the sleepless nights worth it.
In these early stages, youll start to notice your pup developing a tendency to think with their stomach and let their appetite do the talking a trait that stays with most dogs. Watch out for those puppy eyes at dinner time.
What they eat at the beginning has a big say in things like the growth of muscles, teeth and bones. Thats why when it comes to food, its important they have everything they need to support them through their early development. Its our job to make sure we get dinner time spot on.
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How Should I Transition My Dog To Adult Food
Transitioning to a new diet should be done gradually, to prevent digestive upset. A diet transition should take at least seven days, but may need to be longer if your dog is prone to gastrointestinal issues, like diarrhea.
To help your dog get used to the new diet, start by mixing a very small amount of the new diet with their old puppy food. Every day, add a little bit more of the new food and a little bit less of your dogs old food. By mid-week, aim to be feeding a 50:50 mixture of the new and old food. Continue this gradual transition in the following days, with the goal of having your dog fully transitioned to the new adult diet by day seven.
If at any point your dog develops symptoms of an upset stomach such as diarrhea, loss of appetite, flatulence, or bloating, this is a sign that the diet transition may be happening too quickly.
Slowing down your transition can usually resolve midl gastrointestinal issues associated with a diet change. If gastrointestinal symptoms are severe, or if they persist for more than 24-48 hours, contact your veterinarian for further guidance.
Homemade Dog Food Sources
- Meats: chicken, turkey, beef, bison, pork, lamb, venison
- Vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, zucchini, summer squash, spinach, kale, collard greens, chard, thawed frozen peas
- Complex carbohydrates: brown rice, wild rice, quinoa, lentils, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, winter squash
Recommended Serving Amounts
- 2 pounds of food per day for a 100-pound dog
- 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of food per day for a 50-pound dog
- 1/2 to 3/4 pound of food per day for a 25-pound dog
- 5 to 6 1/2 ounces of food per day for a 10-pound dog
This information is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Every dog’s dietary needs are different. Please consult with your veterinarian and use personal judgment when applying this information to your own dog’s diet.
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The Best Puppy Diet For A Healthy Start
Give your puppy a strong start in life with NutriSource puppy diets, formulated for small- and medium-breed puppies as well as large-breed puppies. Healthy foods are the foundation for strong healthy teeth, proper nutrient absorption and solid stools . After all, no one wants a puppy with diarrhea!
Not only does NutriSource offer optimal nutrition in the right-sized bites, NutriSource formulates all foods with its innovative Good 4 Life® system. Good 4 Life has the probiotics and prebiotics that optimize your pups development because they help pups body absorb minerals and other nutrients. With less going to waste, youll have fewer messes to pick up in the backyard.
Ready to pick up a bag of NutriSource? Shop local!
Puppy Food Has Nutrients Growing Dogs Need
Puppy food has a lot of extra nutrients and protein that adult dog food may lack.1 A growing dog thats building muscle and bone needs more nutrients and calories to maintain healthy development. Puppies, especially those of a larger breed, need the right amount of fatty acids, fiber, and protein, along with controlled amounts of calcium so bones grow at the proper rate. They also need certain omega-3 fatty acids for proper development.2 This is why puppies need food formulated for their nutritional needs, rather than adult dog food.
AvoDerm Natural dog food offers two formulas created especially for puppies. The canned Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula has chicken as the first ingredient to help any puppies with food sensitivities to other proteins. Its also made with avocado, which is rich in antioxidants that can help promote a healthy immune system.
If you prefer dry kibble, AvoDerm Natural dog food offers a Puppy Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Formula. This has just the right balance of protein, fat, and nutrients that puppies need. Its also corn- and wheat-free, which is great for puppies with more sensitive stomachs.
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Why Adult Dog Food Is Important
Puppy food is nutrient rich and high in calories to support your puppys growth, development and high energy levels.
Continuing to feed puppy food past the point of maturity could cause him to become overweight, which can lead to other health problems.
Choose a complete and balanced adult dog food formula once your puppy reaches maturity to help him maintain his ideal body condition.
How Do You Get This Mushy Consistency
Well, its a combination of dry dog food and liquid. We suggest letting the liquid soak into the kibble, then, mash it with a spoon to get the ideal consistency our bamboo sporks do just the trick.
The amount of water to dry food ratio changes week-to-week. But weve outlined the exact measurements you need for the 4-week weaning stage. And if thats not enough, weve included our very own Beco feeding guide, for puppies of all shapes and sizes.
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Get The Latest Recipes Right In Your Inbox:
Keep your dog healthy and fit with this easy peasy homemade recipe its cheaper than store-bought and chockfull of fresh veggies!
I never thought I would be one of those dog owners who made homemade human food for their pups. Not in a million years.
But when Butters recently fell sick with an upset stomach, our vet advised us to feed him a bland diet chicken and rice without any kind of seasoning. So thats what we did we poached a chicken, shredded it in a food processor, and mixed in some white rice and fed him this bland diet for 3 days.
Thats when I started to do some research on homemade dog food, and I have been so amazed as to how many different kinds of vegetables dogs can have. And with the help of Balance IT, you can create so many different recipes for your pup!
Now the best part about making homemade dog food just like making anything at home is that you know exactly what is going into the dog bowl, and not any of that questionable gelatinous gunk from the canned food.
But its important to note that dogs have different nutrient requirements than humans for their proportional body size, such as:
Now this recipe here has a balance of 50% protein, 25% veggies and 25% grains, but the ratios can easily be adjusted to suit your pups breed and/or needs.
Offer The Gruel To The Puppies
During the hourlong periods where you separate the puppies from their mother, offer them the gruel in a shallow dish or baking pan. Place the puppies in front of it.
If the puppies do not seem interested, try dipping your finger in it and then touching their mouths so they can taste it. They may get messy in the process of exploring this new food.
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How Much Should I Feed My Dog
How much you feed your dog at each meal depends on many different factors, such as your dogs current weight and body condition score, activity level, the calorie content of the diet, and any other food or treats your dog receives during a typical day. Every brand and variety of dog food has a different nutritional content, so its impossible to make a blanket recommendation without knowing the caloric content of a diet.
Most dog food bags have a feeding guide on the back of the bag. This can be a helpful starting point, but isnt always very detailed. For a more accurate assessment, ask your veterinarian to calculate your dogs daily calorie requirements. You can then use this number to determine how much to feed, based on the calorie content of your dogs food.
Dont forget to include any treats, supplements, or table scraps in your dogs daily allotment as well these can be a significant source of extra calories! Remember that your adult dog is no longer growing and may have a slower metabolism after being spayed or neutered, so he may need fewer calories per day than he did previously.
Chart Your Puppys Weight And Growth
- There are growth-and-weight charts available in print and online. Weigh the puppy weekly and record his progress, comparing him to breed-appropriate weight charts. Adjust his food intake to achieve an average rate of growth.
- Weighing a dog, even a squirming puppy, is easy. Just weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the puppy. Subtract the differencethats the puppys weight. Voila!
- Dont worry about an ounce or two either way no two dogs, even within breeds, are built exactly alike.
- A young dog carrying too much weight has an increased risk of orthopedic problems, due to stress on immature joints. Obesity can also lead to diabetes, diseases of the heart and other organs, and general lethargy.
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Since When Can Puppies Eat
As we state in the introduction, the first food a puppy will eat is their mother’s milk. The very first feeding will be of a particular type of milk known as colostrum. Colostrum is a nutrient rich type of milk which also has antibodies and other immune boosting properties. It is designed to help the newborn puppies have a strong start to life. Once the colostrum is finished, he regular milk will begin.
The amount of milk a puppy receives during nursing will be controlled by the mother. The puppies themselves known instinctively how much they need to be full. They will not need to drink water as their receive their hydration through the milk itself. A puppy will need to breastfeed for 3 to 4 weeks minimum.
It is best for a dog to remain with their mother for as long as possible. Whether due to illness, death or abandonment, mothers and puppies can be separated. If this is the case and you find yourself looking after a puppy which is unable to eat on their own, you will need an alternative. There are different brands of specialized puppy milk formula which is used to substitute for their mother’s natural milk. This special puppy formula will have the ingredients which can best simulate the nutrients they would be receiving from their mother.