What Are Your Puppy’s Core Nutritional Needs?
When puppies are first weaned from their mothers, they are going to need special diets in order to help them grow. But you can’t feed them regular dog food that you find at the store. You have to look into good quality puppy food that is going to provide them with all of the nutrition that they need during the growing process. Here’s what you need to know about looking for quality puppy food that meets all of their nutritional needs.
When to Start Feeding Puppy Food
Puppy food is needed as soon as they’ve stopped weaning. High-quality food, like Acana Dog Food, is necessary to help them grow and develop properly. Puppy food should be fed until they’ve fully matured, which is usually around their first birthday. For large breed dogs, this could be around 18 months old. Puppy food has higher vitamin and mineral content than regular dog food so that they can build strong bones and have healthy immune systems.
Protein Content
Because puppies are growing so quickly during this stage in their lives, they’re going to need more protein and amino acids. Regular dog food does contain protein, but it may not be at levels that growing puppies need to develop properly.
Fat Content
As puppies are growing and are able to move around, they’re going to need a lot of fat to give them more energy. That’s why puppy food tends to have a higher fat content than regular dog food. Even when they’re sleeping, their bodies are using the fat to continue growing and developing. They use fatty acids for rapid growth and development, as well as ensuring that fat-soluble vitamins are being absorbed into the body.
Calcium Content
In order for growing puppies to have strong bones, they’re going to need a lot of calcium. They’re also going to need some calcium to grow their adult teeth now that they’re losing their puppy ones. Calcium requirements are even higher for large and giant breeds in order to support all of their weight since they grow at an even faster rate. That’s why it’s essential to pick a puppy food that is designed with your dog breed in mind.
Carbohydrates Content
Carbs are an essential energy source for growing puppies. They’re broken down in digestion faster than protein and fat, so they’re the first source of energy that puppies get. Carbohydrates are also a rich source of fiber that can promote good digestive health.
Dha Content
DHA is a simpler term for the omega-3 fatty acids that are digested and promote good brain health. DHA is also good for vision development in puppies, which puppies once had in their mother’s milk. One of the best sources of DHA is fish and fish oil.
It’s very important that you do your research in finding a puppy food that is going to meet your puppy’s needs. A complete and balanced diet is going to promote an ideal body condition, while a diet that is high in fat or is being fed to often can quickly lead to overweight puppies. Speak to a veterinarian if you’re still unsure about what kind of puppy food you should be getting.
