A balanced diet for your puppy includes protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. However, there are many other aspects to consider when feeding a pup. Preparing raw food is ideal for our pets, but it does take time to prepare. If you cannot do that at home, the next best option is preparing special dog foods with high nutritional value for your puppy.
As a pet owner, it’s your responsibility to provide proper nutrition to support your puppy’s better health and growth. Dogs have different needs in terms of food to maintain adequate growth, body composition and strong immunity. Therefore, you need to make sure to meet the essential nutritional requirements of your puppy. So, without further ado, let’s explore the right food choice for your puppy.
- Basic Nutritional Requirements of A Puppy
Puppies need different nutrients to help them grow, develop, gain energy, and stay healthy. The nutritional requirement of puppy food depends on their age group, size and individual metabolic status. Therefore, it is necessary for pet owners to always choose the best quality dog food with an appropriate balance of nutrients for their puppies. Some standard components of a healthy diet for puppies include:
1. Fats
Puppies require some fat to help them grow and develop, but too much fat can lead to obesity and other health problems. Choose a high-quality dog food for your puppy that contains 30 percent fat or less. Puppies are crazy active, and fat accounts for a significant portion of their energy requirements,
2. Fibre
Fibre is essential for the digestive system in puppies. It helps with stool formation, reducing odour, creating softer stools and promoting better nutrient absorption. So first, select a puppy dog food that contains 10 percent fibre or more. Then, if your puppy has trouble with its digestive system, you can add more fibre to its diet.
3. Protein
Protein is essential for building muscle, maintaining tissue growth and repair, and building antibodies to fight infection. Keep protein at around 22 percent in puppy foods since puppies need slightly more than adult dogs (18 – 22 %). You can choose a food with no grain fillers containing fruits, vegetables, meat and fish.
4. Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are essential for supplying energy to your puppy. They also help in the absorption of specific essential vitamins and minerals, as well as boosting the immune system. Choose puppy food with carbohydrates between 12 to 20 percent.
5. Vitamins & Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are essential for your puppy’s growth and the production of enzymes needed to fuel proper body functions such as respiration, digestion, circulation and reproduction. Puppy food is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals if they include ingredients like fruits, vegetables, meat or fish.
6. Water
Puppies constantly eating and drinking need clean water to prevent dehydration, which can be fatal if not caught in time. Your puppy needs to drink plenty of water to meet its fluid needs, and if there is not enough water in its food, then you need to add water where necessary. Consider choosing a wet puppy food that contains 70 percent water or more.
Other nutrients puppies need include:
- Arachidonic acid and omega-3 fatty acids in fish oils.
- Alpha-linolenic acid in flaxseed oil. Choline in egg yolks.
In addition, puppies have higher energy needs than adult dogs, who can derive energy from their fat deposits. Therefore, they need a well-balanced diet to look after their physical growth and energy requirements.
- Finding an Ideal Puppy Food
When choosing puppy food, consider reading the labels carefully to ensure you get what you are paying for. It pays to spend a little more on a portion of high-quality food that can provide the nutritional values your puppy needs in the long run. The size of a meal should be in proportion to your pup’s age and weight. Choose food with no fillers, like corn or wheat and avoid artificial additives such as sugar or salt. Here are a few points to consider while finding a balanced puppy food:
- Right Food for the Right Age
The first factor to consider when looking for an ideal puppy food is the age of the dog since these have different nutritional requirements at different stages of life. Puppies need particular nutrients at various stages of development, especially at eight weeks, three months and six months. While choosing a food, ensure it contains the proper nutrients in proportion to their age and weight.
- High-Quality Dog Food Protein and Fat
Protein and calories are the two primary factors affecting the size of your puppy. Protein is essential for the growth, repair, and development of body tissues such as muscles and bones. High-protein puppy foods can significantly help with rapid body growth if your puppy is increasing and needs more calorie intake. Some examples of high-quality protein sources are meat, fish or eggs.
- Good Quality Puppy Food Fiber
Puppies need fibre to help them move their bowels, keep their blood sugar regular, and boost their immune system. So choose a high-quality puppy food that contains 10 percent fibre or more, but ensure that it does not have any other filler.
- No Artificial Preservatives
Most dogs have sensitive digestive systems and cannot tolerate foods with artificial chemicals such as synthetic preservatives or colouring agents. These unhealthy substances can lead to gastrointestinal inflammation, allergies, obesity and other diseases. Therefore, you need to buy dog food with no artificial preservatives or unnecessary ingredients such as preservatives or synthetic colours in caramelized or artificial flavours.
- Complete and Balanced Dog Food
Choose a high-quality puppy food that contains all essential nutrients and has no fillers, such as corn or wheat, because these can make your pup heavy, which will slow down their growth rate. The rule of thumb is that the more you pay for food, the higher quality it should be. It might seem like more money to spend at first, but it is justified if you want your puppy to be healthy and energetic with optimal nutrition.
Puppies can be sensitive to specific ingredients, so they should choose safe food for their young, growing bodies. Look for puppy food with an ideal balance of vitamins and minerals, and ensure there are no artificial preservatives or unnecessary additives such as sugar or salt. Your puppy will become healthy if you keep offering it all the right ingredients in the right proportions and suitable nutrients to feed your growing dog.
- Benefits of a Healthy Diet on Puppies
Puppies are cute and lovable creatures but also vulnerable to several diseases and health conditions as they grow. If you do not provide them with the proper nutrition in their diets, they can develop all types of chronic health issues such as allergies, obesity, diabetes and cancer. A few other benefits of a controlled and healthy diet for puppies include:
- Prevents Obesity & Promotes Body Growth
Obesity is a common concern for owners, especially those committed to raising their dogs with the best diet. Research has shown that obesity can alter the structure of the skin and organs, resulting in reduced function and increased risk of severe diseases.
- Reduces Risk of Allergies
Puppies are more sensitive to allergens than adults, increasing the risk of developing allergic diseases such as skin rashes and food poisoning. This is why it is essential to prepare a diet that does not contain foreign substances like grain and wheat.
- Carries Out Multiple Functions
Puppies need a regular diet that contains all essential nutrients to carry out multiple functions of their bodies. The most crucial role of the diet is to provide everything your puppy needs for the correct development, growth and maintenance of organs such as the heart, liver, brain, kidney and muscles.
- Prevents Diabetes and Skin Allergies
Numerous studies have suggested that a well-balanced diet can help prevent these diseases because they contain all essential nutrients required to perform regular functions such as insulin, skin production and cell regeneration.
- Provides Essential Nutrients like Vitamin A, C and E
Puppies need a nutritious diet to provide them with plenty of antioxidants. Antioxidants are enzymes that remove harmful elements from the body, such as free radicals, which cause numerous debilitating conditions. Examples of antioxidants include vitamins A, C and E, which support the immune system and antioxidant enzymes produced by the body itself.
The immune system is the body’s primary defence against infections and other harmful substances. It allows your puppy to combat different diseases, as they grow older. Many dog owners have reported that their dogs are more comfortable and less prone to diseases when they eat a balanced diet.
Now that you know what to do, what are you waiting for? Make the necessary changes to your dog’s diet so that he becomes fit, healthy and super active. A good diet is a must if you want your dog to grow big and strong. Most of the food items are readily available. Place the order today and incorporate the changes in your dog’s diet ASAP.
