Puppy food is a nutritional formula specially planned for dogs’ that haven’t yet hit adulthood. Puppies need twice as many calories per pound of body weight as adult dogs of the same breed. It would help if you started feeding puppies with scientifically formulated and nutritious puppy food at about four weeks of age. It is also when just their mother’s milk starts becoming insufficient.
Having a great nutritional plan for your pet is essential. Apart from a good diet, comprehensive pet health insurance will help you face any medical uncertainties with great confidence. Find suitable insurance for pets online. Consult your vet and discuss your pet’s mealtime and plans, portion size, things to feed and not to feed, etc. Plus, you may get your pet dog’s teeth cleaned and fixed as well, with dental insurance for pets. Your insurer would reimburse vet visiting charges, so there is no need to frown. These two factors combined will help your pup live a longer life.
Certain breeds may need to consume a higher amount of calories, which might lead to overeating, so it is best to monitor your pet’s weight gain and ask a veterinarian to help you determine if the growth rate is correct or if your puppy is growing too fast.
Remember, the adult size of a dog is determined by genes, not by its growth rate. Therefore, do not overfeed puppies to speed up their growth rate. The puppy breeds vary significantly in size, growth rate, and tendency to overeating.
There are too many variables to make the right decision regarding the nutrition and calorie intake of puppies on your own. We strongly recommend that you consult a veterinarian for a proper diet plan for your pet.
Every dog is unique, so no dog food is suitable for all dogs. Feeding quality brand foods is a safe choice for all dogs, as is ensuring you feed your puppy food that contains 25-30% protein. Lots of brands have many protein options and diet types and several are high-quality brands that are excellent choices. Choose an exceptionally balanced adult dog food to provide the calories and nutritional requirements necessary for health, happiness, and well-being.
At this stage of the dog’s life, it’s also essential to ensure the use of portion control, regardless of whether you use a programmed or freely chosen to feed method. Most pet parents subscribe to one of these two feeding strategies:
- Timely feeding: Timely feeding includes providing dog food within a specified period. For example, you can put food on a dog’s plate for 30 minutes and let them know it’s ready for them. After that, whatever food is not consumed is withdrawn.
- Periodic feeding: Periodic feeding includes feeding a specified amount of food twice a day. Keep in mind that if very regular or free feeding is allowed, many dogs will overeat which doesn’t favor their health.
Middle-aged dogs tend to have a higher risk of weight gain than puppies. Therefore, choosing balanced and nutritious foods for adult dogs and implementing responsible feeding programs can reduce the adverse health effects of malnutrition or overeating.
It is always a great idea to buy pet health insurance to be on the safer side when it comes to your dog’s health and safety. Insurance for pets online is available through many different providers, just check for the product features and inclusions as well as the exclusions, add-ons and pricing. You can even have dental insurance for pets that assists in many ways, for example, if they damage their teeth while following some rough food habits. Choose something affordable and pay the premiums consistently.
