Puppy Nutrition

When trying to find the best diet for your puppy, you should be getting them something that is designed specifically for growing doggies. A good diet from the time you bring them home to the time they stop growing is vital for their future health. They need lots of nutrients to help develop strong bones and joints. While getting their food right is important throughout their whole life, it’s especially important while they're still developing. If you get a dog later in life that was previously malnourished or not properly cared for as a puppy it’s likely they’ll never grow to the size they were meant to and their immune system can be a lot weaker throughout their adult life.

Lifestage offer a range of different puppy specific diets including both dry, wet and different sources of protein. Their chicken flavour is packed with lean, healthy meat to help them grow quickly and strong. Lifestage Grain Free Chicken, Turkey & Salmon Puppy is packed full of protein to help your pooch grow to their full potential. As a grain free diet, it’s ideal for all puppies, including those with sensitive tummies.

NatureDiet Feel Good Puppy Wet Dog Food is another naturally hypoallergenic variety of dog food that won’t trigger any sensitivities in your growing puppy. The last thing you need is for them to vomit back up any of their meals or get diarrhoea and lose the much-needed calories they are taking in. Along with chicken, it contains carrots, potatoes, and parsnips so they have plenty of fibre and carbohydrates too. Dogs need a balanced diet and too much protein can be just as harmful as not enough, so hitting the right balance and feeding a meal with all the vitamins and minerals they need is important.

If you are feeding anything other than a complete puppy diet, your growing bundle of fluff may be lacking in some nutrients. For starters, they require more protein than the usual doggy diet. A puppy’s diet should be between 22 and 32% protein to enable them to grow while having enough energy to run around and play throughout the day. Puppies spend a lot of their time sleeping because growing can be tiring so between small bouts of play and eating they will spend a lot of their time fast asleep working on getting bigger.

Proteins are broken down into amino acids which carry out lots of different tasks within the body. They help to build and repair tissue which is absolutely vital while growing. They help to disperse nutrients around the body along with oxygen and help to keep the immune system nice and robust.

Vitamins and minerals are important for younger dogs, especially calcium. Getting extra calcium into their diet will help in bone development and is even more important in larger breed dogs. While fats are a necessity for all dogs, in puppies it’s important to get enough fats to help with brain growth.

Extra nutrients can be introduced into your pup’s diet through supplements. Every puppy’s needs are different and if you think they need a little boost in one area then you can find ways to supplement their diet.

For playful pups that may need extra joint support, YuMOVE Joint Supplement for Young and Active Dogs can be just the thing they need. YuMOVE’s joint supplement is made specifically for young and active dogs over the age of eight weeks old. It boosts cognitive function and helps to keep young pups active. The joint support supplements come in tablet form and can either be added to food or given as a treat as they are palatable. If you have a breed prone to sore hips when they get older like a labrador or golden retriever then starting them on a joint supplement when they’re young can keep them supple when they get older.

A great multi-vitamin that comes in treat form is YuCARE Mega MultiVits Supplement for Young Dogs. To them, it’s a tasty, chewy treat but it means you get lots of extra vitamins into them. The Mega MultiVits are good for boosting immunity and keeping your growing puppy healthy. They contain Omega 3 fatty acids to help with skin and coat health. They also contain vitamin B for extra energy.

Supplements like salmon oil are a great addition to any dog’s diet, especially young puppies. Lifestage Salmon Oil for Dogs contains Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids that help your puppy have great skin and coat health along with supporting the development of the eyes. Salmon oil boosts the immune system and is rich in antioxidants so your pup can thrive as they continue to grow.

While your puppy is developing, their nutritional needs are going to be different. Young dogs need more calories than an adult dog because growing takes up so much energy. Without the extra calories, your puppy will find it hard to both grow and find time for zoomies so a higher calorie food will help. Puppy diets also include nutrients like docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and omega fatty acids which were found in their mother’s milk but continues to benefit them in puppy food. DHA helps their nervous system develop as they grow. While growing, puppies can often injure themselves but with a high protein diet, they mend quickly and bounce back in no time.

Puppies need a higher level of proteins, enzymes and other nutrients which can then be reduced as they get older. To find your perfect puppy diet and supplements to support and boost their growth, visit us in store or online.