If you have decided to adopt a puppy , know that you will have to take care of it as if it were a child . But, unlike humans who grow up and become independent little by little, your four-legged friend will always need you . This is why it becomes very important to know how to feed a puppy: a bad diet or a wrong diet can jeopardize the proper development of your pet. So let’s see a series of useful tips that are right for you.
Feeding a puppy the right way
Before establishing a diet , it is very important to know how old a dog must be to be considered a “puppy”. This phase, which goes from birth up to 18 months of life, is decisive for the development of your pet.
Everyone makes mistakes, but in order not to jeopardize the health and physical integrity of the dog, here are a series of tips to feed him properly:
Consult the veterinarian
When adopting a puppy, the first thing to do is take him to the vet . The doctor will examine the animal thoroughly and will indicate the necessary vaccinations. In addition, he will give you all the directions for feeding the young dog . That is, types of food, quantity, frequency of baby food… For this, specific aspects will be taken into consideration, such as the health of the animal, its breed and its size.
Weaning
The separation of the puppy from the mother must be done on time and with a correct method. If it occurs too early , the puppy’s health could be affected, even leading to death. It is recommended that the puppy be left with the mother, at least up to 2 months of age.
Although separation can occur after two months, the puppy will still need to drink mother’s milk . There are products similar to this precious liquid on the market. Choose a quality alternative to make your little friend grow in the best possible way.
But be careful: never use milk for humans . The drinking milk that you use at home, and which is good for the family, can cause serious damage to the digestive system of the small dog.
What to feed a puppy?
Up to 8 weeks of age, the puppy must consume both maternal and formula milk. With it you will get the right amount of colostrum (or first milk ), a very important substance for its development. Your body’s defenses will be increased, avoiding possible digestive diseases and problems, such as diarrhea, as well as other more serious disorders affecting growth .
Allergies to milk
Like people, puppies can also be allergic to lactose , including breast milk. In these cases, the baby will have to go on with other types of infant formula, called “formula”, milk substitutes for the female.
The observation work of you owners is fundamental. In the first few months of life, you will need to check if your puppy has any rashes, or if the stool is bad in shape or color. In these cases, it is necessary to consult the situation with the veterinarian, so that the most appropriate measures can be taken immediately.
After 2 months, the puppy can start consuming specific feeds . Ideally, up to 3 months of age, this feeding involves the use of moist and less hard food, because the animal’s teeth are not yet ready to consume completely solid foods.
Follow the instructions correctly
It is important to know how often your puppy should be fed and how to prepare the food. It may be necessary to administer extra vitamins, in case your veterinarian deems it necessary.
Some pointers to keep in mind are:
- Baby bottle. It may be necessary to use a bottle to feed the puppy in the first few months. The milk should be at room temperature, that is about 37 ° C. The feeding time will be repeated every 3 hours, if the animal is less than 2 months old. Thereafter, every 4 hours.
- Small bites. If you want to feed him kibble or other solid food, it is best to wait until 6 months have passed. It is advisable to give the pet small portions, to check for any negative reactions and facilitate chewing.
- Meal frequency . After 2 months, the puppy should eat 4 meals a day. From 4 to 6 months, 3 meals a day. For 6 months, twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
Choosing the right food
Baby food and feed must comply with certain characteristics, in order to ensure the animal has adequate nutritional principles without straining its metabolism. The first thing you will need to identify when choosing a food product is that it is specific for puppies . In this way there will be no problems, since these are feeds that take into account the problems of young dogs.
You will need to check that they are quality foods, with ingredients that include vitamins C, E and B as well as essential omega 3 fatty acids . Also check that meat and fish are present in adequate percentages, with a low content of cereals.
void toxic foods
Regarding fruit and other foods, you should always ask your vet for advice , as well as if you have any doubts or questions about how to feed your puppy. However, there are a number of prohibited foods that are toxic to your four-legged friend’s metabolism, such as:
- chocolate
- corn
- wheat
- onion
- garlic
- avocado
- grapes
