Long-awaited and finally here: When a puppy is welcomed as a new member of the family, joy and liveliness are inevitable. Young and clumsy puppies quickly stir up the whole household. In addition to happy chaos and cozy cuddles, they also bring with them questions, because: How do you do justice to your new companion? For the best possible health of your young dog, nutrition is a central component, its well-being lies in your feeding hands.
EXCITEMENT IN THE NEW HOME – CALM AND MODERATION IN THE FOOD
For the puppy, the move “away from the litter and into unknown territory” means an enormous effort. A change in diet should not happen now. Rather, it is advisable to continue the breeder or previous owner’s feeding method for at least the first week. The germ environment is different in the new environment, which increases the risk of infection for the puppy.
Now give your puppy time to get used to it, this also prevents digestive problems when changing food. Puppies poop about three to six times a day, and a healthy stool is beige and firm. If the color (to yellowish green or dark gray), shape (watery), and frequency of bowel movements change, you should first stop one or two meals to calm the bowel again. But keep giving the puppy enough water to drink!
Flatulence, vomiting, and diarrhea are common in puppies in the first few days of relocation. However, if these symptoms persist for a few days, a visit to the vet is advisable. Especially diarrhea can quickly become life-threatening for puppies due to the high water loss – the vet can then give the dog liquid via an infusion.
IMPROPER NUTRITION CAN MAKE THE PUPPY SICK
How much energy – i.e., calories – a puppy needs depends largely on the breed of dog and the puppy’s activity in everyday life. The goal of any form of feeding is that the puppy develops as well as possible. Depending on the breed, each dog gains weight at different rates. As a rule of thumb, the young dog should reach around 50 percent of its final weight within the first five months.
Improper nutrition for puppies can have health consequences. For example, deformations of the bones (skeletal deformities) in dogs are often due to an incorrect diet, for example, because the dog was given too much food as a puppy. At the beginning of their growth, all puppies have a high need for protein and a balanced ratio of the minerals calcium and phosphorus so that their bones develop optimally.
IDEAL FOR PUPPIES: SMALL PORTIONS OF BALANCED MIXED FOOD
A balanced mixed diet best meets these nutritional requirements. You can use commercial compound feed for puppies as well as produce your own rations. Meat and slaughterhouse waste, egg and raw milk products, and soy protein can be combined well with cooked rice and pasta. It also makes sense to enrich the puppy food with vitamin mineral food.
When it comes to the correct nutrition of puppies, the how is just as important as the what: so that the puppy can optimally process the nutrients and avoid flatulence and diarrhea, small portions, three to four times throughout the day, are recommended. If the puppy tolerates this well, you can slowly increase the amount of food and, from the age of six months, feed the dog two to three times a day and later once or twice a day.
THE PUPPY THANKS WITH SHINY FUR AND ZEST FOR ACTION
Pay close attention to your puppy, he will show you whether he is fine by his appearance as well as his behavior! Shiny, dandruff-free fur and a constantly moist nose, as well as unglued, alert eyes, are good signs. Curious and playful, puppies explore their surroundings, like to run around, and are tired afterward. You should only be alert when your puppy is permanently exhausted and, if in doubt, do not shy away from a visit to the vet! Always true to the motto: “Better once too much than once too little” – because a healthy dog in the house makes you happy and invigorated!