Healthy Feeding Tips for a Puppy
One of the most beautiful things in life is to bring home a puppy. Puppies are just like small babies, and they need extra attention and care to grow into healthy dogs that can fill your life with happiness. Many pet owners are not sure how to feed their new puppy. They end up giving adult dog food to puppies that can harm their growth spurt. Here are some healthy dog food tips that you can follow to feed your little puppy to ensure it receives enough nutrition and energy.
Know the Feeding Schedule
One of the most important healthy dog food tips when it comes to your puppy is knowing the feeding schedule. The schedule varies depending on the age of your pup. Puppies less than 6 months of age should definitely be fed three times a day. After this, you can reduce the feeding frequency to twice a day. The quantity of food you should give in a day depends on the breed of your pup. Talk to your doctor about this.
Always Have Fresh Water Available
Pups are very curious, they spend a lot of energy running around and, hence, get thirsty a lot. It is absolutely necessary to have a bowl of clean fresh water at room temperature available in a set spot in the house. This bowl should be filled and ready 24 hours a day.
Do Not Overfeed
Chubby puppies might be cute to look at but they will grow into unhealthy and obese dogs with shorter life spans. Healthy dog food tips suggest that pet owners stick to recommended food quantities per meal and not stuff the puppy with food and snacks all day long.
Introduce New Food Gradually
A puppy’s digestive system is as gentle as that of a newborn’s. This is why you should take extreme care in offering different varieties of food. Offer the same food for at least three days to eliminate the chances of allergies and introduce the next type of food slowly and in smaller quantities.
Offer Both Wet and Dry Food Options
It is good for your dog to learn to enjoy both dry and wet food choices. This healthy dog food tip will make your dog better adjusted to different food textures as it grows. Wet food is fresher and easier to digest while dry food is easier to handle and can be perfect for trips.
Do Not Mix Human Food
Resist the urge to mix chicken, egg, beef, and other homemade food in your pup’s meal for the first few months. Let them get used to different kinds of foods that are suitable for them first before you experiment.
The health of your puppy as it grows depends on the nutrition it receives in the first year of its life. Pick premium food brands and offer balanced meals to make sure your puppy grows happily. Do keep all these healthy dog food tips in mind every time you feed your puppy.