How to Feed Your New Puppy: A Comprehensive Guide to Puppy Nutrition

How to Feed Your New Puppy: A Comprehensive Guide to Puppy Nutrition

Congratulations on welcoming a furry new member to your family! Bringing home a new puppy is like welcoming a new family member, and it requires careful care, with diet being one of the most critical aspects. A dog's healthy growth depends on a balanced diet, and new puppies require even more attention.

I. Feeding Your New Puppy: From Mother's Milk to Puppy Food

Puppies under a month old need to be fed mother's milk, which provides the necessary nutrients for healthy growth. Two-month-old puppies can gradually start trying puppy food, but for better absorption, it's recommended to soak the food in water before feeding.

II. The Crucial Nutritional Needs of Puppies

Puppies over two months old gradually lose the antibodies they received from their mothers, and their weaning period makes them quite vulnerable. Therefore, selecting the right food is critical.

Puppy Food is the Best Choice: Puppy food is specifically designed to meet the growth and developmental needs of puppies, providing ample protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals to fulfill all their nutritional requirements.

Adding Goat Milk Powder: Along with puppy food, adding goat milk powder can provide extra nutrients to support better growth.

Avoid Feeding Meat Broth: Many believe that meat helps puppies grow quickly, but in reality, meat lacks vitamins A, D, E, and iodine, and it's also out of balance in terms of calcium and phosphorus. Long-term feeding of meat broth can lead to skeletal development problems, such as bone fractures or lameness.

III. Feeding Principles: Small Portions, Multiple Times a Day

Two to three-month-old puppies have weak digestive systems and sensitive stomachs. Therefore, the feeding principle should be "small portions, multiple times a day" to reduce the burden on their stomachs.

Feeding Frequency: Generally, two to three-month-old puppies need to be fed four times a day.

Feeding Amount: The amount of food per feeding should be adjusted based on the puppy's size, typically aiming for 7-8% fullness. Observe the puppy's abdomen; it should have a slight bulge.

Gradual Increase: Every 4-5 days, you can slightly increase the feeding amount once, paying attention to the puppy's reaction to ensure it adapts well.

IV. Proper Feeding Methods for Puppy Food: Soak in Warm Water, Avoid Dry Food

Soaking in Warm Water: Don't use boiling water to soak puppy food because it can destroy nutrients. Use lukewarm water, around 45 degrees Celsius.

Ensure Temperature: Ensure the food temperature is appropriate during feeding; food that is too cold can cause diarrhea.

Avoid Dry Food: Dry puppy food is like compressed biscuits, requiring puppies to eat a large amount to feel full, which can easily overfill their stomachs. Therefore, it's recommended to avoid feeding dry food directly.

V. Precautions: Cleaning Utensils, Timely Feeding, Gradual Food Changes

Cleaning Utensils: Regularly clean and disinfect feeding utensils to maintain hygiene.

Food Disposal: Discard leftover food promptly to prevent spoilage.

Water Temperature: Ensure the water temperature is suitable for the puppy, neither too cold nor too hot.

Changing Food: Don't switch food frequently. If a change is necessary, do it gradually over a week, allowing the puppy to adapt.

VI. Summary:

When bringing home a new puppy, diet is one of the most critical aspects. Choosing the right puppy food, following feeding principles, and maintaining cleanliness can help your puppy grow healthy and strong.

Personal Reflections:

Raising a dog is a patient endeavor, and taking care of a new puppy, especially a young one, requires learning and understanding many things. Diet is the foundation of a dog's healthy growth. Choosing the right puppy food and adhering to scientific feeding methods can ensure your dog's healthy development.

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