Puppy Nutrition - What Do Small Dogs Eat

A small puppy requires extra care and responsibility, as these tiny creatures are completely helpless and need assistance to grow harmoniously. In addition to shelter and love, dogs also need food adapted to their age. Learn everything about feeding newborn puppies in this article, as well as the best puppy food you can offer your little four-legged friends.

The Importance of Proper Nutrition for Puppies

Just like with children, puppy nutrition is very important, especially considering their sensitivity. Puppy food is specially formulated to help support muscle and bone development, thus influencing long-term growth. A puppy needs dog food that contains all the necessary nutrients for harmonious development, thereby preventing problems that can arise due to deficiencies. A lack of essential nutrients will lead to impaired development and sometimes even to various types of diseases, such as digestive issues.

Puppy Food vs. Adult Dog Food

Choosing food for your dog must take into account its age, with a clear distinction between puppies and adult dogs. There are differences between puppy food and adult dog food, and understanding these is essential to provide your pets with the best care.

How does puppy food differ from adult dog food?

Puppy food is different because their nutritional needs change from one age to another. Puppies go through an accelerated development process and need dog food that provides them with the necessary nutrients, such as calcium, phosphorus, and other nutrients that help with efficient development of teeth, bones, and coat. Puppy food is formulated to help them reach a normal weight and ensure their daily energy intake.

When do puppies get weaned?

Weaning is a process that begins approximately 3-4 weeks after birth and continues until about 6-8 weeks. After this age, the puppy begins to feed itself with food specially designed for its age.

Transition from mother's milk to solid food

Mother's milk or a substitute is the main type of food for a 3-week-old or younger puppy. As the puppy grows, the food begins to diversify, which is why you need to choose the right type of food for your puppy. Initially, you can prepare a paste from water and solid puppy food to help the puppies eat more easily. As they grow, the amount of water can be gradually reduced, so that the puppies get used to solid food.

How many times a day should a puppy be fed?

The need for food depends on the pet's age, and you must consider that a puppy has a small stomach but a very fast metabolism. This means that when they are puppies, they need more meals per day compared to adult dogs.

The number of meals, depending on age, is summarized in the table below:

Dog's Age	Number of Meals per Day
4-6 weeks	4-5 meals
6-12 weeks	4 meals
3-6 months	3-4 meals
6-12 months	3 meals
over one year	2 meals

Factors influencing a puppy's caloric needs

The meal data presented above does not only depend on the puppy's age but also on other important factors such as:

• Breed - some dog breeds require a larger amount of food, several times a day, even in adulthood;
• Size and age - large dogs have a higher caloric consumption and consequently need more meals;
• Activity level - active and athletic dogs have faster metabolisms and may need more food.

Why is establishing a feeding schedule important?

Establishing a feeding routine provides your dog with a sense of stability and predictability that helps them develop healthily. Feeding at fixed times aids digestion, providing the necessary time for food to be processed and digested by the body. Furthermore, adhering to regular intervals prevents overfeeding and the appearance of intestinal problems, while also contributing to the dog's education, as they learn to respect established rules.

Homemade Food vs. Commercial Food

Quite a few people are accustomed to offering their puppies home-cooked food, either as a main meal or as a snack. However, it must be understood that cooked food can pose a greater risk of nutritional imbalance compared to specially formulated pet food. In addition, cooked food may contain spices or foods not allowed for puppies, so the recommendation is to offer them food specifically designed for them.

For this reason, it is important to discuss with your veterinarian before adopting this option, to ensure that your puppy receives all the necessary nutrients for healthy development.

How to choose the right food for puppies according to their breed?

Each dog breed has specific particularities regarding development and nutritional needs. Food selection must take into account the dog's musculature and skeleton, caloric needs, as well as its activity level.

Food for large breed puppies

Large breed dogs need a higher food intake, but this must be controlled to prevent obesity or developmental problems. For these dogs, dry food with large kibble is recommended, which supports dental development and ensures adequate intake of calories, vitamins, and minerals necessary for healthy growth.

Food for small breed puppies

Small puppies need small kibble, with a high protein content, fatty acids, and antioxidants. The food's consistency should be appropriate to facilitate digestion and help puppies gradually adapt to solid food.

Types of puppy food

Puppy food can be of several types, each offering specific benefits to your pet. In the first few months, you can opt for a hybrid menu that provides your puppy with the necessary support for healthy development.

Dry food for puppies

Dry puppy food has the advantage of providing nutritional support, as well as dental care benefits. Puppies learn to chew and gnaw, and through friction, their teeth are cleaned more easily. The disadvantage of kibble or croquettes is that they do not constitute a hydrating meal, and puppies with digestive problems might not tolerate this type of food very well.

Wet food for puppies

Wet dog food is a much more suitable option for puppies because it provides the hydration a puppy needs, as well as nutritional intake. The soft consistency is very well tolerated by puppies, making it ideal for puppies in the early stages of food diversification.

Snacks and chew toys

Snacks are effective for satisfying hunger between meals, as well as for rewarding good habits when the puppy learns new ones. Beyond training, snacks are good to chew on and fun, and also a good way to clean teeth.

Nutritional supplements for puppies

When puppies suffer from certain allergies or when we talk about puppies with digestive problems, nutritional supplements are the most convenient choice. To be able to offer puppies the best nutritional supplements, it is important to consult with your veterinarian for personalized recommendations.

BARF Diet - Benefits and Risks

The BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet involves feeding dogs raw foods, such as meat, bones, and vegetables, mimicking the natural diet of their wild ancestors. This approach offers benefits such as a shinier coat, more efficient digestion, and more compact stools, but it also comes with significant risks if not properly balanced. These include bacterial contamination (Salmonella, E. coli), nutritional imbalances, or deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it is advisable that such a diet only be implemented under the guidance of a veterinarian or a canine nutrition specialist.

Ingredients and nutritional values needed in puppy food

Puppies need food that provides them with complete nutritional intake, and this can be achieved through:

• proteins - beef, chicken, turkey;
• fats - Omega 3, Omega 6;
• carbohydrates;
• vitamins and minerals.

When to transition from junior food to adult food?

The transition from junior food to adult food occurs around 12-16 months of age, depending on the puppy's development stage and lifestyle. If the puppy is spayed or neutered, you will need to discuss the necessary caloric intake in this situation with your veterinarian, as the needs are different after such an intervention.

What should puppies not eat?

When you have a puppy, you will see that it is very eager to eat, but you won't be able to give it everything it wants, to avoid harming it. Some foods are completely forbidden, precisely because of the increased risk of toxicity or danger.

Forbidden foods for puppies

Among the most dangerous are chocolate and coffee, products containing theobromine which is toxic to dogs, as well as onions, garlic, and leeks, which can cause anemia. Grapes and raisins severely affect the kidneys, and alcohol and fermented foods can have toxic effects even in small quantities.

Are puppies allowed to eat bones?

Some types of bones, such as poultry bones, are hard and splintery, and these fragments could perforate a puppy's stomach. For this reason, caution is recommended with consumption, and it is preferred to offer the dog kibble or wet food instead of bones.

Common mistakes in puppy feeding

Although we love them very much, sometimes we can make mistakes when it comes to puppy care. Therefore, it is recommended to know the most common feeding mistakes to prevent them:

• Feeding human food scraps (bones, chocolate, etc.)
• Overdosing portions, leading to obesity;
• Offering food inappropriate for their age;
• Abruptly changing the type of food.

Frequently Asked Questions about Puppy Food

Do you have other questions about feeding dogs? Check out the answer section below.

When can you start giving your puppy solid food?

Puppies can begin the transition to solid food around 3-4 weeks of age, when they naturally start to move away from mother's milk. Special junior food, initially moistened with warm water, is recommended for efficient feeding.

Is the BARF diet suitable for a puppy?

The BARF diet, based on raw foods, as they would eat in a natural environment, can only be adopted under the careful supervision of a veterinarian.

Can wet food for puppies be combined with dry food?

Yes, you can mix the two types of food, but you must correctly calculate the portions to avoid overfeeding.

What do you do if your puppy refuses to eat?

Discuss any changes in eating habits with your veterinarian, as refusal can have underlying medical causes.

How much water should a puppy drink per day?

Generally, a puppy needs approximately 50-60 ml of water/kg of body weight per day.

What symptoms indicate a nutritional problem in puppies?

Symptoms include dull coat, dry skin, weight loss, lethargy, or irregular stools.

How do you stop your puppy from eating too fast?

Portion meals, offering smaller servings, or use slow-feeder bowls to prevent eating too quickly.

Is it recommended to leave food available to your puppy all day?

No, the dog should have a very well-established meal plan; this is the basis of discipline.

What does "grain-free" food mean? Is it suitable for puppies?

Grain-free food is a type of food that does not contain cereals and is only suitable for puppies with allergies.

How often can you change the type of food you offer your puppy?

Food changes should be done gradually, over several days, to minimize the risk of digestive problems.

Does the puppy's food influence its behavior?

The nutrients in food influence the dog's activity level, as well as cognitive and emotional balance, so yes, food influences behavior.

Photo source: Unsplash

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