Diana Myers
The puppy will become more and more independent over time, including when it comes to eating. Man must now ensure that he not only grows up but also stays healthy.
A new environment means stress
The separation from the mother, the siblings, and the familiar environment is a great strain on the body and psyche of the puppy. And stress can make you vulnerable to infections and indigestion. To prevent this, in the first few weeks you should only give the dog food that the baby dog received in its first home.
Feed less at first
At first, the puppy gets a little less than usual to relieve the digestive system during the adjustment phase. If there is no diarrhea, vomiting, or flatulence in the first two to three days, you can increase the amount of food. If you have diarrhea, you should see your veterinarian. Dehydration can be life-threatening for puppies.
Regular feeding times
Feed the puppy three to four times a day at set times. This allows the digestive system to adjust to the food and the puppy learns that it can rely on you. You also prevent begging with fixed feeding times. After 20 to 30 minutes, the food bowl should be removed. In this way, the puppy learns to eat its ration quickly. Because especially in summer, food can spoil easily. You will also notice more quickly if the dog has no appetite and does not eat up.
What and how much to feed?
The amount and type of food depend on the breed, the expected final weight, exercise, and the individual. Dogs also have good and bad feed converters. Today a young dog is often fed “too well”. In large breeds, excessive energy intake during the growth phase can cause serious skeletal damage, since too much energy accelerates growth. However, only that of the muscles, the bones cannot keep up at this pace. The supply of calcium and phosphorus is crucial for a healthy bone structure.
But: A lot doesn’t help much!
The minerals must be coordinated with each other. If the dosage is not right, there is a risk of further diseases. Don’t worry: ready-made pet food usually contains all the important nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. In principle, the larger a dog gets, the slower it should grow. A mini that weighs five kilos is fully grown in less than a year, a dog that becomes a giant should have a good two years to reach its final weight.
You can see if your dog is optimally fed
A healthy young dog has a shiny coat, is slim and slender, but not skinny. He enjoys exercise, is curious, and can’t get enough of playing and romping.