In this complete guide we will explain how to feed a puppy dog from birth until it is one year old, when it is already considered an adult dog. Feeding the puppy is essential for its correct development, so spending time to inform yourself correctly is investing in its health.
Puppies naturally feed on breast milk until about three months of age, when weaning occurs, and can begin to eat puppy food.
However, not all puppies are lucky enough to be fed by their mothers until weaning, so we are going to explain how we should feed our puppy from birth, without the mother’s help.
Index of contents
- 1 How to feed a puppy one month old
- 2 Three-month-old puppies, from milk to puree
- 3 How to Feed Puppies Over Three Months Old: Solid Food
- 4 How NOT to feed your little puppy
How to feed a puppy one month old
In reality this information is valid for puppies that have from days until they are three months old, that is, they use the same diet during the first months of their life.
Puppies cannot eat solid food because their teeth are not yet formed, nor is their digestive system prepared for it. That is why we must feed them only with special milk for puppies, which we can find in veterinary clinics.
We cannot feed a puppy with only a few months to live with Cow milk Because they do not tolerate lactose well, it would cause serious digestive problems and even intestinal parasites, causing the death of the puppy.
Only the special milk for puppies is valid for food, they sell it in powder to dilute in water or already bottled. We must temper it without it burning, so that our puppy does not take it cold.
A puppy a few days old will need to drink milk four to six times a day with the help of a bottle. Puppies of a few days old need a lot of special care:
- We must give the milk to our puppy leaving it on its bed, horizontally as if it were suckling from its mother.
- If the puppy does not defecate after a few hours, we should gently massage his belly and moisten his anus with the help of a section soaked in warm water. Simulating what his mother would do by licking.
- The best puppy food we can give you is the specific puppy milk sold at cynical vets.
- The amount of food our puppy must eat will be indicated on the dog milk container. Depending on its weight and age we will increase it.
Three-month-old puppies, from milk to puree
When our puppy is around three months old, we should begin to insert solid food, but not in a sudden tide, since its digestive system has to start adapting slowly.
Feeding the three-month-old puppy is pureed, something very simple that we can do at home. We will simply take some special puppy food and moisten it with a little puppy milk, wait for it to soak and crush it creating a smooth puree.
We must feed our puppy with this type of puree for at least two or three weeks, we can change the dog milk for lukewarm water to make the puree of our puppy from the week and a half.
In this way, our puppy’s digestive system will be strengthened and adapted to solid food. Never give your puppy puppy food without having made a progressive change with the puppy puree.
A three-month-old puppy needs between three and four purees daily, with the amount of feed that the manufacturer recommends in its container. Using that amount and a little dog milk or warm water we will make the puree for our little furry.
How to Feed Puppies Over Three Months Old: Solid Food
Once our puppy has gone through the transit of the puree based on puppy food, we can gradually add pieces of its puppy croquettes in the puree.
At first they will not like it much because they will be sure to chew them, but they will quickly get used to them. We can prepare your puppy croquettes by adding a little warm water to make them moist, so it is not a puree but they will not be so hard either.
The best food for a young puppy is the one that is specifically designed for him, that is, if you have a small breed puppy, look for a feed for small breed puppies, because the kibbles or balls that form it will have a reduced size, special for your little mouth.
The same happens with puppies of large breeds, we must choose a specific feed for puppies of large breeds. The most important thing always is to avoid feed for puppies that do not contain meat or fish as the first ingredient on their labels.
We will continue with this feeding until our dog is one year old. With a small modification, when the puppy turns six months we will give him only three feedings a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
How NOT to feed your little puppy
These are the most common mistakes that occur when feeding puppies, so learn from them and try never to make them. Because you will put at risk the health of your puppy.
- Always leave fresh and clean water available to your puppy, so he can drink whenever he wants.
- Never feed your puppy with cow’s milk or human food, you could kill him. If you want to use the BARF natural food for dogs, you must wait for them to pull their baby teeth and take out their final teeth (six months old). Meanwhile only special milk for dogs and puppy food.
- Do not take your puppy in his arms to give him a bottle, try to leave him in his bed and feed him in the position in which he would suckle from his mother.
- If your puppy does not eat his feed, remove it after about 10 minutes. And don’t give him anything to eat until his next feeding.
- The amount that your puppy should eat each day is the one indicated by the manufacturer of the dog milk or the puppy food. Although it may seem small, do not give it more, because you could pack it and harm your health. Puppies can eat until sick, they do not know how to control themselves.
- Get your puppy used to eating even if you reach into his feeder, he should get used to you being able to do it without growling at you.
Pay special attention to the amount of daily food, there are many people who think that it is little. What they don’t know is that dog kibbles expand when hydrated, and if they overdo your puppy they can cause serious damage to their digestive system.
The best times to feed a puppy are:
- Puppies that make four or five feedings: Breakfast / lunch / snack / dinner – Breakfast / lunch / lunch / snack / dinner
- Puppies that take three feeds: Breakfast / lunch / dinner
Try to make breakfast very early and dinner a little late, so you won’t go many hours without eating during the night. Puppies who nurse from the bottle should rest after meals on a mandatory basis, put a blanket or a bag of warm water so that they are warm.