German shepherd dogs
puppy feeding guide
Vitamins and your puppy
Why are vitamins so important to your puppy’s diet?
While vitamins aren’t used as “building material” for the body, nor as a source of energy, they help the body process other nutrients (think of them as handymen and admin assistants.) Without a good balance of vitamins, the body simply wouldn’t grow or repair itself properly.
However, adding extra vitamins to your puppy’s diet won’t make him healthier – it’s more likely to cause problems (try putting too many handymen on a job and see what happens).
The two groups of vitamins include:
Water-soluble vitamins C and B-complex
These vitamins are mostly involved in helping the body build bones, teeth and connective tissues. As they dissolve in water, they’re continually being flushed out of the body – so more are required all the time. However: while the various forms of vitamin B need to be delivered through your puppy’s diet, vitamin C is produced naturally by his body. Adding extra vitamin C to his diet risks serious health problems, so unless your puppy is suffering from a rare inability to produce his own vitamin C, stay away from any vitamin C supplements.
Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K
These occur naturally in animal fat and are absorbed through the intestine and stored in the body. Excessive accumulation of these vitamins can lead to physical abnormalities, particularly in the skeleton. So again, no supplements should be administered without a vet’s recommendation. Here’s what they do:
Why is your puppy’s calcium/phosphorus balance so important?
Calcium and phosphorus are vital to your puppy’s metabolism and bone development. But the wrong balance can lead to brittle bones, deformed joints, or kidney failure.
Getting the balance right isn’t easy, especially as much of the food we put on our own plates contains them in the wrong proportions. Yet while we humans can easily compensate for an unbalanced diet (that’s what our food cravings are all about) your puppy’s growth is totally dependent on what you put in his bowl.
Calcium is the basic building block of bones and cartilage.
Too little calcium stunts growth and makes existing bones brittle. But on the other hand, too much calcium can make bones too dense and cartilage inflexible, leading to joint deformations like hip dysphasia.
Phosphorus is essential for bones and muscle.
Phosphorus is usually found in foods that are rich in calcium too, like dairy and eggs. So giving your puppy more of these foods to increase his calcium intake can easily lead to an excess of phosphorus – which can result in kidney failure. A good diet will contain carefully calculated amounts of minerals to ensure the correct balance.
Is it time to switch to adult food?
Don’t be tempted to switch to adult food too early
Puppies grow up to twelve times faster than human babies do. So it’s no wonder they need a specialist puppy food with extra energy, protein, calcium and phosphorus. So an adult diet, too early, can actually result in abnormalities, especially with the bones and joints. But when is it the right time to switch to adult food?
Time till maturity – a rough guide
Considering all the different sizes and shapes of dogs, the amount of time that they take to become physically mature varies hugely. But here’s a rough guide:
Contrary to popular belief, milk is not essential for weaned puppies. In fact, puppies grow less and less able to digest milk as they grow up, and large amounts can cause diarrhoea.
Why are vitamins so important to your puppy’s diet?
While vitamins aren’t used as “building material” for the body, nor as a source of energy, they help the body process other nutrients (think of them as handymen and admin assistants.) Without a good balance of vitamins, the body simply wouldn’t grow or repair itself properly.
However, adding extra vitamins to your puppy’s diet won’t make him healthier – it’s more likely to cause problems (try putting too many handymen on a job and see what happens).
The two groups of vitamins include:
Water-soluble vitamins C and B-complex
These vitamins are mostly involved in helping the body build bones, teeth and connective tissues. As they dissolve in water, they’re continually being flushed out of the body – so more are required all the time. However: while the various forms of vitamin B need to be delivered through your puppy’s diet, vitamin C is produced naturally by his body. Adding extra vitamin C to his diet risks serious health problems, so unless your puppy is suffering from a rare inability to produce his own vitamin C, stay away from any vitamin C supplements.
Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K
These occur naturally in animal fat and are absorbed through the intestine and stored in the body. Excessive accumulation of these vitamins can lead to physical abnormalities, particularly in the skeleton. So again, no supplements should be administered without a vet’s recommendation. Here’s what they do:
- Vitamin A is mostly good for eyesight.
- Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium to build bones.
- Vitamin E helps the body form red blood cells.
- Vitamin K helps blood clot and form protective scabs.
Why is your puppy’s calcium/phosphorus balance so important?
Calcium and phosphorus are vital to your puppy’s metabolism and bone development. But the wrong balance can lead to brittle bones, deformed joints, or kidney failure.
Getting the balance right isn’t easy, especially as much of the food we put on our own plates contains them in the wrong proportions. Yet while we humans can easily compensate for an unbalanced diet (that’s what our food cravings are all about) your puppy’s growth is totally dependent on what you put in his bowl.
Calcium is the basic building block of bones and cartilage.
Too little calcium stunts growth and makes existing bones brittle. But on the other hand, too much calcium can make bones too dense and cartilage inflexible, leading to joint deformations like hip dysphasia.
Phosphorus is essential for bones and muscle.
Phosphorus is usually found in foods that are rich in calcium too, like dairy and eggs. So giving your puppy more of these foods to increase his calcium intake can easily lead to an excess of phosphorus – which can result in kidney failure. A good diet will contain carefully calculated amounts of minerals to ensure the correct balance.
Is it time to switch to adult food?
Don’t be tempted to switch to adult food too early
Puppies grow up to twelve times faster than human babies do. So it’s no wonder they need a specialist puppy food with extra energy, protein, calcium and phosphorus. So an adult diet, too early, can actually result in abnormalities, especially with the bones and joints. But when is it the right time to switch to adult food?
Time till maturity – a rough guide
Considering all the different sizes and shapes of dogs, the amount of time that they take to become physically mature varies hugely. But here’s a rough guide:
- Toy, small and medium breeds such as Chihuahuas, Border Terriers and Springer Spaniels take 9-12 months to become mature.
- Large breeds like Labradors and Retrievers take 12-15 months.
- Giant breeds like Great Danes and Newfoundland’s
- Take 18-24 months.
Contrary to popular belief, milk is not essential for weaned puppies. In fact, puppies grow less and less able to digest milk as they grow up, and large amounts can cause diarrhoea.
