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Feeding your puppy
can seem to be a challenge. There are so many brands and so many varieties
available.
One thing to keep in mind is that no matter which you choose, introduce
it slowly along with whatever the puppy is used to eating. When feeding
your puppy, start mixing in a small amount of what you would
like her to eat into her diet, over the next week or two increase your choice
of food while decreasing the other until you have made a complete transition.
While she is young, it is best to offer a combination of canned and
dry food to encourage her to eat when it is meal time. Very young
puppies will probably have some trouble with the dry food unless it is softened
a little with canned food.
Baby puppy teeth were not meant to do real hard work when it comes to eating.
Make sure what you feed is easy to eat. You can always phase out the canned
food as she grows if you want to. You will help her system adjust to the new
food and probably avoid problems with anupset digestive tract. If
you switch too suddenly you may encourage vomiting and diarrhea.
Your better foods will be available at pet stores. Try to avoid the
grocery store aisle. In order to sell foods at cheap prices the grocery
varieties have limited nutritional value. There are many sources of animal
protein that can look good on a label but are not very digestible. Innova,
Nature’s Recipe, and Nutra Max are some popular high quality foods.
There is some debate over the quality of Iams and Science Diet in recent years.
Many dogs seem to develop sensitivity to their ingredients.
If you like the idea of a raw food diet but just can't get around the idea
of handling or feeding this way, Innova's EVO is as close
as you can get and still buy it in a can or bag. Excellent food. Whichever
brand you decide on, remember it is best to pick a flavor and stick to it.
Do not change her diet regularly, it may upset her system.
LARGE AND GIANT BREEDS :
If you have a large breed puppy look for varieties made specific for them.
They have different needs than do small or medium breeds. Adding calcium or
other nutrients is NOT a good idea. Let the manufacturers
with the staff of veterinarians do the guess work in the proper balance of
nutrition and vitamins and minerals. Some breeds go through bone growth too
fast with added supplements, this can cause severe problems with the
tendons and ligaments as they don’t grow as fast.
TOY OR TINY BREEDS :
If you have a tiny breed, like a Chihuahua, Maltese, Poodle, or any toy breed
you should be very careful to make sure they are fed frequently. Four or more
feedings a day may be necessary when they are very young. Tiny breeds do not
have good food reserves and can become hypoglycemic very quickly.
This condition can lead to coma and death if not treated immediately.
If you have a tiny breed it is advisable to keep Karo syrup
on hand in case of hypoglycemic attacks which may look like listlessness,
malaise, or exhaustion.
Jars of lamb baby food is also good to keep on hand in the case of a picky
or sickly eater, but only while you are nursing them to their regular diet.
If you notice symptoms like these rub a small amount of Karo syrup on her
gums. If she perks up a bit, try to get her to take her regular food, or baby
food if she won’t eat regularly yet. If she doesn’t perk up, get
her to the vet right away.
About The Author
Laura Anderson is a veterinary technician with a 15 year history as a veterinary office manager and emergency technician. Her website is meant to help new puppy owners find a compatible lifestyle with their new friends.
Copyright(c)protected 2008. All rights reserved.