FEEDING YOUR PUPPY

Dogs are omnivores and therefore can eat many types of food. To achieve maximal health we find complete diets balanced to meet specific nutritional requirements at every stage of your dogs life are the best option.

Rapid growth and the development of bones, muscles, and internal organs during puppyhood means that a good diet is especially important. Puppies need more energy, calcium and phosphorus than an adult but conversely too much of these nutrients can cause harm and disease. Excess energy and calcium can leads to skeletal problems. Your puppy is only ready to change to an adult food when it has reached 90 % of adult weight. Such maturity is reached at 8 - 18 months of age depending on the breed of dog. Many breeders have their own recipes for feeding puppies but the variations are huge. We feel complete diets are the answer to feeding a well balanced healthy diet. Chopping and changing diets or feeding human food to your puppy can predispose to fussy eating patterns and can cause gut upsets. It is important when switching your pup to a new food that it is done gradually, mix the new food in increasing proportions into the old food over a period of 7-10 days. Your pup's feeding pattern ,especially the frequency of feeds, will change as it gets older. As a general rule :-

4 - 6 weeks 6 meals a day

8 weeks = 4 meals a day

8 -12 weeks = 3 meals a day

5 months = 2 meals a day.

Already it must be becoming obvious that for maximal health it is not as easy as opening a tin of food, please ask us for advice.

We recommend Hill's Science Plan range of foods for all dogs and cats due to the following benefits: ...the growth diet meets the specific nutritional needs of the puppy, pregnant and nursing bitch.

...builds strong healthy bones and teeth by providing calcium and phosphorus in appropriate but not over supplemented levels.

...the whole range is very palatable while avoiding excess sodium which is added to many other foods to enhance flavour.

...fixed formulation - this means the ingredients never change. We have found this invaluable in controlling gut upsets in our pets.

...high digestibility which means there is less output by your dog.

...complete formulation meaning we do not need any supplements.

...the range promotes a healthy coat due to a correct mineral and vitamin balance.

...free helpline (0800 282438) for all your pet nutrition questions.