The right food for your puppy: what should you look out for?

When you welcome a new, small four-legged friend into your family, there are quite a few things to consider. How often and how long should a puppy sleep, how long can they go for walks, what kind of (coat) care do they need, and perhaps one of the most important questions: how and what should you feed a puppy? There can be some confusion, especially when it comes to choosing the right food. In the blog below, we take a closer look at the most important things you need to know about the right puppy food.

What should you feed a puppy?

It is important that puppies receive specially formulated food so that they can develop optimally and grow up healthy. Puppies have different nutritional needs from adult dogs. For example, puppies need more protein, which is essential for the growth of a young dog. Because a puppy needs “fuel” for growth, puppy food contains more fat than standard adult dog food. These fats provide a puppy with the energy needed for growth. In addition, the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is adjusted in puppy food, as both minerals are needed for the proper and balanced development of strong bones. Puppies need proportionally more calcium and phosphorus than adult dogs (adults: at least 1.25 g per 1,000 kcal/ME; puppies: at least 2 to 2.5 g per 1,000 kcal/ME). However, puppies are not yet able to excrete excess calcium, which can lead to joint problems and abnormal growth. It is therefore very important that these minerals are included in the food in the correct proportions and amounts. Finally, the size of the kibble in puppy food is adjusted: the pieces are smaller than those in adult dog food, making them easier for puppies to chew and swallow.

In addition to food, you can also treat your puppy to training treats or other snacks. Make sure these treats are suitable for puppies. Riverwood semi-moist snacks and crunchy snacks are suitable for dogs of all breeds aged at least 10 weeks. View here the full range of training treats.

Do you have a slightly older puppy who cannot resist a tasty chew snack? Riverwood chew snacks are also suitable for puppies from 4 months old. View here the full range of Butcher Shop Series chew snacks.

How much food can your puppy have?

At first, it can be difficult to determine the right amount of food your puppy should receive. Every puppy food has feeding guidelines on the packaging, which are usually based on the dog’s estimated adult weight. Keep in mind that this is the recommended daily amount of food without any snacks included.

Also remember that every puppy is different. The recommended daily amount of food is therefore only a guideline. Do you think your puppy is hungry or perhaps getting too much food? Adjust the amount of food, but do not deviate too much from the recommended daily amount to prevent the dog from missing out on essential nutrients. Finally, keep a close eye on your puppy’s stools.