The right food is an important part of taking care of a puppy's well-being. A suitable and healthy diet for a puppy ensures balanced growth and development, and at best, it supports the dog's health all the way into adulthood. This article covers the basics of puppy feeding, making it easier for new dog owners to make choices regarding their new family member's diet.
What Kind of Food is Suitable for a Puppy?
In general, food is suitable for a puppy when it is enjoyed, the puppy is active and lively, and it grows and develops steadily. With the right food, the puppy's skin and coat remain healthy, the fur shines, and the skin doesn't itch. Suitable food will also result in firm stool, not too hard or too soft, and the puppy won't experience issues like bloating or gas.
A puppy needs enough energy (calories) from its food to support growth, protein for tissue and cell construction, and other protective nutrients like minerals and vitamins in the correct ratio. The easiest way to ensure that all nutrients are balanced and in the right proportion is to choose a high-quality commercial food formulated according to the scientifically proven nutritional requirements of dogs (NRC*) and guidelines (European Pet Food Industry Federation, FEDIAF).
The widest variety of options can be found in dry foods, which offer a range of choices based on both ingredients and the puppy's needs. There are also suitable options among canned (wet) foods, as long as the food is complete, meaning it is intended to be used as the main food and not just as a supplement.
The increasing popularity of raw feeding for puppies should be carefully considered. For hygiene reasons, it’s a better idea to use cooked products even when preparing homemade food for the puppy. In homemade food, it's important to ensure a balanced nutrient intake, and it may be helpful to consult an expert if you don’t have experience in creating puppy diets.
A puppy's adult size and growth duration influence its nutritional needs. Puppies of small breeds grow quickly and intensively, so they need a lot of energy. The smallest puppies have small portion sizes, so the food should be energy and nutrient-dense. For larger puppies (over 25 kg), particular care should be taken when choosing food.
Excessive energy intake, especially when combined with high calcium levels in food, can lead to skeletal growth disorders. Therefore, make sure that the food you use for large-breed puppies is specifically designed for large growing dogs or is suitable for all breeds.
National Research Council. 2006. Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
Should Anything Be Added to Commercial Food?
High-quality puppy complete food contains all the nutrients the puppy needs. Adding supplements such as minerals and vitamins to commercial food can, at worst, distort the puppy's nutrient intake and cause problems for the puppy's health and growth. Therefore, during the growth phase, it is not advisable to combine commercial food with supplements, unless guided by a veterinarian or nutrition expert.
If you are considering adding supplementary foods to commercial food, it should also be done carefully, and such mixed feeding should be planned thoughtfully. The table below illustrates an example of how the daily energy intake and several nutrients change when a 6-month-old puppy, weighing 5 kg as an adult, is fed the recommended portion of dry food or the same dry food combined with various supplements.
For example, calcium intake can decrease quickly when portioning based solely on the food's weight. Therefore, combining foods should be done with caution, and the proportions of food ingredients should be carefully considered to avoid unnecessarily compromising the overall quality of the diet. In mixed feeding, supplements are often needed to complement the intake of certain nutrients, such as calcium.
Example Table of Daily Energy and Nutrient Intake for a 5 kg Adult Weight Dog at 6 Months of Age
Example: Alvar Pet Performance/Chicken, our dry food designed to meet the needs of puppies
Source: Fineli.fi, National Food Composition Database
Can I Give a Puppy Supplements and Treats?
If you want to add supplements to dry food to get the puppy accustomed to different flavors, the amount of additional food should not exceed about 10% of the puppy's daily energy intake. In this case, there is generally no need to scrutinize the nutrient intake further. The same applies to treats. For training, you can also use kibble separated from the puppy's daily food portion as rewards.
Does a Puppy’s Food Need to be Changed?
A puppy can continue eating the same, well-accepted food throughout its growth phase without any immediate need to change its food. However, it is a good idea to occasionally offer different foods with varying textures and slightly different ingredients during the growth phase to help the puppy’s taste preferences and digestive system adapt to a variety of foods. Any food changes should be made gradually and cautiously to avoid digestive issues caused by the change.
For a puppy arriving at a new home at around 8 weeks of age, it is always best to continue feeding according to the breeder’s instructions initially. Changing food at this time can add stress, so it is best to avoid it. Any dietary changes should be made only once the puppy has settled in well, and when that happens, the food should be changed gradually, little by little, while considering the breeder's recommendations.
Why Won’t My Puppy Eat?
If your puppy is being picky with food, it’s not always necessary to immediately change its food or add tasty supplements, as this can make the puppy even more selective. However, if your puppy clearly has no appetite, it should be seen by a veterinarian, as food refusal could be due to food intolerance or other health issues.
You can read more tips on feeding a picky dog here.
How Do I Feed My Puppy in Practice?
Food Portion Size
When starting to feed your puppy, it’s best to follow the feeding chart provided by the food manufacturer. These guidelines are based on the puppy's calculated energy and nutrient needs, making them a good starting point for portioning. A puppy's energy needs change during growth, peaking during the most intense growth period, which typically lasts from 4 to 8 months of age, after which it gradually stabilises. Therefore, it is important to check the portion size monthly, depending on the growth phase.
Monitoring Growth and Body Condition
It’s important to closely monitor your puppy's growth and body condition, for example by weighing it weekly. There are similar growth charts available for puppies as there are for children at pediatric clinics. The puppy should grow and develop steadily, but there should not be any excess fat accumulating around the ribs.
Overweight during the growth phase places significant strain on developing joints and poses a high risk for future weight issues in adulthood. Therefore, it’s better for a growing puppy to be slightly lean than too chubby, except for the temporary round belly right after meals in the smallest puppies.
Number of Daily Feedings and Feeding Times
At first, a small puppy's daily food portion should be divided into multiple meals. This prevents excessive strain on the developing intestines from too large portions and helps maintain steady energy levels throughout the day.
Since a puppy has smaller energy reserves compared to an adult dog, it is more prone to low blood sugar levels. When settling into a new home, a puppy might be fed 4 times a day, reducing to 3 times a day around 3-4 months, and by 6 months, it can be fed twice a day.
Feeding times should be spaced evenly throughout the day. To ensure peaceful nighttime sleep, the last meal should be scheduled close to bedtime, but still allowing the puppy time to relieve itself and burn off some energy before settling down for the night. Otherwise, feeding times can be adjusted according to the family’s schedule.
When Should I Switch to Adult Dog Food?
You can switch to adult dog food once the puppy has reached its adult size in terms of bone growth and no longer requires additional energy for growth. The growth period varies by breed. Smaller dogs reach adult size around 10 months, while larger breeds can continue growing until 1.5-2 years of age.
Once the bones have reached their adult size, muscle development often continues for some time. Switching to adult food is a good time to reassess the young dog’s nutritional needs and select the appropriate food to support its individual requirements. For example, for small, active dogs, puppy food may still be suitable for their energy needs and nutrient composition even after growth, as long as the portion size is adjusted to match the dog’s individual activity levels toward the end of the growth phase.
More Detailed Information on the Nutritional Needs of Puppies
Energy Intake and Fat
Puppies require sufficient energy from their food as their energy needs are significantly higher than those of an adult dog, especially during the growth phase. Puppy food often contains a higher fat content, as fat is the primary source of calories in their diet. The fat sources in puppy food may include chicken fat, fish oils, and vegetable oils, which also provide essential omega fatty acids, particularly the long-chain EPA and DHA fatty acids found in fish oil. These fatty acids are especially important for brain development, so they are key in supporting the intellectual development of puppies.
Protein and Amino Acids
Protein is a critical nutrient for puppies, as their need for it is greater than that of adult dogs. Protein provides amino acids, which are essential for the growth of the skeleton, muscles, and the development of the immune system. Dogs need to obtain ten essential amino acids from their diet, which are required to form new proteins in the body.
Puppy food contains protein from high-quality sources such as chicken, fish, and legumes. These protein sources must be highly digestible to ensure the effective absorption and utilization of the amino acids. The quality of the protein is important, as it directly affects the puppy's growth and development.
Calcium, Phosphorus, and Other Important Nutrients
For healthy and balanced bone growth, puppy food must provide the correct ratio of calcium and phosphorus. The balance between these minerals is crucial because too much calcium can lead to growth problems in the bones, particularly in large breed puppies. Vitamin D, which helps with the absorption of calcium, is also an essential part of a puppy's diet.
Vitamins such as C and E have antioxidant effects, which support the puppy’s immune system and assist in its development. Vitamin E, in particular, protects cells from damage, while vitamin C supports collagen production, which is important for bones and ligaments.
Dietary Fibre and Gut Development
The development of a puppy's gut is supported by the fibre content in their food. Specifically, soluble fibres and prebiotics (like fructo-oligosaccharides) help promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut and assist in forming a healthy gut flora. A healthy gut supports digestion and immune function. Prebiotics also play an important role in developing the gut's immune system, which is vital for a puppy's health.
Fibre can be obtained from various raw materials, such as oats and barley. Other types of fibre, like psyllium and beet pulp, are added to recipes to support gut health and promote proper digestion.
Nutrient Balance
In puppy food, it is crucial that all necessary nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, are balanced and complement each other. A good nutrient balance ensures that the puppy grows and develops optimally and does not suffer from nutritional deficiencies.
