Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting time, filled with cuddles, playtime, and the joyful chaos of a growing companion. One of the most critical aspects of ensuring your new furry family member thrives is providing them with the right nutrition. Understanding What Should I Give My Puppy To Eat is paramount for their healthy development, strong bones, and robust immune system. Puppies are primarily carnivores, though they do incorporate some plant-based foods into their diet. Naturally, puppies transition from their mother’s milk to solid food around 8-12 weeks of age. In the wild, young canids begin to consume prey animal carcasses as they become old enough (typically 7-8 weeks old), gradually reducing their reliance on their mother’s milk. This guide will walk you through the essentials of puppy feeding, from selecting the right food to understanding portion sizes and identifying foods to avoid.
Sleeping Lab puppy, emphasizing the need for proper nutrition for growth.
Essential Puppy Feeding Guide: The Basics
Navigating your puppy’s diet requires careful attention. While this information provides general advice, remember that every puppy is an individual. Always seek veterinary advice, especially if your puppy has specific dietary needs or reacts negatively to a standard diet. For more detailed insights into puppy nutrition, explore our dedicated article on what can puppies eat at 3 months.
Choosing the Right Food
The foundation of your puppy’s diet should be a high-quality, balanced premium commercial puppy food. It’s crucial to select a formula that is appropriate for their specific life stage (e.g., small breed puppy, large breed puppy) and health status. These specialized foods are formulated to meet the intense nutritional demands of growing puppies, providing the correct balance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.
Feeding Frequency and Portions
Puppies have high energy requirements and small stomachs, so they need to eat more frequently than adult dogs. To begin with, puppies should be offered food at least 4 times per day. As they grow, you can gradually reduce the number of meals. Adult dogs, for example, should be fed at least twice per day to help prevent bloat, a life-threatening condition.
It is vital to avoid both underfeeding and overfeeding puppies. Research suggests that overfeeding puppies, particularly those of large and giant breeds, can predispose them to serious muscle and bone problems later in life. Your veterinarian is the best resource for advising you on the appropriate amount and type of food for your puppy’s specific breed, age, and activity level.
Hydration is Key
Fresh drinking water must be available to your puppy at all times. Proper hydration is as important as solid food for their overall health. However, do not offer your puppy milk, as many puppies are lactose intolerant, and this can lead to gastrointestinal upsets such as diarrhea.
Regular Vet Check-ups
Regular visits to your veterinarian are indispensable. They can monitor your puppy’s weight, assess their body condition score, and provide tailored dietary advice to ensure they are growing optimally. These check-ups also allow your vet to address any emerging health or dietary concerns promptly.
Navigating the Teething Phase
Between four to six months of age, your puppy’s permanent teeth will begin to erupt and grow rapidly. This can be an uncomfortable period for them, often leading to increased chewing behavior. Introducing puppy-specific chew toys and healthy, chewable treats can help alleviate “teething” issues and redirect your pet’s attention away from gnawing on household items. The global Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) lists dental products that meet specific standards for safety and effectiveness in reducing plaque and tartar.
When considering what should I give my puppy to eat during this phase, it’s crucial to understand the risks associated with certain chew items. Bones and raw meat, for instance, are generally not recommended. They can lead to broken teeth, internal blockages, and raw bones also carry bacteria (like Salmonella and E. coli) that can make both animals and humans ill. For more information, refer to articles discussing what meat you should not feed your dog.
If you still choose to offer raw bones to your puppy, they should always be raw (never cooked, as cooked bones splinter easily) and introduced gradually. The bone must be large enough so that the puppy cannot fit the entire bone in their mouth or swallow it whole. Avoid large, hard marrow bones, T-bones, ‘chop’ bones (e.g., lamb cutlets), large knuckle bones, or bones sawn lengthwise, as these pose significant risks. Ask your butcher for safer, non-bone chewy alternatives such as cow hearts. Crucially, always supervise your puppy when they are eating bones to prevent choking or other accidents.
Expanding Your Puppy’s Menu (Safe “Other” Foods)
While commercial puppy food should form the bulk of their diet, occasional treats or additions can be offered safely.
Cooked Meats
Cooked meat, such as boiled chicken or lamb, can be offered occasionally as a treat. Always ensure there are no cooked bones present, and avoid onions, onion sauces, or other toxic substances. As previously mentioned, raw meat and bones carry bacteria that can make both animals and humans ill, and are generally not recommended. However, if you decide to feed your puppy any raw meat or raw bones, we strongly recommend choosing only human-grade raw meat and bones. You should specifically avoid raw meat products marketed as pet food (e.g., pet meat, pet mince, pet rolls, and bone products), sausages, sausage meat, and cooked manufactured meats. These products can contain sulphite preservatives, which have been linked to numerous pet food safety incidents causing sulphite preservative-induced thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency, a condition that can be fatal.
Fish Options
Tinned sardines in spring water, tinned tuna, and tinned salmon can also be offered as an occasional treat. Exercise caution with any potential fish bones. Fish should not be a constant part of their diet but can provide beneficial omega-3 fatty acids when given sparingly.
Vegetable Delights
A small amount of finely-cut vegetable matter can be offered, such as cooked pumpkin or carrots. These provide fiber and additional nutrients.
Access to Grass
Providing your puppy with supervised access to grass (ensuring it’s not chemically treated and free of toxic plants) can be beneficial. Puppies sometimes eat grass, which may serve as a source of vegetable matter and micronutrients.
Calcium Supplements
Calcium powder supplements should not be given to your puppy unless specifically directed by a veterinarian. Incorrect calcium supplementation can lead to severe skeletal problems, particularly in large breed puppies.
Foods to Absolutely Avoid (Toxic for Puppies)
Understanding what should I give my puppy to eat also means knowing what not to give them. Never, under any circumstances, feed your puppy the following substances, as they are highly toxic and can cause serious illness or even death (note this is not a complete list, and for specific breeds like French Bulldogs, certain foods can be particularly problematic; learn more about what can French Bulldogs not eat):
- Alcohol
- Onions, onion powder, garlic
- Chocolate
- Coffee or caffeine products
- Moldy or spoiled foods or compost
- Avocado
- Bread dough, yeast dough
- Grapes, raisins, sultanas (including in Christmas cakes, etc.), currants
- Nuts (including macadamia nuts)
- Fruit stones or ‘pits’ (e.g., mango seeds, apricot stones, avocado stones), fruit seeds
- Corncobs
- Green unripe tomatoes
- Mushrooms
- Cooked bones, small pieces of raw bone
- Fatty trimmings/fatty foods
- Salt
- Roughly-cut vegetables (can be choking hazards)
Additionally, ensure your puppy doesn’t have access to string wrappings around rolled roasts or absorbent pads found under meat when wrapped on trays, as these can cause internal obstructions. If your puppy has specific health issues, such as pancreatitis, it’s even more critical to be vigilant about their diet; consult guides like what should a dog with pancreatitis not eat.
Conclusion
Providing optimal nutrition is one of the most loving and responsible things you can do for your new puppy. By choosing a high-quality commercial puppy food, understanding appropriate feeding schedules, ensuring proper hydration, and diligently avoiding toxic foods, you lay a strong foundation for a healthy and happy life. Always remember that your veterinarian is your primary partner in your puppy’s health journey. Consult them regularly for personalized dietary advice and to address any concerns. With knowledge and care, you’ll ensure your puppy grows into a strong, vibrant companion. For more guidance on all aspects of puppy care, continue exploring our articles at Dog Care Story!
