The food gives us energy and helps us to grow, so it does to the puppies. The food and the feeding schedules vary with breeds. The eating habits of the pet should be supervised and strictly followed from its puppy days it self. The overeating should be avoided. The puppies that get their meals more often tends to loose their interest in food until fed with some special treat. This wrong habit becomes the major cause of health problems like over weight and dysplasia in dogs.

 

 There are few dos and don’ts to taken care of while feeding the puppy are:

 

  • Choose the correct food for your puppy. Do not get duped by the rich ingredients low price dog food available in the market. Contact the breeder or a local vet to know the good brands of the dog foods available.

 

  •    Along with the correct food, you should also know the right quantity to be fed. The puppy should be fed 3 to 6 times a day with 3 milk feedings and 3 semisolid feedings for the initial three months. The milk quantity can vary between 150 to 300ml. Beef meat or egg with rice can be given as semisolid diet. If you feel, your puppy demands food quite more often, you can split the meals in to 4to5 times a day thus reducing the food quantity. After 12th week, the puppy should be fed only twice a day.

 

  •   The feeding bowl should be placed in front of them and the puppies should be allowed to eat for not more than 15 minutes. This habit prevents overeating.

 

  • As the puppy grows the diet feeding intervals should be reduced to 4 times a day thus increasing the quantity of the food.  A three months old puppy can be fed with vegetables, biscuits and bread crumps.

 

  • If you do not want your puppy begging for food when you are eating your meals, then do not feed it with people food.

 

  • The dry food is advised by most of the vets as it is cheap, easy to use and better for the puppy’s teeth. Though, the canned food is another good option.

 

  • The puppies should be fed in a clean bowl that should be washed after every meal. The adjustable feeding stands make it easy for the young puppies to eat in its feeding bowl. Try to understand the mood of your not so old puppy. Feed it when it feels like.

 

  • If the puppy is on mother’s feed, keep a close watch on what the mother is been fed on. Regularly check up on the mother’s milk supply to ensure whether it is enough for the litter. This can be done by gently squeezing the breast below the nipple. The milk flow should be free.  

 

  • If hand raising the puppy, make use of catheter tip syringe or feeding tubes. Pick the size according to the breed.

 

 The eating habits and routines may vary from breed to breed.

 

Large Breeds

For first three months should be fed with 300ml of milk and 300g of semisolid feed and egg

From three to six months, milk quantity should be increased to 400ml. Vegetables can be added to his diet.

Medium Breeds

250ml of milk and 250g of semisolid food like cereals, corns and rice is sufficient for initial three months.

Raise the quantity of milk and semisolid to 300units up to six months. Bread crumps and biscuits can be given in a controlled manner.

Medium Lean Breeds

These puppies do not require more than 200 units of milk and semisolids. Minced meat, eggs and vegetables can be given to them in initial three months.

For three to six months old puppy, the quantity should be raised to 250 units.

Small Breeds

These puppies get their balanced diet within 150 units of milk and semisolid foods.

After three months, they should be fed with 200-250 units of milk and semisolids.

 

 

Along with the balanced diet, adequate amount of water is also necessary for the puppy in initial months. If the puppy is being fed on canned milk or yogurt, do add some water to the formula and bring it to the room temperature before feeding. Homogenized milk and whole cow’s milk should be completely avoided in initial days as it may cause diarrhoea.