Puppies, their Growth and Nutritional Needs

 The newborn puppy

Immediately following birth, the mother produces a special type of milk called colostrum. Colostrum contains antibodies and other immune substances that help protect the newborn puppy from disease. These protective substances can only be absorbed through the intestine during the first 24 hours of life, so it is vitally important that the puppy begins to nurse from his mother as soon as possible after birth.

 The nursing puppy

The mother’s milk slowly changes from colostrum to mature milk within the first 24 to 72 hours. During the first 3 to 4 weeks of life, puppies should nurse a minimum of four to six times daily. In healthy puppies, the mother’s milk is adequate for normal growth until about 4 weeks of age. After this time, milk alone cannot meet the high demands for the calories or nutrients needed to ensure continued normal development, so supplemental feeding should be introduced.

 The weaning puppy

To help supplement the nutrition of mother’s milk and to prepare puppies for weaning, puppies should be introduced to semi-solid food at around 3 to 4 weeks of age. Soak puppy food in warm water for at least 20 minutes and then mix to form a thick gruel. We do not recommend either cow’s or goat’s milk, as this may cause diarrhoea. Offer the soaked food at least three times daily. Dry puppy food can be introduced from 6 weeks of age. Most puppies are fully weaned off their mother’s milk by 8 weeks of age.

 The growing puppy

Puppies grow most rapidly during the first 6 months of life, reflected by an increased need for energy and essential nutrients. A complete and balanced food is therefore an important component of a puppy’s growth and development. Eukanuba provides scientifically advanced growth products to meet the specific nutritional needs of puppies, from weaning until fully grown.

 Energy and Protein

The energy needs of growing puppies can be nearly three times that of an adult dog (per kg metabolic body size). During growth, rapid tissue development takes place, reflected primarily in increased needs for energy and essential nutrients, including the optimal essential amino acid profile. Similarly, their protein requirement also exceeds that of adult dogs. Puppies need more protein to build new tissue. Eukanuba growth products contain adequate levels of high quality, easily digestible protein from chicken, egg and fish, along with concentrated energy from animal fat.

 Digestibility and Fibre

Puppies are renowned for eating everything they come across and as a result many puppies suffer from occasional bouts of diarrhoea. Eukanuba growth products help minimise diarrhoea by being highly digestible and containing the moderately fermentable fibre, beet pulp. Beet pulp supplies energy to the cells of the intestine, promoting a healthy gut and small firm stools.

 COAT SCIENCE 6:3™

All Eukanuba growth products contain COAT SCIENCE 6:3™, the optimal balance of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acids, to promote a healthy skin and coat. Omega-6 fatty acids are essential for life, but too many can result in an excessive inflammatory response to scratches, sores, bites or parasites. Omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce inflammation but it is essential that they are balanced with the Omega-6 fatty acids for optimal effect. Iams research has shown that the optimal balance of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acids in a dog food is between 5:1 and 10:1.

 Different breeds

Although every puppy grows rapidly during the first 6 months of his life, there are significant differences in weight and growth development between breeds. These differences are already apparent in birth weight and litter size. A poodle bitch, for instance, will give birth to 1-3 puppies, each one weighing approximately 5% of their mother’s body weight. A German Shepherd will carry a litter with 8-12 puppies, with each puppy weighing 1% of their mother.

Also the duration of growth and growth rates will vary significantly. After one year the poodle will have multiplied his birth weight by 20, a Beagle by 50, a German Shepherd by 70 and a Great Dane by 100. And by 8 months the poodle will have almost reached his adult weight, whereas the Great Dane matures at approximately 2 years. These differences in growth development lead to very specific nutritional needs. Feeding mistakes during growth can have severe consequences.

Smaller breed puppies, for example, have higher metabolic rates. It is important to provide these puppies with enough energy and nutrients adjusted to their limited stomach capacity. Eukanuba Puppy rich in Chicken is specially developed to meet the nutritional needs of small breeds from 3 weeks to 8 months, and for medium breeds until 3 months.

 Careful controlled growth

The growth of large breed puppies must be very carefully controlled. These puppies grow very fast during the first 12 months of life. If their growth rate is too rapid or if dietary calcium levels are excessive, they can develop bone diseases. Food for large breed puppies must therefore contain less fat to prevent over-consumption of calories and reduced calcium levels, balanced to the energy content of the nutrition. Eukanuba Junior Large Breed rich in Chicken contains less fat than Eukanuba Puppy to prevent this over-consumption of energy. The protein level in Eukanuba Junior Large Breed is reduced, balanced to the fat level, while the level of calcium is also reduced (0.80%). These factors help to achieve optimal growth rates in large breed puppies, while minimising the chance of developmental bone diseases. In contrast to the general beliefs of many dog owners, feeding growing puppies moderately restricted levels of a well-balanced nutrition will not affect final body size or development. Eukanuba Junior Large Breed rich in Chicken can be fed from 3 weeks to 18 months.

 Transition to adult foods

Some breeds reach the adult stage before others. Small breed puppies need to switch to an adult food between 8-12 months of age, medium breeds at 12-15 months of age, and large breeds at 15-18 months of age.

 Every puppy requires his own individual nutrition

Because different breeds have very different nutritional needs, Eukanuba offers a complete range of growth products for small, medium, and large breeds. This ensures that every puppy can start with the correct nutritional basis. The best guarantee for healthy growth!