Puppies and growing up

There are four key growth periods in a puppy’s life in terms of their nutritional requirements:

The newborn puppy: the critical first few hours of life

The nursing puppy: from birth to week 4

The weaning puppy: from week 4 to week 8

The growing puppy: from week 8 to adult

The newborn
Immediately after 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 be nursed 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. Give 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: 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.

Puppies are renowned for eating everything they come across and as a result many puppies suffer from occasional bouts of diarrhoea. Beet pulp supplies energy to the cells of the intestine, promoting a healthy gut and small firm stools.