THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF A PUPPY
Here at St Lukes we know puppies. They are an energetic, rapidly growing bundle of mischief. Which means they have unique nutritional needs. Our puppy formulas are uniquely developed to ensure that these nutritional need are well catered for. Helping your puppy develop into the bright, inelegant adult dog they were meant to be.
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Puppies are typically weaned off their mother’s milk from around the age of 8 weeks. The goal of feeding growing puppies is to lay the foundations for healthy adulthood. Proper nutrition is required to achieve healthy growth, optimise immune function and minimise the potential for obesity and diseases. It’s important to note that a puppy’s nutritional needs are a lot different from an adult dog.
Some of the basic components necessary to the health and growth of a puppy are water, calories, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals.
WATER
Water is the most vital nutrient for all mammals and makes up 75% of the body mass at birth. It has a major role in the functions of the body including the transportation and delivery of nutrients, regulation of body temperature and lubrication of joints, eyes and inner ear. If a puppy does not receive enough water then it will start to show signs of dehydration such as lethargy and dry skin.
CALORIES
One of the most important factors of a puppy’s diet is to ensure that there is a large number of calories that fits into a small stomach. It is advised that to feed puppies little of often which helps to fuel them until their next feeding.
PROTEIN
Protein provides amino acids which are the building blocks to growth. Puppies require significantly more protein than adult dogs and this is particularly important during the rapid growth phase up to 14 weeks of age. An insufficient supply of protein can lead to poor growth and development.
FATS
This is an important source of energy for fuelling growth. It is estimated that fat has approximately twice as many calories per gram compared with protein or carbohydrates, making this an ideal component of a puppy recipe.
VITAMINS AND MINERALS
Puppies have specific vitamin and mineral requirements that differ from adult dogs. They require minerals that help develop healthy bones and teeth such as calcium and phosphorous, as well as zinc that play a role in skin health and protein metabolism.
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All of our foods recipes has been formulated with the finest ingredients to help support the growth and development of puppies.
