Puppy Feeding and Nutrition
As puppies are growing rapidly, and their digestive and immune systems are developing slowly, they have very specific nutritional needs that are different from adult dogs. Feeding your puppy a nutritionally complete diet tailored to their specific needs is vital for supporting healthy development and laying the foundation for a healthy future.
Why your puppy’s diet is so important
Puppies go through intense growth and development. Their diet plays a key role in supporting this and is crucial in influencing how strong and healthy your puppy is as an adult dog.
How your puppy’s nutritional needs change
A puppy’s dietary needs change at each stage as they move towards adulthood, which different breeds reach at different ages. To make sure that your puppy is appropriately supported throughout growth, they should remain on a puppy-specific diet until they reach adulthood.
One month old
At one month, a puppy can start to be gradually weaned from its mother’s milk onto solid food. They need nutrients to build their natural defences and promote good bacteria in their delicate digestive system.
Two to four months
At this stage, the focus is on supporting the development of your puppy’s skeletal structure with carefully regulated amounts of calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin D.
Four to Seven Months
Your puppy’s starting to build its body mass at this age and needs plenty of high-quality protein that’s easy to digest.
10 months old to adulthood
As puppies approach adulthood, they still need extra nutritional support for their joints, especially larger breeds as their muscles are filling out and putting pressure on their skeleton.
When does you puppy become an adult dog?
| X-SMALL | SMALL | MEDIUM | LARGE | GIANT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average adult weight | Up to 4kg | Up to 10kg | 11-25kg | 26-44kg | 45kg and more |
| Growth duration (birth to adulthood) | 8/10 months | 8/10 months | 12 months | 15 months | 18/24 months |