Optimal Puppy Nutrition Guide

At Weidenstrasse, we understand the importance of a balanced diet tailored to the unique needs of growing puppies. The dietary recommendations provided here are intended to ensure your puppy receives optimal nutrition during their critical growth phases.

Adjusting Your Puppy’s Diet: While the dietary needs of each puppy may vary, gradual changes are essential to maintain their digestive health. If transitioning to a new diet, we recommend blending the new food with the old over at least 14 days to allow your puppy’s digestive system to adjust smoothly. This method helps prevent any digestive upset.

Managing Digestive Upsets: Should your puppy experience an upset stomach, an effective home remedy is to mix 8 teaspoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt into 1 liter of water. Offer this solution to help keep your puppy hydrated, removing access to regular drinking water until their condition stabilizes.

Initial Homecoming Diet: Upon bringing your puppy home, refrain from feeding them for the first 12 hours to avoid stress-induced digestive issues. Instead, ensure they have access to fresh water. We recommend feeding your puppy a simple diet of chicken and rice for about three days before gradually introducing their regular food.

Sample Diet Plan for an 8-Week-Old Puppy:

  • Brand of Food: Hills Large Breed Puppy
  • Breakfast: 120 – 150g of Puppy Pellets, mixed with a tablespoon of Husky or Pedigree canned food or mince meat.
  • Lunch: 120 – 150g of dry Puppy Pellets.
  • Dinner: 120 – 150g of Puppy Pellets, similar to breakfast.

Feeding Frequency and Amounts: Puppies up to 4 months old should be fed three times daily, transitioning to twice daily thereafter. Monitor your puppy’s weight regularly to prevent health issues associated with being overweight, such as hip dysplasia and growing pains.

Continued Nutrition: Your puppy has been weaned on Hills Medium Puppy food and transitioned to Hills Large Breed Puppy at 6 weeks. It is crucial to continue feeding Hills Large Breed Puppy until they reach at least 12 months of age to support their development.

Important Notes: Always adjust your puppy’s diet based on their age and activity level, and be vigilant about preventing obesity, which can severely affect their joints.

Maren von der Heyde