Choosing tailored nutrition for your puppy’s healthy growth
Guest blog from Royal Canin Canada
Why is it not recommended to feed puppies an adult diet?
The growth period is an important life stage in which a puppy is still developing in many ways. This includes visible changes like height and weight, as well as invisible changes like sensory, digestive, and immune system development.
To support this development, a puppy requires specific nutrition that is adapted to their needs including:
- Higher levels of highly digestible protein to build bone, muscle, and internal organs
- Minerals like calcium and phosphorus in the optimal level and balance to ensure proper development of bones and joints
- Omega fatty acids including DHA, for brain development and learning
Puppies also have higher energy (calorie) needs to support the rapid growth that occurs in the first 6-9 months of life. After this time, the growth rate slows and energy needs start to decline, but the puppy is developing, and their nutrient needs remain high until the end of the growth period. This can happen as early as 10 months for very small breeds, or as late as 24 months for giant breeds.
Providing nutrition with an optimal balance of nutrients throughout the growth period plays a key role in helping a puppy reach their full adult potential.
For more nutritional tips, visit royalcanin.com