The nutritional needs of puppies differ considerably to those of adults, therefore it is necessary to find out about them and adapt their diet in order to achieve optimal development.

The period from 8 weeks to 12-18 months of age, depending on the breed, is a growth stage. Nutrition has very important direct effects that determine not only the animal's development but also possible disorders in adulthood.

The speed of growth during the first 6 months is very high and puppies use 50% of the energy for maintenance and 50% for growth. The need for other nutrients is also very high during this stage.

From 6 months the rate of growth is much lower and the use of energy for development drops to 10%. At 12-14 months, depending on the breed, the body weight reaches approximately 80% of the adult weight.

There are a series of nutrients, functional foods and additives that are particularly suitable for the improved development of our pets, such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which favour joint development from early ages, omega-3, ETA and DHA fatty acids, which are involved in the development of the nervous and immune systems and also improve the appearance of the coat and skin, and betaine, which favours liver function and muscular development, which are so important during the growth stage.

Advice from Canun^®

From week six, you can give your puppy dry food. It is necessary to give them food that is very easy to chew and very appetizing. To make the transition, you can wet the kibble to imitate the texture of the bolus that the mother chews for her pups.

The most important aspects to be controlled during this period are: weight, mood and stool composition. We must pay attention to these aspects in order to identify any problem with the puppy.

In large breeds, we should control quick increases in weight in order to prevent joint-development issues.

Puppies that will weigh less than 25 kg as an adult, will reach 50% of their adult weight at around 16 weeks, while those that will weigh over 25 kg will reach it at 20 weeks.

Always remember to follow your vet's checks and advice in order to guarantee the health of your puppy.

Always ask the opinion of your vet in order to guarantee your pet's good health