Basic Nutritional needs of Puppies

Guessed you just acquired that puppy or perhaps your Dog just whelped and you are looking for pointers on how to feed your new puppy? Keep this in mind: a puppy's nutritional needs are a lot different from an adult dog. He needs to get enough nutrients to fuel his speedy growth.

A puppy needs food made just for puppies. You can also feed your puppy commercially-prepared dog food that's labeled for "all stages of life." Like the common ones in the market
The number of feedings a day depends on your pup's age:

• 2 to 3 months old : 4 meals a day
• 3 to 6 months: 3 meals a day
• 6 to 12 months (up to 24 months for the largest breeds): 2 meals a day

In most cases, a puppy can start weaning from its mother's milk or substitute milk between the ages of 3 and 4 weeks. Ideally, this process takes place slowly over several weeks.
To help get your little puppy used to solid food, some veterinarians recommend wetting the puppy food with enough warm water to make a soupy gruel or by gradual introduction of other foods other than milk
Puppies like to play with their food, so you may need to encourage him to eat it. Try dipping your finger into the food and holding it out for your pup to lick.

Importance of Balanced diet in Puppy
Your puppy needs a balanced diet, which is found in many store-bought dog foods or can be prepared at home with the advice of your vet. A balanced diet gives your puppy energy, keeps his brain and body humming, and helps him grow.
When you buy puppy food, look for these words on the label:

• "Complete and balanced nutrition"
• "Meets the nutritional requirements of puppies as required.
• "Complete and balanced nutrition.

Your puppy will get all the nutrients he needs from puppy food with those labels. The key nutrients are:
Proteins. Proteins help build your puppy's tissues. 
Fats. Fats help keep his skin and hair healthy. They also help your puppy develop a healthy brain and healthy vision.
Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates help give your puppy energy.
Vitamins and minerals. "Complete" and "balanced" puppy foods have the right amounts of vitamins and minerals. Veterinarians warn that vitamin and mineral supplements can be unhealthy or even dangerous.
Water. Although some canned puppy food contains up to 78% water and can provide some of your puppy's water needs, it's not enough. Dogs of all ages should always have a source of fresh, clean water available to them.

Table scraps/crumbs
It's OK to feed your puppy an occasional treat. But most experts agree that treats and table scraps should never account for more than 10% of your puppy's daily calorie needs.
Overeating can lead to obesity, which can cause health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.
Also, remember that some "people" food is dangerous for your dog. NEVER feed your dog:

• Alcohol
• Avocados
• Bread dough
• Caffeinated drinks
• Chocolate
• Garlic and onions
• Grapes or raisins
• Xylitol (a sweetener)