Laying a good foundation of puppy nutrition

The puppy stage is the most important stage in a dog’s life. During this stage, dogs are growing and developing rapidly and need a lot of balanced nutrition. The puppies are very good at eating, as if they don’t have enough to eat every day, and they exercise a lot. In order to keep the puppies healthy and not allow them to eat unlimited amounts of food, it is required that the puppy food contains rich and sufficient nutrients.

According to the currently commonly referenced U.S. AAFCO pet food standards, the nutritional requirements for puppies are that the minimum protein content meets 22% of the dry matter of the dog food. The so-called 22% protein content here is calculated for dog food containing 10% moisture. . According to the physiological nutritional needs of dogs, generally puppies need to metabolize 6-8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight.

The fat requirements for puppy dog ​​food should not be less than 8%. The fat in dog food currently in circulation is generally more than 10%. This is mainly because puppies cannot fully absorb all nutrients. Generally, dogs do not need the fat in dog food. The nutrient content and absorption rate do not exceed 70%, so the nutritional standards of puppy dog ​​food will be increased accordingly.

The puppy stage is a stage where the body and bones are growing rapidly, so there are very strict requirements for calcium and phosphorus in dog food. Calcium is 1%, phosphorus is 0.8%, and the calcium to phosphorus ratio is required to be between 1:0.8-1. At the same time, there are also corresponding control requirements for the content of salt, and the maximum salt content must not exceed 1%.

Various problems of lactating puppies drinking milk

Dogs generally do not need additional nutrients during the lactation stage. But when the female dog dies after giving birth or there are too many puppies (usually more than 8), artificial breastfeeding is required.

In the process of artificial breastfeeding, milk is used as a substitute, so it is necessary to analyze the comparative nutritional value of dog milk in milk boxes.

The protein content in milk is 3.0%, and the protein content in dog milk is 9.0%; the fat content in milk is 3.5%, and dog milk is 9.5%; the carbohydrate content in milk is 5.0%, and that in dog milk is 3.0%. Milk is high in lactose, which can cause diarrhea, bloating, and even vomiting. So try not to feed milk to dogs. You can choose milk with lower lactose, and yogurt can help dogs improve their palatability. You can add some high protein such as milk powder to the milk to supplement fat, or choose goat milk powder, etc.

Several nutrients needed for puppy growth

1. Protein

Protein is the main active substance in life activities and the main nutrient for organisms to maintain their own life activities. In a dog's life, puppyhood is the most critical stage of development and requires the greatest amount of protein. So inIn dog food, the protein in the food should not be less than 30%.

2. Fat

Fat is an important component of the living organism, and its main function is to store energy. Each gram of fat can produce 9.4 kcal of energy after decomposition, which is higher than the energy of sugar and protein. The energy in fat cannot be absorbed directly by dogs and must be converted into fatty acids before it can be absorbed. Fatty acids are very important for dog’s cell membranes, reproductive organs and hormones. However, linoleic acid and arachidonic acid cannot be synthesized in the dog's body, but must be obtained from the feed. Dogs can easily absorb the saturated fatty acids in animal feed, but it is more difficult for dogs to absorb the unsaturated fatty acids in plant feed. Therefore, if you feed plant-based feed for a long time, your dog will become malnourished.

3. Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates, commonly known as sugar. In the dog's body, the main energy source for life activities is glucose, which can be quickly absorbed by the dog's body. Glucose is always maintained at a certain level in your dog's blood to maintain the energy needed by your dog's internal organs.

4. Vitamins

Vitamins are highly biologically active organic compounds that cannot be synthesized or are rarely synthesized in the body. If there is a lack of certain vitamins, the synthesis of organic matter in the dog's body will stop, causing the dog to develop some kind of illness. The various vitamins contained in their food are generally sufficient for the dog's body needs.

5. Minerals

Minerals refer to other metal elements other than carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the dog's body. Minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, etc. are the main components required for body nutrition. Among minerals, such as iron, zinc, iodine, manganese, selenium, etc., their content in the body is small. Although the content of minerals in dogs is small, they play an important role in the levels of hormones in the body, soft tissues, blood, body fluids, cells, etc. And it directly affects the conduction function of the nervous system.

7. Water

In a dog's body, the water content in blood accounts for more than 80%; the water content in muscles accounts for about 72-78%; the water content in bones accounts for about 45%. Dogs need water far more than they need food. There is no special water storage organ in the dog's body. The source of water mainly comes from the moisture in the feed and direct drinking water, so as to achieve the balance of water needed in the body. Especially after exercising in summer, dogs should be replenished with water in time.

In addition, there are some basic nutrients that need to be paid attention to. Dogs need a certain amount of chlorine and sodium, and salt supplements are the best source, but the salt content of puppy food must be less than 1%.