The average 4-week-old puppy needs about 1 ounce of formula for every 8 ounces of body weight per day, divided into four feedings, according to Banfield Pet Hospital. Your veterinarian can teach you how to do this. During his long association with man, the dog has perfected cunning methods to exploit the human habit of associating food with affection. Feeding puppies a complete and balanced food ensures that they receive the right nutrition to develop into healthy adult dogs.
The guidelines established by the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) require more than almost all nutrients for puppy food compared to adult food. If you are raising puppies yourself without the mother, or need to supplement puppies for another reason, a formula made specifically for puppies is the best option. Weaning is stressful for all canine parties involved, but you can help by showing puppies the joys of solid food. Once again, it's extremely important that you follow the puppy feeding chart provided by your specific puppy food.
One of these differences includes the minimum protein requirement, which is 22.5 percent on a dry matter basis for puppies and 18 percent minimum for adult dogs. There are differences between the nutritional needs of small and large breed dogs, and that's especially true for puppies. The veterinarian will make specific recommendations based on whether your puppy has more or less weight, has nutritional deficiencies, is spayed or neutered, and on their activity level and other factors, all of which will affect the recommended amount of feeding for puppies. According to Purina nutritionist, Allison Millican, PhD, “If you're feeding your puppy a combination of wet and dry foods, it's extremely important to ensure that the total caloric value doesn't fall short or exceed their daily energy requirement.
Feeding your puppy a complete and balanced high-quality puppy food helps them live a long and healthy life as an adult dog. In this scenario, you could replace a 13-ounce can of wet food with a cup from the daily dry food recommendation. Therefore, a puppy should receive 13 ml of formula per 100 g of body weight per day for the first week of life, 16 ml per 100 g of body weight per day for the second week, 20 ml per 100 g of body weight per day for the third week and 22 ml per 100 g of body weight per day for the fourth week.
