Proper nutrition is the foundation for a healthy and happy puppy. Unlike adult dogs, puppies are in a critical stage of development. Their bodies are growing, but their digestive and immune systems are still delicate. Therefore, they have very specific nutritional needs that require special care and specialized food.
It is important for you to know that a healthy, energetic puppy can burn up to twice as many calories as an adult dog!
Thus, choosing the right food for your puppy is one of the most important decisions you will make as its guardian, because it can form the basis for a future full of liveliness and well-being.
The developmental stages of a puppy and their nutritional needs
A puppy goes through various stages of development, exactly like children do, and each and every one of them has its own unique needs.
6-12 weeks
During this period of critical importance, your puppy needs food specially designed for puppies. This food is rich in the essential nutrients for its proper growth.
It is important to avoid adult dog food, which cannot meet the increased needs of your puppy.
Usually, puppies at this age need 4 meals a day. If you have a large breed puppy, you can give them dry food without moistening it from the 9th or 10th week. For small puppies, this can be done from the 12th or 13th week.
3-6 months
In this stage you can reduce the meals to 3 per day. At the age of 12 weeks, your puppy should have lost their “childish” appearance. If they are still too chubby, keep on feeding them puppy food until their body has developed properly.
- 6-12 months
Between 6-12 months, puppies typically eat twice a day. If you neuter your puppy, their energy needs to decrease slightly.
Then, you can switch from puppy food to adult maintenance food. Small breeds can make this switch between 7 and 9 months, while larger breeds need more time, and they are ready to make the switch when they reach 12, 13 or even 14 months.
Generally, continuing with puppy food for a little bit longer is better than stopping it too soon.
How to switch from puppy food to adult food
Switching from puppy food to adult dog food is a crucial step in your pet’s life. You must be as careful as you are in every other change in their diet.
It is advised to make the switch gradually, over a few days. A sudden change can upset your puppy’s sensitive stomach and cause discomfort.
The nutrients that build a healthy future for your pet
Imagine that your pet’s diet is a complicate puzzle, where every piece is an essential nutrient. All these pieces must be combined with harmony to create a total picture of health and well–being.
At Tanko, we select ingredients based not only on their nutritional value, but also on their quality and sustainability.
Puppies have very different needs than adult dogs and humans. Their food must support their rapid growth, providing the energy and the building blocks they need to build a strong body and a sharp mind.
The basic requirements of a puppy’s diet include:
High energy supply: To support unstoppable activity and fast growth.
Adaptation to mouth size and teething: To facilitate chewing and digestion.
Strengthening of weak immune system: To protect pets from diseases.
Supporting cognitive, skeletal and cellular development: To lay the foundation for a bright future.
Taking all these into consideration, your puppy’s food must contain a balanced ratio of the following nutrients:
Carbohydrates: Mainly in the form of sugars, starch and fiber, they provide energy and support gut health. At Tanko, we use easily digestible forms of carbohydrates to ensure that your puppy gets all the energy they need.
Fat: A concentrated source of energy, crucial for both brain development and the absorption of certain vitamins.
Protein: The building blocks of the body, which are essential for tissue growth and repair. At Tanko we use high-quality proteins to support muscle and organ development.
Vitamins and Minerals: important for many bodily functions, from bone growth to strengthening of the immune system.
Water: not a nutrient by definition, but essential for life. Even though your puppy receives some of the water they need from their food, they should always have access to fresh, clean water.
The importance of a balanced diet
The diet your puppy follows in the early stages of their life will affect their health and eating habits forever. That’s why it’s so important to provide them with a complete and balanced diet, adapted to the needs of their breed and size.
If you have any further questions about the most appropriate diet for your puppy, please don’t hesitate to communicate with your vet, your best ally on this important journey.
Tanko Puppy products Line
At every stage, Tanko offers food tailored to your puppy’s needs, with a taste they will love and nutrients that will help them become a strong and happy dog.
From their very first bites -when they are tiny and need the appropriate food for them- to the period when they grow up and discover new flavors and textures, Tanko is by your side.
- Welly Puppy dog
Premium Dry food with excellent taste and high nutritional value. It comes with a blend of superfoods that supports your pet’s overall health, well-being, and longevity.
- Belize Puppy dog
Premium Dry food with exceptional taste and high nutritional value. It is reinforced with the unique 2D prebiotic complex that supports your puppy’s digestive health and helps strengthen their immune system.
Tanko promises the best puppy food
At Tanko, the phrase “Pets are family” is more than a simple slogan. It is our philosophy, our driving force. We are committed to keep on creating foods that meet the needs of puppies, with the same love and care that you would show to your own child.
Because we know that a puppy is not just an animal. They are a member of the family, a friend forever, a source of unconditional love. And that is worth celebrating with every meal.
