By: kikaru kung
Submitted: 2010-05-03 20:18:52 | Word Count: 543
Puppy Nutrition
Puppies are rapidly growing their 1st few months of life and will continue to grow for 12 to twenty four months, relying on the breed. Puppy food is nutritionally balanced to produce the extra nutrition and energy puppies need. In the first few months of your puppy's life, he goes through several changes like bone and joint development, cognitive development and brain growth, muscle development, internal organ growth and immune system development. To fulfill these requirements, puppies want much more protein than adult dogs. Puppy food is formulated to incorporate a better protein count, however the quality of the protein is additionally important. Create positive the first three ingredients of the food you get are protein sources, not "meat by-product" or any sort of grain such as corn, wheat or white rice.
Adult Dog Nutrition
Adult dogs have stopped growing and developing. So, they have fewer calories and a more balanced diet for maintaining healthy bones, muscles and internal organs instead of making them. They no longer need the extra nutrition to support growth, however rather a balanced nutrition to keep them healthy and at a stable weight. Puppies need 25 percent protein and 17 % fat content in their food. Adult dogs need eighteen percent protein and 9-fifteen percent fat, a lot of if your dog participates in dog sports.
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When to Switch to Adult Dog Food
Once your puppy reaches a bound size and weight, it is time to switch to adult dog food. How do you know when it is time? Create the switch from puppy to adult dog food when your dog is approaching adult height for his breed. Smaller breed dogs grow faster and could be prepared to change to adult food once 1 year. Medium sized dogs-twenty to fifty pound adults-might be prepared at 14 months. Breeds that are bigger than fifty pounds might need up to 2 years of puppy food. Dogs characterized as little zero-30lbs (0-13.6kg) to medium thirty-80Ibs (13.6-36.3kg) dogs sometimes switch to adult food when one year. Giant dogs 80+ lbs (36.3kg) ought to wait longer, until about eighteen months. Very giant breeds (over a hundred lbs/45.4kg) would like the extra nutrition in puppy food for nearly two years. You'll see the guide above or raise your veterinarian directly. It takes less nutrition to take care of an adult dog's body than a puppy's fast-growing one. Introducing your dog to adult dog food ought to be done gradually, over a period of seven to 10 days. To begin, combine equal amounts of latest and current food in your dog's bowl. Every day, merely increase the quantity of adult food while decreasing the amount of puppy food. However make certain to keep an adequate provide of puppy food available throughout his transition. Some dogs can react sensitively to the change. Loose stools or intestinal distress can be your sign to slow the transition down.
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Barbara K Howard has been writing articles online for nearly 2 years now. Not only does this author specialize in Nutrition, you can also check out his latest website about:
