What is the best first solid food for puppies

Feeding your puppy from birth to weaning

Weaning is an important part of your puppys development. When your puppy weans, it means they move from relying on their mothers milk for all their nourishment to enjoying solid foods.

During the journey from birth to weaning, the mother will usually look after their needs by doing what comes naturally to her.

From birth

During the early stages of its life, a puppy will live with its mother and siblings. During this period they will not need to eat solid food, but will exist on their mothers milk. It is now that your puppy will begin to develop their senses, which in turn will help them seek nourishment. Initially your puppy will develop a sense of smell that will help them find their way to their mothers breasts, which they instinctively recognise as a source of nourishment.

During this early period, the mother cares for her puppies by keeping them warm with her body and by licking them. She does the latter not only to clean them, but also to help establish their basic physiological functions.

Puppies need food and heat, so when the mother temporarily moves away from them, they group together to make up for the loss of heat that her fur provides.

Human contact is also important during this early period as, in being handled and petted, the puppies will get used to there being a human presence.

Soon your puppies will be ready to begin weaning, which means moving them on to solid foods for the first time.

Puppies are born with very little natural immunity, and they will not develop this fully until around 16 weeks of age. Therefore, they rely solely on their mother to help provide some initial immunity defence through her milk.

Colostrum, a nutrient-rich milk, which mum produces for the first few days after birth, contains immunoglobulins that protect them from potential illness while their own immune system develops.

Sadly, this transfer of vital immunity from mum is sometimes poor, and so the pups may be at risk until their own immunity defence kicks in. This period in a puppys development is known as the immunity gap. During this time, puppies may be more vulnerable to infections.

When to wean puppies

The recommended time for weaning puppies is from around 3 weeks of age and can last until the pups are around 7-8 weeks.

What to feed puppies

You should feed a food that has been formulated specifically for puppies. The nutritional health of puppies, just like adult dogs, depends on receiving the correct amounts and proportions of five essential nutrients:

1. water
2. protein
3. fat
4. carbohydrates
5. minerals

To be considered complete, a puppy food should contain all essential nutrients, except water, which should always be accessible. These nutrients must also be present in the proper proportion to ensure a puppy food is balanced.

Though fat, protein and calcium tend to get the greater emphasis in puppy foods, every single essential nutrient is key, especially during the period of rapid growth. Deficiencies in any essential nutrient can compromise short- or long-term health.

How to wean puppies

You should prepare their meals by mixing dry food with warm water and leave to soak for a few minutes until it has a porridge like texture sometimes blitzing the kibble in a blender first can make it easier.

• Offer in small quantities at first and allow the pups to lap at the porridge
• Remove any uneaten food after approximately 10 minutes
• Give regular small meals
• Increase the amount as the pups grow, following the feeding guidelines on the food packaging

Initially, the puppies may be a little apprehensive, but after watching their mother, who leads by example, they will soon get used to the new flavours and textures.

Puppies can then gradually move away from eating moist food to eventually only being fed dry food. Once the puppies are a month old, it is important to leave water at their disposal at all times.

During the early stages of weaning puppies off of moist food, you will notice significant changes in them, which can happen from day to day. They grow up fast, and in no time at all they will begin to interact and play amongst themselves, improving their posture and movement.

Weaning Puppies: How and When to Do It

The gradual transition of a puppys diet from their mothers milk to solid food is known as weaning.

This natural process allows puppies to become independent feeders and reduces the physical demands on the mother as the puppies grow.

Heres everything you need to know about weaning puppies.

When Should You Start Weaning Puppies?

The weaning process should begin at 3-4 weeks of age, when the puppies teeth begin to erupt. The discomfort of nursing teething puppies may cause the mother to pull away before her puppies are completely satisfied. Hungry puppies will naturally seek an alternate source of food.

Steps for Weaning Puppies

To start weaning, you will remove the mother from the puppies for an hour, two to three times a day, to try eating solid food.

Step 1: Make a Gruel

Make a gruel of canned or dry puppy food mixed with puppy milk replacer or water. Look for a well-known, name-brand puppy food that is not grain-free. Ideally use the same brand of food that the mother dog eats.

If the puppies do not take to the gruel, try blending this ratio:

Step 2: Offer the Gruel to the Puppies

During the hourlong periods where you separate the puppies from their mother, offer them the gruel in a shallow dish or baking pan. Place the puppies in front of it.

If the puppies do not seem interested, try dipping your finger in it and then touching their mouths so they can taste it. They may get messy in the process of exploring this new food.

Step 3: Reunite the Puppies With Their Mother

When the mother dog is reunited with her puppies, allow her to lick the remainder of the food from the dish and to lick the puppies clean.

Step 4: Gradually Increase the Amount of Solid Food

When youre beginning the weaning process, the puppies diet should consist of only 10% solid food. The gruel should be transitioned to less liquid and more solid until the puppies are able to eat the canned or dry food without diluting it. Then, you should gradually increase the amount each week until their diet is 100% solid food by the time they reach 7 or 8 weeks of age.

What to Do if a Puppy Isnt Weaning

Each puppy will wean on an individual schedule. If a puppy is not ready, continue to offer meals in the presence of another puppy, if possible. The example of exploration with solid food will encourage this behavior.

How to Feed Puppies After Weaning

After the puppies are completely weaned, offer them three to four solid food meals a day until they are 6 months old, then two to three meals a day depending on their breed requirements and growth.

Be sure that each puppy is gaining weight and not vomiting or having diarrhea. Seek veterinary care if problems arise.

What to Feed the Mother Dog

The mother dog should begin to eat puppy food during pregnancy, especially during the final two or three weeks. Consider a puppy food from the same brand that she is already accustomed to eating.

She should continue eating the puppy food as she begins to nurse her puppies. Dry puppy food should be available at regular meal times. This will keep the mother dog from excessively eating it and allow the puppies to develop an appetite between meals.

The demand for producing milk will decline as the puppies begin to eat solid food. With less time spent nursing, her milk production will decrease.

At week four, gradually transition the mother dog back to eating regular dog food, which will also help to reduce her milk supply. By week seven or eight, her milk production will cease without the stimulation of nursing puppies once they are completely weaned.

Featured Image: iStock.com/SolStock

Homemade Dog Food for Puppies

As puppies grow and develop, what they eat will be a big determining factor in their health. If we want to ensure their diet is one of quality and beneficial to their health, homemade dog food for puppies might be a good option. It allows us to carefully select the ingredients, ensure no additives are added in the preparation and we know the cooking process hasn't been compromised. Doing this is not as straight forward as some dog guardians may think. If we don't know the nutritional requirements of puppies, we may end up damaging their health.

In this AnimalWised article on homemade dog food for puppies, we discuss canine nutrition and provide 5 recipes to get you started. Before you do consider a homemade diet for your dog, you should first discuss it with your veterinarian.

Should you provide homemade food for puppies?

While there are many different varieties and ingredients you can choose in terms of what to feed your puppy, there are two main categories: commercial dog food and homemade dog food. There are different considerations to make for both of them. If you are thinking of making homemade dog food, here are the advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages:

• You can use organic and natural products.
• You can select foodstuffs which are more digestible by your puppy.
• There is the option for a rich and varied diet.
• We can improve the dog's immune system.
• Puppies should grow more vigorous by eating quality food.
• It is usually more palatable and accepted than commercial food.
• We avoid the use of additives and preservatives.
• The cost is very low in small and mini-breeds.

Disadvantages:

• Preparation is much more time consuming.
• It is not easy to ensure the dog's nutritional needs are met.
• If not supervised by a veterinarian, it can lead to nutritional deficiencies.
• There are no quality checks as occurs with commercial dog food.
• The cost is very high in large breeds.

As dog guardians, we will need to assess the pros and cons of a homemade diet for dogs. Commercial dog food does not have production methods set to the same standards as human food. There are many cheap and inferior quality products on the market which can appeal to those on a budget. However, there are also very good products which provide high quality feed. The nutrition of these products has been carefully selected and can be part of a balanced diet for your puppy.

If you have the time, capacity and economic resources, you can prepare homemade food for your puppy. You will need to speak to your veterinarian first. They will be able to assess the puppy and check for any underlying medical conditions which will be affected by diet. They can also provide general guidance to ensure you provide the best diet for your pup.

Homemade dog food recipes for puppies

1. Potato and heart for puppies

This recipe is usually very appetizing for puppies. It is also rich in vitamins A, B and C, as well as being full of potassium and other minerals. Heart is a cheap cut from the butcher, so it might also be good for your bank balance.

• 150 g of beef or sheep heart
• 100 g of white potato
• 1/2 cup of oatmeal
• 1/2 zucchini
• 2 carrots
• A pinch of turmeric
• Sunflower oil

Method:

1. Peel and chop the vegetables into very small cubes, appropriate for the size of the dog.
2. Boil potatoes celery and carrots.
3. Lightly grill or bake the heart (using oil if necessary). Add the turmeric.
4. Wait until all ingredients are cooked and the heart has cooled.
5. Chop the heart into bitesize pieces. Mix with the cooked vegetables.
6. Allow to cool and serve.

2. Rice with salmon for puppies

This rice and salmon dish is rich in healthy fats and Omega-6 fatty acids which are essential for our dog. It will also be good for hydration and is incredibly appetizing to a dog. For this homemade recipe you will need:

• 30 g brown rice
• 150 g salmon
• 1 small piece of raw cow femur
• 20 g cauliflower
• 1 pinch of parsley
• Sunflower oil

Method:

1. Rinse the rice and bring to boil in a saucepan of water (see packaging for specific instructions).
2. Dice the salmon and chop the cauliflower.
3. Saut or bake the salmon and vegetables together. Sprinkle parsley on top.
4. In a food processor, chop the raw piece of cow bone into fine pieces.
5. Once rice is fully cooked, mix all the ingredients together.
6. Add a splash of vegetable or olive oil.

Puppies under 12 weeks of age will not be able to chew bones, so we can add the fine pieces of chopped bone. The bone should not be cooked. Only add bone to their dish once a week as too much can lead to constipation.

3. Meat with tomato for puppies

This recipe is one of our homemade puppy food options which is completely grain free. It is usually enjoyed by puppies and should go down a treat. You will need:

• 200 g stew meat
• 3 tomatos
• 2 carrots
• 20 g of chard
• 1/2 raw beef knuckle (optional)
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Thyme

Method:

1. Peel and chop carrots, then grate the tomatoes. Finely chop the chard.
2. Saut the vegetables and meat in a shallow pan.
3. Add the processed half beef knuckle if they have not had bones that week.
4. Once the tomatoes are reduced and meat cooked, cool and serve.

4. Chicken risotto for puppies

This recipe is very rich in protein, healthy fats, hydrates and calcium. It is very tasty and great for puppies who are still teething. You will need:

• 150 g chicken or turkey
• 30 g white rice
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 yogurt
• 20 g asparagus
• Vegetable oil

Method:

1. Boil the eggs in a saucepan and shell once the yolk is hard.
2. Grate the eggs with a cheese grater.
3. Crush the egg shells very finely.
4. Dice the chicken.
5. Boil another pan with rice.
6. Saut the asparagus in a pan and add the rice.
7. Stir the rice and then add some of the boiling water.
8. Stir occasionally and incrementally add more water as the rice absorbs it.
9. Add the chicken pieces and grated egg halfway through.
10. Add yogurt and finely crushed egg shells.
11. It is done when the rice is cooked.

5. Meatloaf for puppies

This is a rich and delicious recipe for puppies which can provide several portions. Try not to choose too fatty a meat, but it will need to have some. There is also lots of protein.

• 150 g mince meat
• 30 g sweet potato
• 1 tablespoon of brewer's yeast
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Pinch of thyme
• 30 g of kefir

Method:

1. Cube sweet potato and cook in pan of boiling water.
2. Saut the meat with olive oil and thyme until brown.
3. When sweet potatoes are boiled, mix in the kefir and brewer's yeast.
4. Mix all ingredients into a cake.
5. Finish off in the oven at 350 F until cooked through.
6. Cool and serve.

What to feed a puppy at different stages

Now you know these 5 recipes for homemade puppy food, you will need to know how often you should feed them. How much you feed will depend on the size of the puppy, but they are generally quite self-regulating. If you are at all unsure, check with your veterinarian.

Puppy feeding schedule (by month):

• Before 1 month: if a puppy is less than one month of age, they should feed solely on their mother's milk. In case the mother is ill, has died or has rejected the puppy, you will need to buy artificial puppy formula. This product is sold in veterinary clinics and pet stores.
• 1 month: after this time, a wild dog mother will start to regurgitate solid food to offer to their puppies. They will do this alongside offering milk as part of the weaning process onto solid food. At this time, the baby's teeth start to emerge, but they will not be strong enough for solids. We will need to ensure any food they eat is properly mashed. If using dry commercial food, you will need to add water.
• 1 - 2 months: the mother dog will progressively stop feeding her puppies. We will need to observe when this happens and offer them 1 to 2 portions of soft food a day.
• 2 - 6 months: at this stage, the puppy has stopped feeding on breast milk and will start eating food on their own. 3 portions per day is ideal at this stage of the puppy's life. If using bones, you will still have to crush them very fine to avoid choking.
• 6 - 12 months: from a year of life, we can go back down to feeding our dog 2 portions per day, as we do with adult dogs. Some larger breeds may need more time to develop, but this will need to be discussed with the vet.

Remember that puppies will eat and gain benefit from the same ingredients as adult dogs. We just need to ensure the consistency is palatable and we control portion size according to their age and development. We have all the information you need if you require homemade puppy formula as a milk replacement.

It is best to vary your dog's diet as much as possible. Use all different kinds of meat and vegetables, but ensure they are the right kind for your dog. Do not offer any food which is toxic to dogs. While dogs will have a stronger stomach than humans, we still need to ensure the food is clean and free of bacteria. This is especially so for puppies who are vulnerable to disease.

If you want to read similar articles to Homemade Dog Food for Puppies, we recommend you visit our Homemade diets category.

Tips

• If you observe vomiting or diarrhea, contact a veterinarian immediately.
• If you want to give bones to your puppy, crush them finely before serving.
• Use high quality and fresh ingredients.
• Have the veterinarian examine the puppy first and continue monitoring their progress.