Saturday, September 1, 2007
Keep Your New Puppy Healthy
So you are now the proud owner of the cutest little bundle, and you have probably already figured out that the new puppy will also be a new responsibility. Along with attention and training, puppies have nutritional needs like human babies that must be met in order to stay healthy and experience proper growth.
In the puppy stage of a dog's life, bones, joints, organs, muscles, the immune system, and even the brain is still developing, so it is extremely important that your dog receive the nutrients it requires in order for these things to form correctly. A properly cared for puppy will certainly be a healthier older dog.
Puppies need a lot of protein in their diet. A mother's milk, regardless of the mammal, has a ton of protein and for a good reason. Protein is the key to building muscle, skin, organs, coat, and many other important tissues, so it is vital that puppies get all of the protein they need. To make sure your pup has healthy bones and teeth, make sure it is getting the correct ratio of calcium and phosphorus in it's diet. Strong healthy teeth and bones are certainly the building block to a long and health life, with strong bones, your dog will be able to exercise, and with strong teeth it will have no problem with food. The immune system is one more major development that is greatly affected by diet and nutrition. Your puppy needs Omega Fatty Acids, which include Linoleic Acid, in order to have a compete and balanced diet and continue to build a good immune system. These fatty acids will also improve the health of a puppy's coat and skin.
Each of these nutrients must be found in your puppy's diet, so take the time to read dog food labels and even go over a diet plan with your veterinarian. Once you have found the right food to use, make sure you stick to feeding guidelines. Obesity in puppies is extremely unhealthy and will most likely cause difficult health problems in the future. Consider the size of your dog and follow recommended portions to keep your puppy at a normal weight. It is also a bad idea to feed your puppy table scraps. Not only does this promote bad training habits for the future, but "people food" is often much higher in calories and will often cause abnormal weight gain in dogs. If you change the type of food your are giving a puppy, do it gradually, slowly mixing more of the new food in with the old, so that the puppy's digestive system has time to adjust.
Considering the nutritional health of your puppy will defiantly affect the health of your dog in the future. You are laying the groundwork for your dog's development into adulthood, so why not read some labels and do your research? It will provide better days ahead for both you and your dog.
About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy.com, a leading online petfinder service provider. You can find a variety of puppies for sale and adoption that would be great for families or personal companionship. For more information, please visit MyDreamPuppy.com.
In the puppy stage of a dog's life, bones, joints, organs, muscles, the immune system, and even the brain is still developing, so it is extremely important that your dog receive the nutrients it requires in order for these things to form correctly. A properly cared for puppy will certainly be a healthier older dog.
Puppies need a lot of protein in their diet. A mother's milk, regardless of the mammal, has a ton of protein and for a good reason. Protein is the key to building muscle, skin, organs, coat, and many other important tissues, so it is vital that puppies get all of the protein they need. To make sure your pup has healthy bones and teeth, make sure it is getting the correct ratio of calcium and phosphorus in it's diet. Strong healthy teeth and bones are certainly the building block to a long and health life, with strong bones, your dog will be able to exercise, and with strong teeth it will have no problem with food. The immune system is one more major development that is greatly affected by diet and nutrition. Your puppy needs Omega Fatty Acids, which include Linoleic Acid, in order to have a compete and balanced diet and continue to build a good immune system. These fatty acids will also improve the health of a puppy's coat and skin.
Each of these nutrients must be found in your puppy's diet, so take the time to read dog food labels and even go over a diet plan with your veterinarian. Once you have found the right food to use, make sure you stick to feeding guidelines. Obesity in puppies is extremely unhealthy and will most likely cause difficult health problems in the future. Consider the size of your dog and follow recommended portions to keep your puppy at a normal weight. It is also a bad idea to feed your puppy table scraps. Not only does this promote bad training habits for the future, but "people food" is often much higher in calories and will often cause abnormal weight gain in dogs. If you change the type of food your are giving a puppy, do it gradually, slowly mixing more of the new food in with the old, so that the puppy's digestive system has time to adjust.
Considering the nutritional health of your puppy will defiantly affect the health of your dog in the future. You are laying the groundwork for your dog's development into adulthood, so why not read some labels and do your research? It will provide better days ahead for both you and your dog.
About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy.com, a leading online petfinder service provider. You can find a variety of puppies for sale and adoption that would be great for families or personal companionship. For more information, please visit MyDreamPuppy.com.
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