How To Feed A Small Dog?

When we adopt a small dog, we must take care of it just like a baby. But, unlike the baby, who will become an adult and have a life of his own, the dog will need us forever. If we do not provide them with the food and nutrients they need, their development will be impaired.

The proper diet of the small dog

To establish a nutritional diet, we must first know how old a dog must be, to be considered a puppy. This stage, between 0 and 18 months of age, is decisive for the development of our pet.

Let’s look at some tips for feeding a puppy.

Consult with the vet

When adopting a puppy, we will immediately take you to the vet. This will evaluate you, and schedule the vaccination. In addition, he can give us specific advice on what to feed a small dog. For this, specific aspects will be taken into consideration, such as the health of the animal, its breed and size.

The separation

The separation of the puppy from the mother must be done on time, and with a correct method. If done prematurely, the puppy’s health can suffer severely, even exposing him to death. It is recommended that the little one stay with his mother until 2 months of age.

Although the separation can be done at two months, the small dog will still have the need to drink breast milk. Today, there are products similar to breast milk on the market. With them, we can raise our puppy.

It is important not to make the mistake of using human milk. Regular milk can be very harmful to your digestive system.

What can we feed a small dog?

Until 8 weeks of age, the puppy should consume milk, either breast milk or artificial formula. With it you will get colostrum, a very important substance for your development. With colostrum, the little dog increases its defenses, protects itself from diseases, and prevents digestive problems, such as diarrhea, and some growth disorders.

Milk allergies

As with people, some puppies may be allergic to lactose, which is found in mother’s milk. In those cases, the little one will have to get by with so-called “formula” milks, substitutes for the bitch’s milk.

The observation work of the dog owners is essential, checking if the newborn has rashes, or their feces have a bad appearance. In these cases, the situation must be consulted with a specialist, to take the pertinent measures.

After 2 months, the puppy can start consuming specific feed. Ideally, up to 3 months of age, this feed is bound with water, because their teeth are not yet ready to consume solid food.

Use the correct prompts

It is important to know how many hours to feed a small dog, and how to prepare the food. Extra vitamins may need to be given, which will need to be prescribed by your GP.

Some indications to keep in mind are:

• We may need to bottle feed the puppy. The milk should be at room temperature, that is, at 37 ° C. The intakes will be every 3 hours, when they are under 2 months, and then every 4.
• If we are going to feed a small dog kibble, it is better to wait until the 6 months have passed. We’ll start with a small piece so we know if it will upset your stomach.

• After 2 months, the dog should eat 4 meals a day; from 4 to 6 months, 3 meals a day. From 6 months, 2 times a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

The choice of food

The chosen food must meet certain characteristics, to be the correct one. The first thing that we must identify, when choosing a feed, is that it is specific for puppies. This way we will ensure that it provides the necessary nutrients.

We have to verify that it is a quality food, observing if the ingredients include vitamin C, E and B, in addition, omega 3. The percentage of meat and fish must also be important. The cereal content will be low.

Avoid toxic foods

It is necessary to consult with the veterinarian about the fruit and other foods, that we can feed a small dog. We will prevent you from eating chocolate, corn, wheat, onion, garlic or avocado, since they are toxic foods, and will affect your health.