What should I feed my puppy?
Basic puppy feeding guide
The following information is general advice, but as each dog is an individual, seek veterinary advice, particularly if your puppy has any special dietary needs or has a reaction to a standard diet.
The basis of your puppy’s diet should be a high quality balanced premium commercial puppy food that is appropriate for their life stage and health status. By reading the label, you can check that it complies with the Australian Standard for the Manufacturing and Marketing of Pet Food AS 5812:2017 [1].
You can also offer some natural foods to provide variety. Natural foods include fresh human-grade raw meat such as diced up pieces of raw lamb. Avoid feeding too much raw meat off the bone while the pup is growing. This is important to prevent certain nutritional deficiencies during growth. Natural foods include raw meaty bones. Always check with your vet first that raw bones are suitable for your particular puppy (e.g. some puppies may have misshapen jaws and may have difficulty chewing on raw bones).
We recommend you choose only human-grade raw meat and raw meaty bones because some raw meat products marketed as pet food (pet meat/pet mince/pet rolls and bone products) contain preservatives to keep them looking fresh, but these can be detrimental to the dog’s health. There have been many pet food safety incidents linked to sulphite preservative-induced thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency, which can be fatal. You should avoid sausages, sausage meat and cooked manufactured meats as they can also contain sulphite preservatives.
How Many Times A Day Should I Feed My Puppy?
Puppies should be offered food at least 3 times per day to begin with, gradually reducing the number of meals as they grow (adult dogs should be fed at least twice per day to help avoid bloat, which can be fatal).
It is important not to underfeed or overfeed puppies.
Research indicates that overfeeding puppies (particularly large and giant breeds) can predispose them to muscle and bone problems. Your vet will be able to Raw bones should be introduced gradually. The bone must be large enough so that the puppy cannot fit the whole bone in its mouth or swallow the bone whole. Avoid large marrow bones, T-bones, ‘chop’ bones (e.g. lamb cutlets), large knuckle bones or bones sawn lengthwise as dogs may crack their teeth on these.weigh your pup, assess your pup’s body condition score and provide advice.
Fresh drinking water must be available at all times but do not offer your puppy milk as this can cause gastrointestinal upsets.
You will also notice that some puppies may sometimes scoff or gulp their food and water which may cause bloating or lead to a bit of throw-up food &/or water. Don’t fret, this is only temporary and will self-correct in 48-72 hours. If you’re a new parent, we understand you want to make sure your puppy is perfectly comfortable and happy and we always encourage more questions than no questions. At the end of the day, if your puppy is acting and looking healthy, there is no need to be alarmed over their initial behaviour with food consumption. If your puppy tends to gulp food a lot, try and feed smaller amounts several times per day until the problem is resolved. Oodles are known to be a little gluttonous so even older dogs still gup their food and throw up. If this condition persists over an extended period of time, especially if your puppy is not looking or acting healthy, a vet should be consulted, and be sure to let your Breeder know as well.
One last thing, like babies, each puppy is very unique and nothing is 100% predictable. If your puppy is eating well, playing normally and exploring then there is little reason to be concerned unless any problems continue long period with minimum improvement then we do encourage you to speak to your Breeder or Vet.
Your Puppy's Current Diet
Your pup has been fed on:
- ‘Advance’ Dry Puppy food (we offer an unlimited supply, puppies will eat as they require);
- Kangaroo/ chicken mince (1/2 cup) and puppy milk (1/2 cup).
Any changes to diet should be gradual.
Mon Amour Oodles
RPBA Reg No. 4128 BIN No. 0000847947
Additional Information
FEEDING BONES
OTHER FOODS
TOXIC FOODS
Between four to six months of age, the permanent teeth appear and grow rapidly. Introducing fresh raw meaty bones at around 12 weeks of age ensures they are chewing actively around the time the permanent teeth erupt. This chewing is important to alleviate “teething” issues and also provides several important health benefits including keeping teeth and gums healthy.
Some examples include raw lamb ribs and flaps (but not lamb chops), and raw chicken wings. Too many raw bones may lead to constipation. One raw bone per week is generally well-tolerated. ‘Meaty’ bones are better.
Never feed your dog cooked bones as these can splinter, causing potentially fatal internal damage or intestinal obstruction. Bones must always be raw.
A small amount of finely-cut vegetable matter may be offered, such as cooked pumpkin or carrots. Raw bones should be introduced gradually. The bone must be large enough so that the puppy cannot fit the whole bone in its mouth or swallow the bone whole. Avoid large marrow bones, T-bones, ‘chop’ bones (e.g. lamb cutlets), large knuckle bones or bones sawn lengthwise as dogs may crack their teeth on these.
You should always supervise your puppy when they are eating raw bones.
Dogs really like bones and can sometimes become protective over them, so take care and discourage young children and others from approaching dogs whilst they eat.
Cooked meat such as boiled chicken or lamb may be offered occasionally, but ensure there are no cooked bones, onions/onion sauces or other toxic substances present (see below).
Tinned sardines in springwater, tinned tuna and tinned salmon may also be offered as a treat occasionally (take care with any fish bones). Please avoid feeding fish constantly.
A small amount of finely-cut vegetable matter may be offered, such as cooked pumpkin or carrots.
Provide access to grass (avoid chemically treated grass and toxic plants). Puppies will sometimes eat grass which may be a source of vegetable matter and micronutrients.
Calcium powder supplements should not be given (unless directed by a veterinarian).
Do not ever feed the following substances as they are toxic to dogs (note this is not a complete list): alcohol, onions, onion powder, garlic, chocolate, coffee or caffeine products, mouldy or spoiled foods or compost, avocado, bread dough, yeast dough, grapes, raisins, sultanas (including in Christmas cakes etc), currants, nuts (including macadamia nuts), fruit stones or ‘pits’ (e.g. mango seeds, apricot stones, avocado stones), fruit seeds, corncobs, green unripe tomatoes, mushrooms, cooked bones, small pieces of raw bone, fatty trimmings/ fatty foods, salt, and roughly-cut vegetables.
Also ensure your pet dog doesn’t have access to string wrappings around rolled roasts or absorbent pads found under meat when wrapped on trays.