Cold-Pressed Puppy Food – Healthy Nutrition From the Very Beginning

When a cute puppy becomes a member of the family, everything is brand new and exciting for both the little dog and its owners. Many questions arise about the care and nutrition of the furry friend. Does a puppy need different food than an adult dog? How much and which puppy food is right? What ingredients are contained in good dog food for young dogs? And should it be fed wet or dry food? We answer these and other questions for you on this page. 

Why does a puppy need special food?

Newborn puppies are blind, deaf, and completely dependent on their mother. They do not open their eyes for the first time until they are two to three weeks old. Until the eighth week, the little ones are suckled regularly. The mother's milk contains all the essential vitamins and minerals and is very nutritious, so the puppies grow rapidly and gain weight. However, when weaned from milk, they still have very different needs than adult animals. That's why there are also special puppy foods that meet their energy needs without adding too many nutrients at once. The growth of bones, the formation of muscles and the development of organs must proceed naturally. Because if growth is too rapid, the dog will suffer from health problems later in life. 

What ingredients characterise good puppy food?

This question gives many dog owners a headache. What does the puppy need, what is healthy for them, what could harm them? The selection of puppy food available is unmanageably diverse, and the number of ingredients frighteningly large. If the dog eats preservatives and flavourings with its daily food from an early age, these substances accumulate in the body over time. Over the course of a dog's life, this can add up to a lot - with uncertain effects. That's why good puppy food consists of natural ingredients that are processed so gently that the addition of synthetic additives is unnecessary. Good puppy food is species-appropriate and naturally healthy, especially if:

• Protein and carbohydrate content is adapted to the age of the young dog.
• It is produced without synthetic additives and preservatives.
• It has a high fresh meat or fish content (more than 65 percent).
• It contains fruit, vegetables and herbs in addition to meat.
• It contains only one source of animal protein.

We will be happy to send you a food sample

The right feeding times and amounts

A puppy drinks from its mother up to 12 times a day in its first week of life. The frequency decreases from week to week until they eat only solid food. But how often and when should a puppy be fed then? For young dogs up to three months of age, three or four meals a day are recommended, preferably in the morning, at noon, in the afternoon and in the evening. Three meals a day up to six months and until the first birthday, ideally feed, two or three portions of food a day. However, the size of the adult animal also plays a role. Breed-specific characteristics already come into play in the amount of puppy food fed.

How much food and thus how much energy a puppy needs per day depends crucially on its breed, sex and the puppy food itself. A recommendation for dry food is given by the following table, using the final weight of the adult dog as the basis for calculation:

The indicated average values were determined in practice. The optimal amount of food for the dog also depends on its age, temperament and activity level.

Puppy food – how long should I feed it?

Depending on the breed, it takes a different amount of time for a puppy to be fully grown. Puppy food should therefore be fed as long as the dog is still growing in order to provide it with the best possible care. In small breeds, growth is completed more quickly than in large breeds. In general, our puppy food can be fed during the first twelve months of life. In individual cases, however, the changeover to a regular dog food can also take place earlier or, in the case of large dog breeds even later. For the so-called giant breeds, it is recommended to feed puppy food even up to the age of 20 months. 

Which pellet size for my puppy?

Young dogs can also have the large pellets if they accept them. If the puppy or young dog chews treats, then usually the large pellets would be suitable. Many smaller breed young dogs readily accept the larger pellet variant too. The small pellets are an alternative for miniature dog breeds or still very young, small puppies that have to become accustomed to dry food by the breeder. However, if the young dog prefers small pellets, it is of course okay to feed the smaller pellet variant. 

Canis Plus® – stable growth for puppies and young dogs

The nutritional composition in puppy food affects the speed of growth. Especially in larger breeds, growing too fast with undesirable growth spurts often lead to health problems. That's why Naturavetal® also offers special food for puppies and young dogs. 

Naturavetal® foods do not contain synthetic additives, colourants or preservatives. In addition, we guarantee the quality of both the selected raw materials and the manufacturing processes. One of the special features of the Canis Plus® puppies & young dogs’ food is the coordinated composition of the ingredient ratios. Because an imbalance contained within the food is often responsible for a too rapid growth of a puppy. 

The Naturavetal® whole grain rice, for example, is a slow energy supplier, to avoid an oversupply of energy. Thus, this puppy food can prevent growth spurts. The fat and protein content of the food is precisely tailored to the needs of very young dogs. An extra portion of Dog Promin Complex with algae and herbs ensures the optimal supply of minerals. This benefits not only puppies, but also pregnant and lactating bitches.

Growing up with Naturavetal® puppy food

Naturavetal® puppy food accompanies dog and owner through the puppy and young dog period to a healthy adult animal. The joy of this bonding time when growing up is supported by a steady and continuous growth, which is fundamental for health in adulthood. The composition of the food is designed to give the puppy time to grow for optimal development of its skeletal needs. Slow bone formation ensures lasting health and good stability. With balanced nutrition, the puppy and its owner will launch a life full of exciting adventures together. With naturally pure and species-appropriate puppy food, the dog owner lays the foundation for a carefree puppyhood, a healthy life and a long unbreakable bond together.

Fish as a protein source for sensitive puppies

In addition to our classic Canis Plus® Puppies & young Dogs Poultry,  we have created a recipe with salmon for the more sensitive animals. The tried and tested gluten-free recipe with a high fish content is perfectly adapted to the needs of the puppy. The natural nutrients and vital substance content of the puppy food is rounded off by the addition of herbs, seaweed and minerals. Fish is particularly suitable as a healthy source of protein due to its high biological value. Even with food intolerances and allergies, our cold-pressed dry food has a high level of acceptance. Due to the gentle production process, the food does not swell in the stomach. Its special composition covers the puppy’s need for proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals during the growth. Millet is steamed opened for easy digestion and is a slow source of energy for this feed. The easily digestible and well-tolerated salmon is characterised by its high content of essential fatty acids. As a high-quality nutrient supplier with pronounced tolerance, this diet is not only suitable for puppies, but is also highly recommended for food-sensitive adult dogs. The proven composition of the puppy food is also continued in the complete diet Canis Plus® Salmon for adult dogs, so that the transition to adult food works smoothly.

Wet food or dry food - which is better for a puppy?

Both wet food and dry food have their advantages, which can vary individually for each puppy. In many cases, these are also related to the preferences of the dog owner. The most important thing is that the puppy food is of high quality, species-appropriate and naturally healthy. Whether wet or dry – this question remains secondary. The biggest advantages of dry food are the ease of storage and easy portioning. The necessary energy requirement is already covered with a small amount of food, which is favourable if the dry food is to be taken with you on a trip. However the disadvantage is that the food contains less water and the dog must necessarily drink enough. Cheap puppy food often contains too much with inferior grain, which takes longer to digest and can lead to flatulence. Wet food has the advantage as the young dog absorbs a lot of fluid whilst eating. It is juicy and therefore popular with most animals. When travelling, opened cans are rather inconvenient. Therefore, it makes sense in any case to vary between dry food and wet food or a combination of both feeding methods, in separate meals, for the puppy.

Choosing the right food – BARF for Puppies?

The BARF feeding concept relies on a high proportion of raw fresh meat as well as fruit, vegetables, herbs and oil. When feeding puppies BARF, it is very important that the puppy gets all the nutrients it needs through its food for healthy growth. Even with partial BARF, it is important to ensure that the puppy takes in enough calcium. If in doubt, supportive nutritional supplements can help. 

What must not be eaten by puppies  under any circumstances?

Some foods that taste good to humans are intolerable or even harmful to dogs. Dogs of all ages should not eat grapes and raisins, cocoa,chocolate, avocados, onions, raw potatoes, aubergines and tomatoes. In addition sugar substitutes such as xylitol, xylitol and birch sugar pose a great risk and can be a major danger.  These can be found in many processed foods, from sweets to baked goods to ready-made sauces. If the dog has ingested some, the first symptoms such as vomiting and seizures due to hypoglycemia appear within ten minutes. A visit to the vet is then unavoidable. Since curious puppies, reinforced during the change of teeth from the third to the eighth month of life, like to nibble on everything that comes between their paws, vigilance is called for during this time. Be aware in the house, in the garden, as well as when walking, the little dog may come into contact with poisonous plants. These include lily of the valley, ivy, boxwood, yew, lucky feather, autumn aconite and poinsettia/advent star. The leaves and flowers should not be chewed. In this guide you will learn more about the prohibited foods for dogs: "At a glance: toxic foods for dogs".

The best for the puppy

At Naturavetal®, we know that dog owners want the best for their dog – right from the start. With our puppy food, we try to support this effort by ensuring that our little four-legged friend gets everything it needs for a healthy upbringing through their daily food.