Nutrition, Balance and Healthy Puppy Food Diet

Puppies need the proper diet to help them grow. For this reason, puppy foods are rich in protein and fat, to give them the energy that they need to grow and thrive. Depending on the size of the breed, these foods will sometimes contain as much as 30% protein and 20% fat to sustain their nutritional needs.

Large-breed puppies will require less protein than either small- or medium-breed puppies need. This reduced requirement is due to the nature of protein: it builds muscle. Large breeds have larger, heavier skeletons that do the other breeds. This skeleton grows slower than that of other breeds. If the puppy's weight increases too rapidly for the skeleton to support it, then he will be prone to joint problems later in life.

• Digestive system: High-quality proteins in your puppy's food will increase the efficiency of his digestive system. A sufficient quantity of fiber will help removed toxins, such as ureic acid, from his digested food and the blood stream. Glutamine encourages the growth of the cells that line the digestive system, which ultimately improves your pet's digestion.

• Skeletal System: Your puppy's bones are growing at a remarkable rate. His body weight may double each week, for the first four weeks of his life, when he is nursing. During the next month it will more than double yet again. To support all of this growth, your puppy needs a food that is high in calcium and vitamins C and D. These nutrients are also important for the support of cartilage growth.

• Immune System: A strong immune system requires a the support of sufficient protein, for energy, as well as other nutrients. Antioxidants are important for removing the "free radicals" from your puppy's body, which helps slow the aging process later in life. Vitamin E, now commonly being used as a preservative known as "tocopherol," is an antioxidant.

• Skin and Haircoat: As with other systems, your puppy's skin and haircoat need protein to grow and be healthy. Fat and linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) both support supple skin and gives luster to his coat. Puppies that do not receive enough omega-3 fatty acids in their diet grow a dry, dull haircoat and develop skin lesions. These lesions become increasingly prone to infection if the deficiency is not corrected.

• Nervous system: Omega-3 fatty acids are also necessary for the development of the nervous system. Fats produce the coating for the nervous system called "myelin," which carries the electrical impulses from the brain to the body and back again. Without enough omega-3 fatty acids, the puppy's learning ability is decreased and his vision may be impaired.

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