Dogs at different ages have different personalities and nutritional needs. Providing a nutritious diet that's appropriate for their growth is crucial for dog owners. Providing the right food for each age group can help your dog stay healthy and develop well.
This time, we're sharing some knowledge about how to feed dogs according to their age group for all dog lovers to use in feeding their children at home. If you're curious about what types of food dogs of different ages should eat, let's learn about this to create good health for our beloved dogs.
The right amount of food for dogs of all ages
The amount of food a dog eats should vary for each individual dog, depending on their basic needs, such as body size, age, pregnancy, or illness. Owners should therefore observe, pay attention, and decide on the appropriate amount of food for their dog. Do not feed the dog too much or too little at each meal. Do not overindulge the dog until its stomach is completely bloated.
Feeding dogs according to their age
Food for puppies aged 6-10 weeks (one and a half months – two and a half months)
Puppies that are approximately 6-10 weeks old are in a period where they need to spend time taking care of their food properly because this is the period when puppies are not yet weaned from their mother. At this age, puppies will have only 2 behaviors: eating and sleeping because they are not yet able to walk very well. Therefore, the owner still needs to feed them milk.
Recommended food recipe for puppies 6-10 weeks old
- Ready-to-eat dry food for puppies (soak the dry food in warm water and then pour out the warm water, leaving only the soft dry food)
- Plain milk
Mix unsweetened milk with the kibble that has been soaked in warm water without mixing. Give it to the puppy 3-4 times a day. Dogs of this age will eat easily and have few problems. However, you must be very careful not to give the food contaminated with dirt. Do not give leftover food or give the puppy old food, as this can cause diarrhea.
Food for puppies aged 10-12 weeks (two and a half months – three months)
Puppies of this age can be weaned off their mother's milk by giving them a milk substitute, but only fresh milk. Train the puppy to eat it frequently and he will get used to it.
Recommended food recipe for puppies aged 10-12 weeks
- Ready-to-eat dry food for puppies (no need to soak in warm water)
- Boiled eggs, choose only the yolk.
- Plain milk
Crush the egg yolk a little and mix it with the kibble. Pour in fresh milk without mixing. Give it to the puppy or you can separate the milk and give it to the puppy separately. Give the puppy the egg yolk mixed with the kibble 3-4 times a day.
Food for puppies aged 3 – 12 months
Dogs at this age will eat easily and eat a lot because they are in the growth stage. They like to run and play, so they need a lot of energy. It is important that dogs at this age are weaned from their mother's milk. They should be given other milk instead of their mother's milk, but it should be only fresh milk.
Recommended food recipe for puppies aged 3 – 12 months
- Ready-to-eat dry food for puppies (no need to soak in warm water)
- Boiled eggs, using only the yolk
- Plain milk
Crush the egg yolk and mix it with the pellets without soaking them in water to soften them (you can feed them ready-made). Pour in fresh milk and mix without mixing, or you can give the milk separately to the puppy. Feed it 3-4 times a day. When dogs are 6 months old and older, feeding should be changed to twice a day.
Food for dogs aged 12 months and older
Dogs at this age are considered fully grown. We can feed them commercially available dry food, as well as supplementary food such as vegetables and fruits. Ready-made dog food will have more complete nutritional value than if we cook it ourselves.
Recommended food recipes for dogs 12 months and older
- ground beef
- rice
- Vegetables boiled in broth
Mix the three ingredients in equal proportions. Cartilage should be added for chewing to keep teeth strong and clean. The bones chosen should be chewable. Chicken bones should not be given because when chewed, they break into small pieces that can penetrate the intestines and cause problems for the dog. Food should be given at the same time and consistently.
Food for senior dogs
Older dogs often have dental problems and are unable to chew food as well as before. Owners may need to adjust their food to be softer. Choose a kibble that is labeled suitable for senior dogs, as dogs of this age do not like to move much and prefer to eat and sleep most of the time. If they receive more nutrients than necessary, it can lead to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and osteoarthritis. Therefore, owners must adjust the food formula to reduce the amount of protein, certain minerals, and salt to help reduce kidney work. And keep plenty of water near the dog's favorite spots, because as dogs get older, they tend to drink less water and risk dehydration.
Essential nutrients for dogs
Dogs are adaptable animals. They can eat anything we provide or according to their preferences, but it must be done gradually. For example, if they eat only meat, they can gradually start eating rice and vegetables because dogs need the same essential nutrients as people.
If you want to cook your dog's food yourself, it should consist of rice, meat, and vegetables as the main ingredients. Adjust the flavor to make it appealing because dogs have taste buds. If the food is pleasing and tastes good, they will eat it with relish. You should also rotate the food. Don't feed the same food repeatedly, as this can lead to a deficiency in any one nutrient, which could lead to health problems in the future.
If owners have knowledge and understanding of the differences in nutritional needs of dogs at different stages of life, it will help keep our dogs healthy and be another way to prevent potential health problems.
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References
Dr. Ornya Praphanphot (Dr. Nun), veterinarian at Talingchan Animal Hospital
Dogthailand. https://www.dogthailand.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=219
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