puppy food

[Suma]

Hi 

 I have a 13 weeks old cocker spaniel. He seems to be picky eater. Even when he is hungry he sometimes refuses kibbles. So I have been trying different brands and even fresh home food and wet food. I am told that we should stick to the same food for puppies and gradually change.But he seems to eat better if given different food on different meals. Am I ok to do this? 

Which are the good brands

What do you think of ?

 taste of the wild

royal canin

forthglade wet food. 

 If preparing fresh at home - how much meat should be given ( as per weight ) to a puppy? 

 

Many thanks 

Suma

 

 

 

[Adrienne]

Hi Suma,

It is important to stick to a dog food that is formulated for puppies as puppies need special nutrients during their growth. Homemade diets have been found to lack essential nutrients, so if you plan to go the  homemade food route, it is best to consult with a veterinarian specializing in nutrition so to ensure the diet is balanced. He or she can provide information about dosage based on your puppy's weight. 

Now, when we start offering wet food or fresh home food, something to consider is that we often pave the path to a dog who only wants to eat those and starts caring less about kibble. This because wet food and home made food are much more appetitive to dogs.  I once had my dogs on canned for a bit and they never wanted to go back to kibble and it took quite some effort to gradually wean them back. They went on a couple of food strikes in the process, but thankfully we got back on track. 

I am sorry, but I cannot make any dog food recommendations. Every dog is an individual and may respond differently to what they are fed. Some dogs may thrive on one food, another may get sick. The ideal person to ask would be a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. These specialists have made of feeding dogs based on their individual needs their area of specialty. 

All I can say is that dietary changes should always be done gradually to prevent tummy troubles. In general, the process should take about 7 to 10 days, but this can vary based on how the dog does and if there are any special needs. Here is just an example: 

• Day 1: 75 percent old food, 25 percent new food
• Day 2: 75 percent old food, 25 percent new food
• Day 3: 75 percent old food, 25 percent new food
• Day 4: 50 percent old food, 50 percent new food
• Day 5: 50 percent old food, 50 percent new food
• Day 6: 50 percent old food, 50 percent new food
• Day 7: 25 percent old food, 75 percent new food
• Day 8: 25 percent old food, 75 percent new food
• Day 9: 25 percent old food,75 percent new food
• Day 10: 100 percent new food

Best,

Adrienne