Note: this text is informative and does not replace veterinary care. Before changing your dog's diet — especially for puppies, pregnant or nursing bitches, or dogs with health issues — consult your veterinarian, ideally a veterinary nutritionist.
- Puppies need "growth" food, controlled calcium and prevention of too-fast growth; small breeds need frequent meals (hypoglycaemia).
- Adult dogs: the most important thing is keeping an ideal body weight.
- Pregnant and nursing bitches: quality puppy food, a gradual increase in amount, free feeding during lactation — and no calcium supplementation on your own.
This is part two of my nutrition series. If you haven’t read part one, there I compare raw, cooked and kibble. Nutrition differs substantially depending on the dog’s life stage.
Puppies (the growth period)
Growth is the most sensitive period — mistakes leave lasting consequences. So a puppy needs food specifically formulated for growth ("for puppies"), not adult maintenance food. Such food is energy- and nutrient-dense and highly digestible.
Calcium matters greatly: both too little and too much are harmful. We also must not overdo the amount — too-fast growth is a risk factor for bone problems, even if the puppy isn’t fat. The goal is lean condition and even growth, with no calcium supplements added to already-complete food.
A note on small breeds (terriers and Yorkie)
At our kennel we have small breeds, so I stress this especially: very small puppies are prone to hypoglycaemia (a drop in blood sugar), so they need frequent meals and must not go too long without food. Energy-dense puppy food and regular feeding are key here.
Adult dogs (maintenance)
For an adult dog the most important thing is maintaining ideal body condition — one of the best health safeguards. Use complete and balanced maintenance food, adjusting the amount to the individual dog’s activity, age, breed and metabolism. Most adults do well on quality kibble; fresh or cooked food is a lovely option within the conditions from part one.
Pregnant and nursing bitches
This is the most energy-demanding period. In the last third of pregnancy (from ~week 6) and during nursing the bitch needs energy-dense food — usually quality puppy food. We increase the amount gradually, feed little and often (the puppies press on the stomach), and fresh water must always be available.
I’ll add: raw feeding is especially risky in this period, as infections endanger both the bitch and the puppies.
Conclusion
For puppies, quality growth food is most reliable (large breeds a special formula); for adults, complete food with an ideal weight; for pregnant and nursing bitches, puppy food, a gradual increase and caution with calcium. In part three I write how to recognise truly good food and what to watch for with small breeds. To be continued.
Our nutrition partner 🐾PLATINUM — natural food with at least 70% fresh meatI feed my dogs Platinum combined with raw food. See the products and offers at platinum.si →References
Freeman LM, Chandler ML, Hamper BA, Weeth LP (2013). Current knowledge about the risks and benefits of raw meat–based diets for dogs and cats. JAVMA 243(11):1549–1558.
Stockman J, Fascetti AJ, Kass PH, Larsen JA (2013). Evaluation of recipes of home-prepared maintenance diets for dogs. JAVMA 242(11):1500–1505.
FEDIAF. Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs.
NRC (2006). Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. National Academies Press.
WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee. Global Nutrition Guidelines; Guidelines on Selecting Pet Foods.
VCA Animal Hospitals. Nutritional Considerations for Large and Giant Breed Dogs.
Purina Pro Club. Canine Nutrition During Pregnancy and Lactation.
The Kennel Club. Feeding mum from whelping to weaning.
Note: this text does not replace veterinary care; for specific decisions (especially calcium in pregnant bitches) follow your veterinarian's advice.
