What Nutrients Do Puppies Need in Their Dog Food?

Puppyhood is a playful and exciting time in your dog’s life. Your puppy is constantly on the move and developing quickly, which means that he needs a high-energy diet to meet his body’s needs. However, not all dog food has the required nutrition for your puppy. Read on to learn what nutrients puppies need in their food.  

What nutrients do puppies need? 

In general, dogs that are less than one year of age are considered puppies. However, this can vary depending on the breed of puppy you have. For instance, large breed dogs are considered puppies until they are two years old, while some toy breeds are considered adults at six months. 

While transitioning to an adult food may differ depending on the breed of your dog, it is still vital that your puppy is being fed puppy formula pet food during their first year of life. This is because they need a food that is formulated with the nutrients necessary for healthy growth and development. 

The kibble in Purina’s puppy food is smaller in size than adult kibble, so it’s easier for puppies to eat, however, it contains more calories for energy. It’s also formulated with an enhanced nutritional profile that provides your puppy with the complete and balanced diet he needs, as compared to adult dog food.  

Some of those nutrients include: 

• More calories, protein and fat than adult foods to keep up with the demands of puppies’ growing bodies. 
• The omega fatty acid DHA which is an important nutrient for brain and vision development in puppies. 
• Vitamins and minerals including vitamins E, and selenium, which are beneficial antioxidants that aid the developing immune systems in puppies. 
• Puppies also need an optimal calcium to phosphorus ratio for proper bone growth. 

We hope this helps you understand what nutrients puppies need in order to thrive. If you’d like to learn more, check out our article on how much to feed your puppy.