Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting time, filled with cuddles, playtime, and the start of a beautiful friendship. A crucial part of welcoming your new family member is understanding their nutritional needs. The decisions you make about your puppy’s nutrition will affect his growth, development and even his behavior. Feeding your puppy a high-quality, complete and balanced puppy food helps set him up for a long and healthy life as an adult dog. This comprehensive feeding guide will equip you with the knowledge to make informed choices about your 2-month-old puppy's diet, ensuring they get the best start in life.
Why Puppy Nutrition Matters
Puppies grow at an astonishing rate, and their bodies quickly catch up to those big ears and paws. Puppies have different dietary needs than adult dogs or humans. While they grow, play, and learn, they require specific nutrition to support their developing bodies. What they eat early on helps set the stage for their future health. Their food should be more energy-dense to fuel their rapid growth and have the right balance of calcium and phosphorus for healthy bone development. Choosing puppy food designed for their needs helps them grow, play, and socialize while getting all the right nutrients. Since puppies can have a difficult time regulating their food intake, it's important for you to control their portions. Eating too much and growing too fast can lead to obesity and various health issues, affecting their quality of life, including bone and joint problems and digestive disorders.
What to Feed Your 2-Month-Old Puppy
At two months old, your puppy should be fully weaned and eating solid food. The most important factor in selecting a food for your puppy is choosing one that promotes their growth. Here's what to consider:
Puppy Food is Essential
Puppies need puppy food. Feeding puppies a complete and balanced puppy food ensures they get the proper nutrition to develop and grow into healthy adult dogs. Puppy foods are formulated with a balance of nutrients to help puppies grow up healthy and happy. Look for formulas rich in high-quality proteins to support their growing bodies. Fat and carbohydrates supply the energy active and playful puppies need, while calcium supports developing teeth and bones and DHA helps support healthy brain and vision development.
Breed-Specific Formulas
Not only do puppies need puppy food, but certain breed sizes can benefit from size-specific formulas. If you have a large breed puppy, he may benefit from a large breed-specific puppy formula. Small breeds can also benefit from small breed-specific puppy formulas. Regardless of breed size, the food should be complete and balanced for growing puppies. The difference in formulas comes down to the unique needs of large and small breeds. Large dogs have a higher risk of developing joint problems, so a large breed puppy food should include proper levels of nutrients to support their healthy growth and development. Small breeds may prefer smaller kibble so they can more easily chew their food, which helps ensure they get all the nutrients they need. According to Purina Nutritionist, Karina Carbo-Johnson, MS, “Small breed-specific dog food is important due to their increased metabolism. This results in a nutrient-dense, high-energy formula which adults and puppies need to support a healthy lifestyle.”
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Dry vs. Wet Puppy Food
Although dry kibble is a popular choice, it’s not the only option. As you walk the dog food aisles, you may see both dry and wet puppy foods. Fortunately, as long as both the wet and dry formulas are complete and balanced for growing puppies, you can feed either one to your pup with confidence. You and your puppy may have a preference when it comes to dry versus wet. Feeding a combination of the two is also an option. According to Purina Nutritionist, Allison Millican, PhD, “If you’re feeding your puppy a combination of wet and dry food, it is extremely important to ensure the total caloric value does not fall short or exceed their daily energy requirement. Use the calories reported on the package to understand how much wet food will replace the dry and vice versa. This allows you to calculate the amount of each product needed to meet your puppy’s nutritional requirements.”“For example,” Millican explains, “one thirteen-ounce can of wet puppy food may contain four hundred and seventy-five kilocalories and replace approximately one cup of a dry puppy formula with a similar value of kilocalories per cup. In this scenario, you could substitute a thirteen-ounce can of wet food for one cup of the daily dry food recommendation."
Essential Nutrients for Large Breed Puppies
A few other essential nutrients for larger pups:
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C is in many fresh fruits and vegetables. It plays a role in tissue formation and maintenance, immune system balance, and more. Dogs can synthesize vitamin C, but providing some through the diet is good, especially for pups who grow big.
- Vitamin D: Vitamin D is in many foods, such as vegetables, fruits, red meats, and fish. Adequate vitamin D is needed for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and also helps with the development of the heart and connective tissues.
- Manganese: Manganese is an often-overlooked trace mineral. It plays a vital role in metabolism and in developing connective and nerve tissues. This article by Dr. Karen Becker links a lack of manganese to connective tissue dysfunctions and injuries. Foods rich in manganese are green-lipped mussels, kelp, spinach, green leaf lettuces, spirulina, turkey and beef liver, beef heart, and dark chicken meat.
- DHA: DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid. DHA-rich diets support healthy vision and help proper brain development. Like other omega-3s, DHA is a very fragile compound that will break down quickly at room temperature in the presence of oxygen. That means the DHA in dry pet foods will degrade quickly during regular storage.
How Much to Feed a 2-Month-Old Puppy
Remember puppies will grow at various rates and body condition may change rapidly,” she says. Because puppies grow at such fast rates, they need to start eating a complete and balanced puppy food as soon as they’re weaned, usually between six and eight weeks. The amount of food your puppy needs depends on how much he’ll weigh at maturity. A Labrador Retriever will weigh more at maturity than a Russell Terrier, for example. So, the larger dog requires more food as a puppy.
As a general rule of thumb, you should aim to feed a puppy about five to six percent of his or her estimated body weight in adulthood each day. As they get older, the amount of food should be reduced to two to three percent of their body weight in accordance with their nutritional needs. If you're not sure about how much food to give a puppy, you can calculate the ideal amount in a few, simple steps. First, measure how much your dog weighs in pounds. Then, multiply that number by 16 to calculate their weight in ounces. Finally, find 5 to 6 percent of that value to see how much food to give your puppy.
Puppy Feeding Chart (Dry Food)
These are generic recommendations only. Please check the package for product specific feeding recommendations.
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| Weight at Maturity (lbs) | Weight at Maturity (kg) | 1-1/2 to 3 Months (cups) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 12 | 1.4 to 5.4 | 1/2 to 1 |
| 13 to 20 | 5.9 to 9.1 | 1/2 to 1-1/4 |
| 21 to 50 | 9.5 to 22.7 | 1/2 to 1-1/2 |
| 51 to 75 | 23.1 to 34.0 | 5/8 to 2-1/3 |
| 76 to 100 | 34.5 to 45.4 | 1 to 2-2/3 |
| 101 lbs and over | Over 45.4 kg | 2-2/3 cups plus 1/3 cup for each 10 lbs of body weight over 100 lbs |
Important Considerations:
- Individual Needs: Each puppy’s daily caloric intake needs vary according to their age, breed, and other factors. These charts show the average amount of calories a puppy should consume based on their ideal weight-but remember that your pup may need up to 50% more or fewer calories, depending on their body condition score.
- Body Condition: Nestlé Purina Research indicates that avoiding overfeeding of puppies may help their development. Maintaining ideal body condition is key to encouraging proper growth in all puppies, especially large breeds. The indicated amounts are only a guideline. If your puppy becomes overweight, a reduction of your puppy’s daily food intake may be appropriate. As puppies near adulthood, their calorie needs may drop, and your puppy may begin leaving some food in the bowl. Don't misinterpret this as an indication of dislike for the food. Instead, begin offering less so your puppy doesn't overeat and stays in ideal body condition. You may wish to consult your veterinarian about a weight control program.
- Consult Your Veterinarian: Talk to your veterinarian to determine how much your unique pup needs.
Puppy Feeding Schedule
Once you know the daily feeding amount, you need to create a puppy feeding schedule. Take the total amount of food your puppy needs each day and divide that into three to four smaller meals. Give those smaller amounts to him at regular intervals each day. An easy puppy feeding schedule to follow is to feed him when you eat-at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Remember to feed him early in the evenings so he has time to digest his food before bedtime. This can help prevent accidents inside. Consistency is key. Feeding puppies at consistent times each day helps them get used to the routine. As your puppy grows, their feeding schedule will change. During weaning, divide daily meals into at least four portions. For small breed dogs, stick to at least four meals a day until they're four months old, then switch to at least two meals a day until ten months. Larger breeds should also have at least three meals a day until they're six months old, then switch to at least two meals a day until a year.
Example Puppy Feeding Schedule:
| Age | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks old | 7 AM (⅓ daily kcals) | noon (⅓ daily kcals) | 5 PM (⅓ daily kcals) |
| 12 weeks old | 7 AM (½ daily kcals) | 5 PM (½ daily kcals) |
Water is Essential
Your puppy's water requirements depend on factors like their diet (dry, wet, or mixed), activity level, breed, size, and environmental temperature. Ensure they always have access to fresh water and clean their bowl regularly to prevent parasites. Opt for ceramic, glass, or stainless-steel bowls as plastic may have a scent that bothers sensitive canine noses. If possible, place several water bowls in quiet areas around your home to make it easy for your puppy to stay hydrated.
The Importance of Routine
It's important to note that dogs don’t need dietary variety like humans do. They thrive on a consistent food routine, which can start from their early months: same food, same bowl, same times-every day. Welcoming your puppy into their new home is an exciting time for everyone involved. Getting their food right from the beginning can make their transition smoother and ensure a stress-free start to your life together. Providing optimal nutrition tailored to their life stage from the beginning will set them up for a healthy, energetic life with you.
Combining Wet and Dry Food
Combining wet food and dry kibble can offer benefits for your puppy. Wet food provides extra moisture for hydration, while dry kibble contains concentrated nutrients and can also help with oral health as the kibble can have a "brushing effect" on the teeth.
Getting into a Routine
Whatever type of food you choose, it’s a good idea to create a feeding routine for your puppy with fixed mealtimes, the same food, and the same bowl. Refer to the feeding table that corresponds to the size of your dog’s breed to find out when your puppy is ready to start eating dry food.
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Good Feeding Habits
Resist the temptation to share your food with your puppy, no matter how pleading their eyes may be! While humans can eat a variety of foods, many human foods can harm puppies. Additionally, feeding them table scraps can lead to bad habits like begging, which are difficult to break. Stick to their specially formulated puppy food for their health and behavior.
Puppy Treats: The 90/10 Rule
How can you resist rewarding your puppy with some tasty treats? In fact, treats make an effective training tool. It’s important to keep the 90/10 rule in mind, whether you’re rewarding your puppy for good behavior or just want him to feel loved. Of his daily calories, 90 percent should come from his complete and balanced puppy food. The other 10 percent can come from treats. Following the 90/10 rule can help prevent weight gain and other health problems in adulthood. Those puppy eyes are hard to resist, but remember, you’re building-and training-a dog. Don’t give in to feeding him human food when he begs. Not only are some human foods toxic to dogs, but you’re rewarding undesirable behaviors, which will be harder to break later.
When to Transition to Adult Food
Eventually, you’ll need to stop feeding puppy food and switch him to a complete and balanced adult dog food. This transition is dictated by breed size, just as the amount to feed a puppy depends on his breed. Larger breeds may take longer to reach full maturity, so he may need puppy food for up to two years. In general, however, expect to make the transition to adult dog food between one and two years of age. Talk with your veterinarian to determine the right time to make the switch and for tips on making the change easy on your pup.
When to Transition Puppies to Adult Dog Food
| Size | Age |
|---|---|
| Small Dog Breeds (up to 30 lb) | 10-12 mo |
| Medium Dog Breeds (30-60 lb) | 12-16 mo |
| Large Dog Breeds (60-100 lb) | 16-18 mo |
| Giant Dog Breeds (100+ lb) | 18-24 mo |
Some vets may recommend switching from puppy food to adult dog food after your pet is spayed or neutered, which also occurs around this time, thereby lowering your pet's energy requirement. When switching from puppy food to adult food, you should make the switch gradually over a period of a few days. A sudden change in your puppy’s diet may cause stomach upset and the dreaded puppy diarrhea.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Feeding Adult Dog Food: Puppy food provides important nutrients that support growth and other important body functions for puppies. Adult dog food is not nutritionally balanced for puppies and could lead to deficiencies or other health concerns if eaten regularly.
- Overfeeding: You generally don't need to worry about overfeeding puppies until they are about six months old, but it's important to monitor their weight gain.
- Inconsistent Diet: Once your puppy’s food formula is chosen, stick with it.