Your pup’s diet is going to be one of your main concerns as a dog owner and we would love to help you find the right time to feed them canned food. If you have recently adopted a young canine please make sure that their previous owners will assist you in choosing the best food for them. Dogs of different breeds and sizes need customized diets to help them grow strong and not miss out on important nutrients.

We will talk about canned food, how much it is safe to use, and how puppy food can affect your dog’s health in their adult years.

Mush

You will probably start feeding your dog a slightly wet paste made by mixing dry puppy food and water. The consistency has to resemble an oatmeal/smoothie. The dry food has to be mashed and well-hydrated. It is very important that your dog’s first solid food after being weaned is mixed with water and made softer. This way their growing teeth are not going to hurt as much during feeding time. You may have to leave the mixture of mashed dry food and water to stay overnight if the consistency is not right. Additionally, make sure your pooch has fresh water at all times. They might drink less water compared to their adolescent stage since mush already contains water.

Canned Food

Do not be too quick to switch their mush food with wet food. Wet food is lower in calories and that can slow your dog’s growth. It is best to gradually reduce the water content in the mush until only dry food is left in the bowl. Most canines transition to dry food between 8 weeks and 12 weeks of age. As long as your dog is demonstrating a healthy appetite, you may introduce wet food when they are at least 20 weeks old.

If you are looking for the right canned food for your pup look for a statement like “for growing puppies” and “balanced for growth” on the product label. Additionally, some tins might include statements like “under one year puppy”. As you may already know, larger dog breeds will need about 2 years to fully mature into adults.

A rule of thumb is to start adding small amounts of the new food to your dog’s usual meals every day. It is important to watch out for any digestive problems, which can occur with diet changes. Common digestive issues include diarrhea, loss of appetite, and difficulty pooping. If your puppy enjoys their modified food servings it is safe to use the canned food.

Do not hesitate to consult your veterinarian about the best time to introduce canned food to your valued new family member. There are very few studies on the impact of nutrition on canine behavior so it may be very difficult to find the best food for your precious furry partner. You should not be shy to ask for help in ensuring the best growth period for your dog.

Pet food laws and regulations are enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). State and federal jurisdictions also aid in regulating pet food. Be careful of pet nutritionists and influences from social media. If you are looking for help from verified pet food specialists you might want to start your search at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

How Much Canned Food Can My Dog Eat?

This is a very difficult question to answer. The right amount of canned food depends on many factors like age, physical health, body weight, medical history, number of meals per day, and daily calorie intake. Please, keep in mind that as your canine ages, their nutrition requirements will shift.

Once your pup reaches three months of age, you should reduce their meals to three times per day. Be sure to stay consistent with the feeding times as this helps build routine and aids your dog in bladder control and going potty. When your dog reaches six months of age, they should start losing their “baby” features and start shaping into an adolescent. If you notice that your pooch is still irresistibly squishy and soft all around you might want to check with your veterinarian for an overweight issue.

Generally, dogs between the ages of six and twelve months can be accustomed to eating just two times per day. Remember that the different breeds have specific calorie requirements and if you notice low energy levels in your canine partner you may have to up their calorie intake. Talk to your vet about this before making any swift changes to your dog’s diet.

Allergies and the Diet of Your Dog

Researchers at the University of Helsinki performed an amazing study on the growth of 4022 canines and published their findings in the Journal of Veterinary Internal MedicineVolume 35, Issue 5. Their discoveries show that puppies who were fed a diverse diet of raw organ meats, human meal leftovers, and tripe are significantly less likely to develop allergies and skin conditions.

If your dog’s diet includes at least 20% raw food (organ meats and dog-safe vegetables), it helps reduce the chances of them developing an allergy. Beware that a diet of 20% processed meats (canned food and sausages) will increase your puppy’s chance of developing an allergy and some type of skin condition later in life. Fortunately, you can still feed your pooch air-dried raw food (think turkey and beef jerky) and that is medically proven to be safe.

The best advice we can give you is to feed your dog more raw meats, dog-safe vegetables (carrots, broccoli, bell pepper, etc.), a bit of dry food, and raw eggs, and use fewer food additives, and processed/canned food. Be very cautious of any food with many preservatives, added corn syrup, and salt.