5 Interesting Feeding Tips for Puppy and Kitten Care
Most pet owners are unfamiliar with the fact that puppies and kittens are not fed similarly to their adult companions. Here are some interesting points to inform and enlighten on the options regarding puppy and kitten nutrition.
Feeding Styles
A sign of good appetite in young pets is that they will tend to eat more frequently, with even higher appetite than their adult counterparts. The case is especially for kittens below six months requiring at least four meals a day or at times opting for free feeding (they eat at their disposal). Similarly, puppies do need at least three meals in a day, with the one under two weeks requiring food at least every two hours.
Balanced Diet
A puppy or kitten is at most risk of nutritional imbalances and allergies based on the food they eat, and this makes it essential that the pet gets a balanced diet for proper development. During the early weeks, the mother’s milk (dam and queen) are the ideal options for growth. If it cannot sustain, then a kitten or puppy milk replacer is another option.
What about Meat?
Raw meat does not contain a proper balance of the nutrients if fed alone to growing puppies. It lacks the required calcium levels that are essential for adequate tooth and bone development in dogs. Weaned kittens, which have successfully transitioned to adult food, can handle meat comfortably although this depends on the individual pet’s digestive system.
Is Canned Food Safe?
Unless the puppy or kitten has an underlying condition, feeding canned food or dry commercial pet food saturated with milk replacer is still recommendable for unweaned pets. The best option, therefore, is to avoid exposing the kittens to different varieties of diets by picking a product that is closer to the pet’s natural diet and meets AAFCO standards.
Body Condition
While there is plenty of attention on the feeding of kittens and puppies, monitoring their weight, health and appearance also play a significant role in identifying the ideal nutrition for them. Identifying the perfect body condition would need body composition charts, or visit the vet and identify the health metrics.
There are plenty of chances than not everyone would know what to do with a new puppy or kitten at home. However with the right knowledge, and nutrition the first few months of the young pet could become less exhaustive.
SOURCES: WSAVA, AAFCO, MDPI, The Optimal Dog
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