Mary Allen
Adult Labrador food is not suitable for feeding Labrador puppies. The little puppies need different nutrients and portion sizes as they are still growing. Here you can find out what you need to pay attention to so that your puppy grows big and strong.
If Labrador puppies grow too fast because they don’t get proper nutrition, they can develop joint problems later on. To avoid this, you can follow the tips below.
Why Do Labrador Puppies Need Special Food?
As with other larger dog breeds, Labradors are at risk of developing hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia as they age, causing joint pain. Much of the risk can be prevented by consistently feeding Labrador puppies an age-appropriate diet. The nutrients are then composed in such a way that your little four-legged friend gets everything he needs for healthy growth, but not too many nutrients.
This would cause the bones and joints to grow faster than the dog can handle. The faster the growth, the more unstable the bones and joints become and the more likely it is that problems will arise sooner or later. In addition, puppies first have to adjust from their mother’s milk to solid food and the young dog’s digestive system has to adjust to the new food. If you have any questions or are unsure about this, you can contact your breeder or veterinarian.
Proper Nutrition for Puppies
In principle, all you need to do is follow the veterinarian’s or breeder’s instructions on how to properly feed your Labrador puppy. It is best to get a kitchen scale and always measure the portions exactly. It shouldn’t be too much. Labradors often tend to be a bit gluttonous and your four-legged friend may even beg. With Labrador puppies, it’s best to try not to be softened by the cute dog look. On the one hand, one otherwise quickly loses track of the appropriate food portions, on the other hand, your cheeky little one then gets used to being rewarded for begging; Getting rid of it later is not easy.
On the packaging of ready-made food, you will usually find a note for which age or phase of life it is suitable and how much you should feed daily. To be on the safe side, stick to the lower limits and divide the food into several small portions a day. Labrador puppies need protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and a few carbohydrates just like adult dogs. However, the protein content for the Labrador babies is reduced, as the food would otherwise be too nutritious. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus should be correct, around 1.5 to 1. You can also barf your pup, but it is more difficult to achieve an optimally balanced nutrient composition. It’s not impossible, but it requires extensive knowledge and very precise planning.
Adapt Feeding to Growth
As your Labrador puppy gradually grows into a junior, you will need to adjust the amount and frequency of feeding as well. The individual portions become larger while the frequency is reduced. It takes about nine to 15 months for Labrador puppies to mature and be able to eat adult food once or twice a day.
To be on the safe side, ask your breeder or veterinarian about the portion sizes and amounts of food. A small Labrador puppy around two months old will process his food best if you give him five small portions throughout the day. At four months, you can increase the amount of food you feed a little and only give four portions a day. A five-month-old Labrador will only get three servings a day, and from six months you can gradually get him used to two servings a day.