Puppy Food
Versus Regular Food
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I did quite a lot of research into 'puppy food' when we got our first Ridgeback, and there is a big difference between adult and puppy foods.
In commercial foods like Hills Science Diet, Eukanuba and Iams the puppy food has higher levels of energy, calcium, protein and fat than the adult foods. Contrary to popular belief puppies from large breeds (adult weight 
25kg+) need lower levels of calcium and fat than smaller breed puppies and food made for large breed puppies is actually lower in fat and energy than adult food because you are trying to make them grow slower to prevent bone damage.

When weaning my pups I start them off with a very milky instant porridge.
After a week I add tinned Pedigree puppy to the mix and once they have teeth (if I started weaning before 4 weeks) I slowly add Science Diet Puppy kibble (Small Bites).  I work up to having 5 meals a day with either scrambled egg, yoghurt, cottage cheese and Pedigree Puppy with the kibble.  Once they are fully weaned my pups also have a nightcap of milky herbal tea with honey to help them sleep better - yes it does mean that I get up in the middle of the night to let them out!!
 

Kirsty Hoare 
Glenaffric Scottish Terriers 
Johannesburg, South Africa 
glenaffric@global.co.za

27 April 2001

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