Nutritional Considerations for Optimal Puppy Growth

Introduction

Dogs are a unique species in the animal kingdom, not least because of their hugely variable bodyweight, from the Chihuahua weighing < 1 kg to the Saint Bernard that is more than 80 kg. In association to this large diversity, the rates and duration of growth vary. A small breed dog (adult weight < 10 kg) will multiply its birth weight around 20 times, reach half its adult weight at 3 months, and complete its growth by 10 months of age. The growth period for small breeds is specifically short and intense. Conversely, by one year of age, a large breed dog (adult weight 25 kg or more) will multiply its birth weight at least 70 times; it will reach half its adult body weight around 5-6 months and the growth period may last up to two years.

Small and medium breed puppies gain 20 g - 60 g per day with maximum daily weight increase seen around the post-weaning stage (i.e. 2-3 months). Conversely, maximum daily weight gain is generally reached around 3-4 months in large breed puppies and between 4-5 months in giant breeds. Daily weight gain in large and giant breed puppies remains high until 8 months and the weight of these breeds therefore increases considerably over a long period of time. One consequence of the differences in growth is that at weaning the growth of the bone tissue in a small breed is well advanced, whereas it has hardly started in a large or giant breed puppy. These differences in growth rates explain why large and giant breeds have a greater risk of disorders associated with growth and highlight the fact that the requirements of puppies of different breeds are not the same and must be tailored to specific needs. [...]

Key Points

• A puppy’s nutritional requirements vary depending on the animal’s breed and must be tailored to an individual’s specific needs.
• Overfeeding large and giant breed puppies will not produce larger, taller adults, but rather increase the risk of growth disorders.
• High protein diets fed to large and giant breed puppies do not cause osteoarticular disorders.
• Calcium deficiencies and excesses can lead to bone disorders, and calcium supplementation is not recommended.
• Puppies should be weighed once a week, and the amount fed adjusted to maintain ideal body condition.