Puppy Nutrition 101: Feeding for a Healthy Start

Bringing a new puppy home is one of life’s greatest joys—and biggest responsibilities. From wobbly first steps to zoomies in the yard, your puppy grows at an astonishing pace. Behind all that energy and growth is one crucial factor: nutrition!

Feeding your puppy the right diet is essential to help them grow strong, build immunity, and develop into a healthy adult dog.

Let’s discuss everything you need to know about feeding your puppy and ensuring they have the best start!

Why is nutrition important?
Puppies develop rapidly in their first year so feeding them the right diet during this stage of life will develop the foundations of a healthy immune system, strong bones and muscles and optimal brain development. In order for us to help support their growth they require:

• More calories to fuel growth and play
• Higher protein levels to support muscle and tissue development
• Essential vitamins and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, DHA, and omega-3 fatty acids
• Smaller, more frequent meals due to their tiny stomachs
  
  

What should I feed my puppy?
During the first 12 months of your puppies life they require a puppy formulated diet, the reason behind this is that these diets contain the correct and essential vitamins and minerals that help play a vital role in their development.

When choosing a diet or specific brand, always check the packaging to ensure it is appropriate for your puppy and also states it’s ‘complete and balanced’.

Brands such as Royal Canin, Hills and Advance have special diets formulated specifically for puppies and you can find these in our online store at www.cvsonline.com.au.

Some things to look out for when shopping for diets:

• Commercial puppy food from reputable brands
• Labels stating AAFCO or FEDIAF nutritional adequacy for growth
• Real meat as the first ingredient
• DHA for brain and eye development
• Age-appropriate formulas (e.g., small breed vs. large breed)

 

When can my puppy start eating solid food?
puppies usually start weaning off their mother’s milk around 4 weeks of age, and by 8 weeks, they should be fully transitioned to solid food. If you're hand-raising puppies, a puppy milk replacer is needed until they’re ready to begin weaning.

Royal Canin’s Baby Dog Milk Replacer is a great product to use if you are hand raising.

Wet vs Dry food? Which is better?
Both have benefits, and often a mix of the two works well.

Wet Food Pros:

• Higher moisture content (helps with hydration)
• Softer texture for teething puppies
• Highly palatable and aromatic

Dry Food Pros:

• Convenient to store and feed
• Helps clean teeth and strengthen chewing muscles
• Often more calorie-dense (great for high-energy pups)

You can read more about the pros and cons of wet vs dry food in our blog “Wet Food vs Dry Food: Which is Better for Your dog?”

How often should I feed my puppy? And how much should I be feeding?
As your puppy is rapidly growing on a daily basis they require regular meals, below is a rough guide on how often during certain age periods, remembering that this is only a guide and your puppy will need meals based on their breed, size and weight:

• 6–12 weeks: 4 meals per day
• 3–6 months: 3 meals per day
• 6–12 months: 2 meals per day

Feeding guidelines vary by breed, size, and energy level. Start with the recommended amount on the food packaging, then adjust based on:

• Body condition (can you feel—but not see—the ribs?)
• Growth rate
• Activity level

For large breeds, avoid overfeeding, as rapid growth can lead to joint problems. Your vet can help you determine ideal growth curves and feeding portions.

What foods should I avoid feeding?

Feeding adult dog food — It lacks the nutrients needed for growing puppies.

Too many treats — Treats should make up no more than 10% of daily intake.

Feeding human food — Many foods (like onions, garlic, chocolate, or fatty scraps) are dangerous for dogs.

Can I use supplements?
If you're feeding a complete and balanced kitten food, additional supplements aren’t usually required. In fact, too much of certain vitamins and minerals can be harmful. We recommend speaking with your veterinarian or certified veterinary nutritionist before introducing any supplements.

When do I transition to adult food?
Transitioning to adult food will depend on the age, size and breed of your puppy, for small to medium breeds you can begin to transition them from a puppy diet over to an adult diet around 12 months, for large and giant breed dogs you can begin to transition around 12-18 months of age.

When transitioning any diet, it is important to do it gradually to avoid stomach upset by gradually adding more of the new diet and removing parts of the old diet over the course of a week. 

 

Need help choosing the right food?
Good nutrition during puppyhood is the foundation for a healthy, happy life. By feeding a high-quality puppy diet, sticking to a consistent schedule, and monitoring their growth, you’re giving your pup the best start possible!

Our team is here to guide you through every stage of your puppy’s development—from food selection to portion control and beyond. Book a nutrition consult or drop by the clinic anytime or alternatively you can contact us on (08) 8318 1801