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Your small- or toy-breed puppy grows rapidly in the first months of their life: Their immune system is developing, their bones are growing and their muscles are getting stronger. With all this growth, they need the right mix of nutrients to support their development. To make sure your puppy is getting the proper nutrition to protect and maintain their health and well-being, keep these key points in mind.
Research shows that puppies need up to twice as much energy as adult dogs. Because they are growing so quickly at this stage, your small-but-mighty pup needs an energy-rich, nutrient-dense small-breed dog food like IAMS™ Puppy Small Breed. Puppies also need more protein than adult dogs. High-quality animal-based protein will help your puppy create new body tissue as they grow.
Aside from protein, make sure these other important nutrients and ingredients are a part of your puppy's diet:
These are important building blocks of nutrition. Look for them when you choose dry or canned dog food and when you select treats.
When it comes to feeding puppies, one size does not fit all. Small-breed puppies have higher metabolism rates per pound and reach their mature adult weight faster than larger-breed puppies. And small-breed puppies need high levels of protein, fat, calcium and phosphorus to support the growth and development of their bones, muscles and other tissues. So, giving your puppy a food that supports their breed size is the easiest way to make sure they’re getting the right balance of nutrients for their growth rate.
And remember: Small-breed puppies also have small mouths and stomachs! Make sure your puppy's food has small kibble for easy chewing. A nutrient-dense formula will help your puppy get a complete and balanced diet even though their stomach can only hold what seems like a small amount of food.
From the time your puppy is weaned until 4 months of age, you should feed your puppy two to three times a day. Check the food label guidelines to feed them the proper daily amount. After your puppy is 4 months old, feed them twice a day on a regular schedule. And make sure they always have access to fresh water, too!
A small-breed puppy reaches adult weight faster than larger breeds. You can start feeding an adult dog food, such as IAMS™ Adult Small Breed, when they are around 9 to 12 months old.
Your dog might not be thrilled about the change at first, but don't worry. You can help ease the transition by gradually introducing the adult food. Try mixing 25% of the new food with 75% of their puppy food, and then gradually change the proportions over the next three weeks until they are eating 100% adult food.
So as a pet parent, how do you make sure your Lab is eating well-rounded meals? One way to do that is to find dog food that is tailored to suit the Labrador diet. The best dog food for Labrador Retrievers will always contain the following elements…
Labrador food should always include lean and quality proteins from sources like poultry to help strengthen and maintain their muscles.
Ingredients like beet pulp, corn, wheat, barley and maize are not only packed with nutrients but they also aid digestion. Labrador food that contains digestible ingredients helps when it comes to supporting a healthy gut.
Moderate and controlled amounts of fat in addition to Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids are necessary to support a healthy coat as well as healthy skin. These ingredients are important for Labradors to ensure they do not suffer from issues like flaky and itchy skin.
Labrador Retrievers are susceptible to obesity. Therefore, an important supplement to look for in Labrador food is L-Carnitine. L-Carnitine is known to help with metabolism and also supports healthy weight management.
Labradors are fun, playful and active dogs. To facilitate these characteristics, the labrador diet must consist of supplements like Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulphate that support healthy joints.
If you’re looking for dog food that is specific to the Labrador diet, IAMS™ Labrador Retriever dog food will not let you down. It is a premium-tailored recipe that contains all the ingredients that support the unique nutritional requirements of a Labrador Retriever. By switching to this dog food, you are ensuring your Lab is at its healthiest and best, always!
