Puppy and Kitten Nutrition:
The first year of life for a puppy or kitten involves the most growth it will ever experience. It is imperative that we provide the body with the appropriate nutrients and proteins for growth.
Kittens and puppies require higher levels of fat and protein to allow them to growth at a fast rate. This is why purchasing and feeding a commercial puppy or kitten food is so important.
Calcium and phosphorous requirements for growing animals is more than that of an adult animal, which is another reason an adult diet is NOT appropriate for growing pups and kittens. Most foods formulated for growth are also highly digestible and calorie dense. This means baby animals do not have to work hard to digest the necessary nutrients and they can consume sufficient energy without overloading the gastro-intestinal system.
If you have a large breed cat or dog, it is possible even more important to feed an appropriate diet, to allow adequate growth and help prevent orthopaedic and growth defects in the future.
Raw food diets are generally not recommended for growing animals due to the imbalanced ratio of phosphorous and calcium. Growing animals fed a raw diet can develop soft and brittle bones and even rickets due to the inappropriate ratio of calcium to phosphorous.
For more information on which diet is most appropriate for you new puppy/kitten feel free to contact us for advice.
