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Puppy Basics: Switching Your Puppy’s Food
Puppy Basics: Switching Your Puppy’s Food

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Puppy Basics: Switching Your Puppy’s Food

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Your new puppy's first meals at home are very important. Find out what formula your puppy has been eating, and continue feeding this food for a day or two after you bring him home. If you want to change his diet to a premium food such as IAMS™ ProActive Health™ Smart Puppy Original , gradually move him to the new formula and help avoid intestinal upsets by using the following steps:
 

Day 1: Fill your dog's bowl with 75% of his old food and 25% of IAMS ProActive Health Smart Puppy Original.

Day 2: Mix his former food and IAMS ProActive Health Smart Puppy Original in a 50/50 ratio.

Day 3: Feed your dog a mixture that's 75% IAMS ProActive Health Smart Puppy Original and 25% former food.

Day 4: Feed 100% of IAMS ProActive Health Smart Puppy Original.

 

 

Feeding Tips

To feed a puppy from weaning to 4 months of age, offer a 100% complete and balanced premium puppy formula. To determine each serving size, start with the daily amount recommended by the feeding guidelines on the pet food label, and divide that number by the number of times a day (usually three times) you plan to feed your puppy.
 

Serve the food at room temperature and remove the bowl within 30 minutes after he's done eating. After four months, you can feed a puppy twice daily on a regular schedule.
 

  • Always provide your dog with clean, fresh water.
  • Discard uneaten wet food at the end of the day.
     

Don't add nutritional supplements to your dog's diet. Adding commercial dietary supplements or 'people food' such as hamburger, eggs, cottage cheese, or cow's milk is unnecessary and might even do more harm than good.

  • Understanding Puppy Food Nutrition Labels
    Understanding Puppy Food Nutrition Labels
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    Understanding Puppy Food Nutrition Labels

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    How much do you know about the food you’re buying for your puppy? When shopping for puppy food, pay attention to these three sections of a dog food label.

     

    1. The Ingredient Panel

    This section lists all the ingredients that make up the product. The ingredients are listed in descending order according to weight before cooking. In dry food, look for a source of high-quality animal-based protein: chicken or lamb, for example. Dogs thrive on animal proteins.
     

    Manufacturers who use large amounts of vegetable proteins might be saving money by providing basic — but not optimal — nutrition. You should also avoid artificial colors and flavors, which offer no nutritional benefits.

     

    2. The Guaranteed Analysis

    Near the ingredient panel should be a chart of percentages called the 'guaranteed analysis.' These figures reveal the basic nutrient makeup of the dog food's formula and protein content. The minimum percentages of protein and fat and the maximum percentages of fiber and moisture (water) should be listed.

     

    3. The Manufacturer’s Name and Address

    This information must be included on the label by law. A toll-free number or web address for the manufacturer may also be listed. Manufacturers who list a phone number, such as IAMS™, generally have a high-quality product and welcome consumer calls and questions. If you would like information about IAMS products, visit our website or call us toll-free at 800-525-4267.

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