Do puppies need special diets?
A correct diet is vital for puppies and young growing dogs. These animals have requirements which are different from adult dogs, and most reputable manufacturers now make ‘growth’ or ‘junior’ foods which supply the young dog with all the essential nutrients required for normal growth and bone development. In general, it is safer to stick to reputable brands (ask for advice at your veterinary hospital), as these are manufactured to strict quality control guidelines. Prepared mixed feeds available through other outlets, such as agricultural feed merchants, may not have the same quality control procedures applied. These may be cheaper than other commercial brands of dog food but they can have disadvantages. Some of these feeds have been shown to lack some essential diet components and may deteriorate if stored.
