Set your fur babies up for life with tip-top nutrition from the moment you welcome them home.
Puppies and kittens are weaned around 6-7 weeks old, so by the time they arrive in your home, they are eating solid food.
Their most rapid growth occurs around 3-6 months old, so getting their nutrition in tip-top shape from the moment you welcome them home is key to setting them up for life.
The best food to choose is “puppy” or “kitten” food, which is intended for growth, rather than generic diets. Ideally, these foods will have been through feeding trials to give the best evidence that it meets all the needs for growth.
You will find the best quality foods, with scientific backing, in your vet clinic.
Homemade diets are more than likely unbalanced and can result in dietary-related diseases, such as rickets.
How much should I feed them?
As your pet grows, they will need more food. Most foods have guidelines on the bag for keeping in-step with growth.
In the early stages, it is important to feed your young pup or kitten 3-4 times a day, so that their small stomachs can cope with the amount of food needed.
By 6-9 months old, most will have moved to twice a day feeds.
Transitioning to adult diets
For cats, transition to an adult diet is from 10-12 months old.
For dogs, this varies depending on the breed:
Small breed puppies - around 10 months old.
Medium breeds - at 12 months old.
Large breeds - at 15 months old.
Giant breeds reach maturity later and will need to stay on puppy food until 18-24 months.
Sudden feed changes can cause upset stomachs, so introduce new food gradually over 2 weeks.
If you have any questions about what to feed your puppy or kitten, our friendly vets and vet nurses are more than happy to help.
(We would love to meet your new fur baby too!)
