Dog Health – A Dogs Development
Posted by admin on September 25th, 2009From the second he was conceived to the time he is born, a puppy is fed directly by his mother without any exertion on the dogs part. From the time of birth until about 6 to 7 weeks later, his mother’s milk will be his primary food. The food that will provide him with the power and engry that will fuel his development.
The first six months of your puppy’s life is the time when quick growth takes place. Depending on his breed, a fit puppy will gain an average of 15 to 40 times his birth weight during this time period . By his first birthday, the dog will have put on about 30 to 60 times his birth weight!
As the puppy develops and reaches adulthood, the amount of energy and nutrients that his body needs will gradually decline. He will display changes in his behaviour such as reduced appetite, decreased activity, and less curiosity of the world around him. These changes, however, are expected and certain as the puppy approaches the end of his growth stage and starts to become mature .
These developments in his behaviour also serves as a pointer to the owner that it is time to change the dog’s diet . The dog no longer requires the kind of food that was suited to him during his growth stage. What he needs now is a diet that will do him as he reaches adulthood.
The adult dog needs several nutrients in order to live, have energy, and maintain a healthy life. These nutrients are found in the food he eats. There are six types of nutrients that the dog must have in order to remain healthy and maintain a strong body. These are: carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water.
He must meet the Minimum Daily Requirement (MDR), which is the least amount of nutrients that his body needs in a 24-hour period that will enable him to stay healthy.
The MDR changes as the dog goes through different stages of life. These stages are: the growth stage, the maintenance stage, the work stage, the pregnancy stage, and the lactation stage.