Diet and Supplements for new puppy

[cstrzelc]

Hello all, My wife and I just picked up our new 8 week old Rottie female this week. I have searched this site pretty extensively and still have a couple questions.

1. We are currently feeding her 1.5 cups of Purina Select Adult dog food. I have read many posts here recommending to change due to the ingredients. I will look them over today. Is 1.5 enough for a new puppy? The Breeder suggested 1 cup, but the puppy was very hungry in the evening. We usually feed 1 cup in the morning (7AM) and and half cup in the afternoon (2pm). Does that sound right? I am also considering adding cooked chicken and beef to the diet.

2. The breeder suggested NuJoint Plus and Sure Grow 100 supplements which I am giving her now. I have not found anything very positive or negative about either on this forum. Does anyone have any experience with these products?

3. The first two to three days the puppy was not as full of energy as I would expect. She played a little but very little, and slept or just lounged around most of the time. It seems like she is getting a bit more energy now, is this normal? I am just hoping I my puppy is not the lazy runt of the litter. I was the last to pick up the puppy so I did not get a change to observe the other puppies in action.

Thank you for any help,

[Shelby427]

Hi, and welcome! Yes, get your puppy on a better food. Purina is full of crap, by products and fillers. Do a search, TONS of great information here on premium kibble that uses human grade meats. You can feed less of the premium stuff than what you're feeding now. Puppy should be eating 3 times per day, not two. Once in the morning, once in the afternoon (noonish) and once in the evening. Eating half of her daily rations in one sitting is too much for her tiny belly.

Also, if your puppy is on a premium food, there is no need to feed supplements at this time. The food alone should be enough.

Give her time to settle in. Puppies tend to play very hard, then just DROP to the ground.

[brunie's mom]

shelby427 has given you good advice.
Change to a better quality food. The amount of food sounds right...if it was a super premium food...Purina is not.
Puppy should be eating 3 times per day, I have to question any breeder that would have sent you home with an 8 week old puppy and not told you to be feeding it 3 times per day.

No supplements...you may do more harm than good...especially anything containing calcium.

Gina

[lengel]

All kinds of things could affect her energy level, many of which are health related. I would get her checked out with your vet if you haven't already. Take in a fecal sample - don't wait for them to ask.

I can only think that Purina would be recommended for financial reasons. Supplements tend to be very expensive so it's easiest and most economical to just go with a higher quality diet and not worry about whether or not your pup is getting the right nutrients.

[cstrzelc]

Thanks all for your replies.

I checked the contents of Purina Select. Based on the advice of past posts on this forum, I actually don't see a need to change the food. Here is my reasoning.... Purina Pro Plan Select is Purina's highest and most expensive brand.. The forumla uses all natural ingredients with real meat (either turkey, fish or chicken). The brand states on their website "with no ground corn, animal by-products or artificial flavors or colors." So based on everyone's advice in past posts, I don't see a problem with it. Please let me know if you have a different opinion. Here is the link below:


Purina® Pro Plan® Selects® - Products - Purina® Pro Plan®

I checked the contents of Sure Grow and sure enough it contains a minimum of 166mg of Calcium. Could anyone let me know why calcium would be bad for a puppy? I would imagine it would help in bone development, however, I am not aware of any adverse side effects. I have not given this supplement to my puppy until I educate myself on the pros and cons.

Thank you for any help,
-cs

[cstrzelc]

Originally Posted by lengel

All kinds of things could affect her energy level, many of which are health related. I would get her checked out with your vet if you haven't already. Take in a fecal sample - don't wait for them to ask.

Thank you, I do have an appointment today and will ask for a fecal sample. I also noticed that she gets the hiccups about twice daily, if not more. So I wanted to ask about that.

-cs

[moondog]

Originally Posted by cstrzelc

Could anyone let me know why calcium would be bad for a puppy? I would imagine it would help in bone development, however, I am not aware of any adverse side effects. I have not given this supplement to my puppy until I educate myself on the pros and cons.

Calcium IS needed for bone development. However, and it's a BIG however, too much calcium can result in bone deformities in puppies because, as puppies, they do not have a physiological mechanism in place to control the absorption of calcium so the amount they are given needs to be as close to ideal as possible. Adult dogs will only absorb the amount of calcium they need and the rest is excreted......not so for puppies.

You are wise to do your research before adding any supplements to a diet that is already nutritionally complete, as harm can be done, depending on the supplement.

[Shelby427]

Originally Posted by cstrzelc

Thanks all for your replies.

I checked the contents of Purina Select. Based on the advice of past posts on this forum, I actually don't see a need to change the food. Here is my reasoning.... Purina Pro Plan Select is Purina's highest and most expensive brand.. The forumla uses all natural ingredients with real meat (either turkey, fish or chicken). The brand states on their website "with no ground corn, animal by-products or artificial flavors or colors." So based on everyone's advice in past posts, I don't see a problem with it. Please let me know if you have a different opinion. Here is the link below:


Purina® Pro Plan® Selects® - Products - Purina® Pro Plan®

I checked the contents of Sure Grow and sure enough it contains a minimum of 166mg of Calcium. Could anyone let me know why calcium would be bad for a puppy? I would imagine it would help in bone development, however, I am not aware of any adverse side effects. I have not given this supplement to my puppy until I educate myself on the pros and cons.

Thank you for any help,
-cs

There are MUCH better food options out there that use HUMAN GRADE meats. I would prefer to feed a better quality food if it's available. Just because it's expensive, does NOT mean it's good quality.

Again, if you're feeding a PREMIUM food, there is NO NEED for additional supplements.

[brunie's mom]

It's not the worst food you could feed...and out of the Purina line..it's probably the best...but it is still a mediocre food. For the same amount of money you could be feeding a food that contains humane grade meats...has way more meat in it....and does not contain corn gluten meal or brewers rice.

The only food out of the Adult Select formula that does not contain brewers rice or corn gluten meal as the second and third ingredient...is the Salmon & Brown Rice formula.

Please do NOT give calcium...even the poorest quality of dog food has WAY more minerals and vitamins then are needed...the companies over supplement in case some of it is lost in the processing...or in shelf life.

Gina

[cstrzelc]

Thanks Gina,

I appreciate your advice. Once this bag is finished I will look into upgrading to a food with possibly brown rice. I have been reading a decent amount about the California Naturals brand, I am thinking of going with this one.

-cs