Can puppies eat dry kibble?

It’s hard to believe puppies grow up so quickly because they are so adorable and cuddly. Puppies’ first instinct is to crawl up and huddle up against their mother’s body heat (if she’s present). To give them the advantages they require for rapid growth, they will also be breastfed or given formula.

However, the puppy must begin eating dry food when it reaches a certain age. So, when is the right time for this?.

Giving puppies the right nutrition is crucial because they require a lot of energy to grow. A great way to guarantee they get all the nutrients they require without any fillers is to feed them dry food.

I’ll explain when puppies can start eating dry food in this article, along with how to transition from wet to dry food. Keep reading for more information!.

When can puppies eat kibble or dry food?

Puppies must be between six and eight weeks old before they can start eating dry food or kibble. Breeders usually make this a gradual process. Some individuals may require more time before they stop wetting the kibble.

Although each breeder may employ a different approach, the typical transition from mother’s milk to dry food or kibble typically takes the form of:

Puppies typically begin developing teeth from about three weeks. Around three-and-half weeks, nursing will become uncomfortable for the mother, and she will start to cut it short or avoid it.

At this point, the pet parent must step in, especially as the smallest puppies will struggle through this stage and may not receive enough nutrients.

At this point, puppies will only be offered very watery food. This should be a special mother and puppy formula chosen for size (small, large, or giant breed) as a puppy’s nutritional needs are very precise at this point in their development.The dry food or kibble should be left in boiling water for several hours until it has cooled and been turned into a type of porridge. For the first few days, it may be better to use Esbilac’s weaning formula to make a more watery gruel before gradually adding softened kibble.

It may take puppies a few days to adapt to the idea of eating solid food. Fresh water should always be available during this time so that they can experiment with the action of lapping. From this age (between three and four weeks) to about six weeks, they should be fed three to four times a day with softened food. Tiny breeds that are prone to hypoglycemia may need to be fed more often.

Any change in a dog’s diet can upset their tummies. So adding a little probiotic powder can help the process.

Gradually, the water to dry kibble ratio should be reversed until the puppies are only eating dry kibble. In most cases, this happens between the period of six-to-eight weeks. However, we recommend getting closer to eight weeks before moving entirely to dry kibble.

You can also move from a special early puppy or mother and puppy formula to your kibble or diet of choice from eight weeks.

Some cons of feeding puppies kibble (or factors to be aware of)

Grain-free diets have been known to use subpar plant proteins such as peas, lentils, potatoes, or sweet potato proteins to artificially push up the amount of protein in the food.Plant proteins have an inferior amino acid profile, and the increased fiber may interfere with the absorption of taurine. Therefore, the FDA has issued an alert and begun investigating the link between grain-free diets and dilated canine cardiomyopathy.Retrievers are among the most commonly reported dogs with dietary-related DCM.

Large and giant breed puppies especially have very exact dietary needs.Being overweight or consuming too many calories can seriously impact their musculoskeletal health with devastating consequences. Thus, larger puppies more than most need to be kept lean and not overfed kibble or any other food.

Kibble or commercial dog food can be guilty of oversupplying essential minerals. Dog foods that make extensive use of animal meals do not always account for minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium already in the food from the bone content before adding supplements.Remember that oversupplying nutrients can be just as dangerous as a deficiency, and some nutrients need to be fed in the correct ratio, such as calcium-to-phosphorus ratios and omega-6-to-omega-3 ratios.

This can be problematic in the long term, as growing puppies need minerals such as calcium and phosphorus in the right amounts and in the correct proportion.High levels of copper can also lead to renal and liver trouble. Because of this, supplementing your puppy’s food with more minerals like calcium can lead to severe health issues.

Kibble is highly processed, and questions have arisen over the quality of food after the extensive rendering and extrusion, which may affect:

1. Heat-sensitive vitamins
2. Scorch oils, fats, and starches and release carcinogens
3. Destabilize amino acids such as Lysine

The addition of vitamins, amino acids, and minerals after processing is generally because of the loss of nutrients during processing.

The frequency of recalls, especially after the 2007 melamine contamination scandal, has left fewer people trusting the big dog food companies.

Finally, there is increasing concern about the quality and dangers of animal and plant by-products used in commercial dog food. While not all of these concerns are warranted, and many are overblown, some are definitely valid.

Can puppies only have kibble? Is kibble enough for my puppy?

Yes, puppies can only have hard kibble in their diets, and generally, a good quality kibble is enough for them. A trusted premium kibble is best, like Blue Buffalo Puppy Kibble.

Although sifting through the sea of information on pet food can be challenging (and regrettably frequently inaccurate), we will touch on some of the crucial factors to take into account. However, keep in mind that the kibble you give your puppy should be age- and size-appropriate.

Food must successfully navigate feed trials and/or chemical analysis in order for the FDA to label it as “complete and balanced.” By doing so, it guarantees that it satisfies the American Association of Feed Officials’ (AAFCO’s) fundamental minimum and maximum requirements for essential minerals and nutrients necessary for a dog to be healthy.

Consequently, a high-quality premium kibble should be created to provide your puppy with a balanced diet. As a training aid, you can add a few treats to this diet, but they shouldn’t make up more than 10% of your puppy’s overall intake.

A properly formulated kibble diet should not be interfered with as much as possible because doing so can lead to nutritional imbalances or other issues that owners are unaware of. We will go over this more below.

So, in summary, it’s best to avoid adding anything that might upset your puppy’s diet’s balance if they are already eating a good brand of carefully formulated kibble. However, the debate over commercial dry dog food in the form of kibble for puppies is becoming more complicated.

FAQ

Can I feed my puppy dry kibble?

Most puppies take six to eight weeks to fully wean themselves. Your puppy won’t be interested in dry food for the first few weeks of his life, but between the ages of three and four weeks, he’ll begin to nibble on solid foods. Your puppy may be too young to consume regular dry food meals if he is younger than that.

Should I add water to puppy kibble?

When feeding your dog dry kibble, adding water to the bowl will speed up digestion. By triggering the breakdown of food particles, hydrating a dog’s stomach contents significantly aids in digestion.

At what age can puppies start eating kibble?

All of the puppies should be able to walk, run, and play at four weeks. Puppy solid food consumption should start between 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 weeks of age.

Can 8 week old puppies eat dry food?

Puppies wean from their mothers and begin eating solid food for the first time at the age of 8 weeks. They can eat either dry or wet food, or a mixture of the two.