During the first stages of its life, a puppy’s nutritional needs are very different to adult dog. The right food should give your puppy everything it needs to develop effectively at key points in its growth, without you having to give them any supplements.    

Nutrition for one month old puppies  
At this age, a puppy needs plenty of support for its natural defences. Between four and 12 weeks old, puppies enter an ‘immunity gap’ phase where the protection they’ve received from their mother’s milk begins to wane but their own ability to develop a strong immune system isn’t fully developed.  

Royal Canin’s Mini Starter Mother and Babydog contains START COMPLEX which is an exclusive combination of nutritional elements which are present in mother’s milk, reinforced with specific nutrients which actively contribute to supporting the puppy’s digestive health and natural defences.    

Nutrition at four months old  Your puppy’s skeleton is still developing at this stage, so they need the right nutritional balance of calcium and phosphorus in their diet. Puppies absorb calcium passively – their bodies can’t regulate how much they take in – and so when they’re under six months old, they can’t protect themselves against excessive intake. Overabsorption of calcium can result in several skeletal deformities, so stick to the recommended guidelines: 0.5g of calcium for every kilogram in body weight each day. 

Royal Canin’s Puppy range are specially tailored for puppies at this age to deliver the specific amount of nutrients that they require.    

Nutrition for 10 months old puppies  X-small and small breed dogs will be nearing their adult stage by 10 months old, whereas larger dogs still have a while to go. All dogs at this point need nutritional support for their joints, particularly large and giant dogs, as their muscles will be filling out and exerting pressure on their skeleton. Glucosamine and chondroitin are two important nutrients; Without these, growing puppies can end up suffering with joint problems later in life.   

Adult dogs and nutrition  As an adult, your dog will need a carefully balanced diet to avoid gaining weight. It’s estimated over a quarter of all adult dogs are obese, and this can place undue pressure on bones, joints and organs, reducing your dog’s quality of life.     

Your ageing dog’s diet  
Energy requirements of older dogs are around 10%-20% less than younger dogs, so you can adapt their meal sizes to avoid any unnecessary weight gain. Your ageing dog’s food should also include specific nutrients to support health during the ageing process, such as:  
• Long chain omega-3 fatty acids, which can support healthy heart function  
• A selection of active nutrients with demonstrated benefits joint health  
• Reduced phosphorus levels to support effective kidney function  

Check out Royal Canin’s X-Small and Mini Adult 8+ and veterinary range Mature diet that are specially tailored for mature dogs.