Here you can find out what makes a balanced diet for dogs and how to switch your dog onto a new food. Learn how dogs' dietary needs change over time and how to deal with a fussy eater.
Your dog’s changing diet
From a puppy to a senior - as your dog grows older their dietary needs change.
Puppies
A puppy needs two-and-a-half times the calories of an adult dog of the same size. They also need higher amounts of muscle-building protein, bone-building calcium and phosphorus. They have an immature digestive system and a small stomach, so their food should be easy to digest and given as several small meals each day.
Young dogs
The time to change a puppy's diet or calorie intake depends on their breed. Small breeds reach adult weight in six to nine months, while very large breeds can take up to 24 months to reach adult weight. There are a variety of foods specially formulated for young dogs of various sizes.
Maturity
Mature dogs don’t use as much energy as growing dogs, so their food needs fewer calories. Mature dogs also need fewer mealtimes – just one or two a day is fine.
Pregnancy
Pregnant dogs need extra food during the last four weeks of pregnancy. You should increase your dog’s food by an extra 15% each week from week six of the pregnancy onwards.
Nursing
Newborn puppies drink enormous amounts of milk. So while Mum’s nursing she will need up to four times her normal amount of food, as well as a steady supply of fresh water. She can also be given puppy food, with its high calorie content.
Seniors
Senior dogs exercise less, so need less food. They may also prefer small, frequent meals instead of one large meal. Deciding when to change your dog to a senior diet depends on their breed. Here’s a rough guide:
- giant breeds – 5 years;
- large breeds – 8 years;
- small and toy breeds – 10 years.
See our selection of Pedigree puppy, adult and senior foods
