Pet Nutrition Stages
ASPCA Pet Nutrition and Science Advisory Service
Growing Animals - Puppies & Kittens
Newborn kittens and puppies receive total nutrition
from mother's milk for about the first four weeks of
life. After that, food is gradually added, and after a
few more weeks they are fully weaned. During the
first weeks of life, body weight may double or triple
and this rapid growth will continue (although at a
gradually decreasing rate) until maturity. Large
amounts of energy and nutrients are required in
balanced quantities to support this spectacular growth
Kittens: Kittens are best fed mom's milk; it's perfect for their needs. However, circumstances may
require that the kittens be fed a "milk replacer." If the queen is ill, has an extremely large litter, doesn't
produce enough milk or wanders off or dies, it is necessary to feed the kittens a commercial milk
replacer. A properly formulated milk replacer can come very close to matching the growth of kittens
nursed by the queen.
Generally, orphaned or hand-fed kittens will be offered moistened kitten food at about three weeks of
age. The "moisture" should be a commercial milk replacer and be gradually reduced over time until the
kittens are eating dry kitten food at about five or six weeks of age.
Initially, the food will be more of a play thing than food, but the youngsters will soon catch on as they
watch mom eat her food. By the time the kittens are five to six weeks old, they should be nibbling on
their dry food consistently. This process of gradually introducing their kitten food is important in training
the kittens to eat when they are weaned. It also helps the queen by providing a separate source of
nutrition for the rapidly growing kittens.
After weaning, kittens are usually fed free choice - dry or nutrient-dense canned food - with fresh
water available at all times.
Most queens will suckle their kittens until 7-8 weeks of age. By this time, 80 - 90% of the kitten's total
nutrient intake should be from kitten food. Kittens need large amounts of energy equaling about two
to three times that of an adult cat on a kilogram of body weight basis. Kittens also need about 30% of
total energy from protein. Therefore, kitten food must meet all the nutritional needs, including high
amounts of energy and protein, from weaning until maturity at about one year.
Puppies: As with kittens, puppies occasionally need a replacement for the bitch's milk. Milk replacer
for puppies is used similarly to milk replacer for kittens as described above but should have pup-specific
instructions on the container.
Puppies generally begin eating puppy food three or four weeks after birth (whelping) and are
completely weaned by seven or eight weeks. They require up to twice the energy intake of adults per
kilogram of body weight and need to have 25% to 30% of total energy provided by protein
depending upon their breed.
Prior to weaning, as with kittens, puppies should have puppy food available. These meals should begin
when the pups are three to four weeks old and be small quantities at first. Puppies often play in their
food when it is first introduced, but they will quickly learn its value. By the time the pups are ready to
wean at six to eight weeks old, they should be eating their dry food consistently. This is important
training for the pups. It also helps the bitch by providing a separate source of nutrition for the rapidly
growing puppies.
Small breeds of dogs reach mature body weight in nine to twelve months, while giant breeds may not
be mature until 24 months of age.
Small breed puppies are those whose adult size will be 20 pounds or less. These pups can often be fed
free choice from weaning. With the constant availability of food, most will develop good eating habits
and not become overweight. Owners with other pets or concerns about overeating should feed their
puppies by the portion control method.
Most medium breed puppies (adult size between 20 and 50 pounds) and all large or giant breed pups
(adult size over 50 pounds) are best fed with the portion control method.
The Challenge of Feeding Puppies: If puppies are allowed to over-eat, they may consume too many
calories and too much calcium, grow too rapidly and develop bone growth problems. In breeds that are
prone to these diseases, such as many large and giant breeds, overfeeding can lead to an increased
frequency of hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD), osteochondrosis (OCD) and hip dysplasia. The
formation of the young growing bone is disrupted and the resulting malformation, lameness and pain
may cause serious clinical disease.
The clinical signs seen with these bone growth diseases include bowing of the front legs. Sometimes,
these signs are misdiagnosed as weak bones due to calcium deficiency (rickets). Rickets is a very
uncommon disease so it is important to accurately diagnose these bone diseases by x-rays. Adding
more calcium to the diets of dogs with HOD, OCD or hip dysplasia will actually worsen the diseases and
may result in life-long damage to the bones.
Therefore, with large and giant breed puppies, it is important to aim for a slower rate of growth. Do
not over-feed or try to push the growth rate too fast. Controlled feeding of a balanced diet specifically
made for large and giant breed puppies facilitates optimal skeletal development. Remember, the adult
size of a dog is determined genetically, not by how fast it grows.
© 2004 ASPCA
ASPCA Pet Nutrition and Science Advisory Service
Growing Animals - Puppies & Kittens
Newborn kittens and puppies receive total nutrition
from mother's milk for about the first four weeks of
life. After that, food is gradually added, and after a
few more weeks they are fully weaned. During the
first weeks of life, body weight may double or triple
and this rapid growth will continue (although at a
gradually decreasing rate) until maturity. Large
amounts of energy and nutrients are required in
balanced quantities to support this spectacular growth
Kittens: Kittens are best fed mom's milk; it's perfect for their needs. However, circumstances may
require that the kittens be fed a "milk replacer." If the queen is ill, has an extremely large litter, doesn't
produce enough milk or wanders off or dies, it is necessary to feed the kittens a commercial milk
replacer. A properly formulated milk replacer can come very close to matching the growth of kittens
nursed by the queen.
Generally, orphaned or hand-fed kittens will be offered moistened kitten food at about three weeks of
age. The "moisture" should be a commercial milk replacer and be gradually reduced over time until the
kittens are eating dry kitten food at about five or six weeks of age.
Initially, the food will be more of a play thing than food, but the youngsters will soon catch on as they
watch mom eat her food. By the time the kittens are five to six weeks old, they should be nibbling on
their dry food consistently. This process of gradually introducing their kitten food is important in training
the kittens to eat when they are weaned. It also helps the queen by providing a separate source of
nutrition for the rapidly growing kittens.
After weaning, kittens are usually fed free choice - dry or nutrient-dense canned food - with fresh
water available at all times.
Most queens will suckle their kittens until 7-8 weeks of age. By this time, 80 - 90% of the kitten's total
nutrient intake should be from kitten food. Kittens need large amounts of energy equaling about two
to three times that of an adult cat on a kilogram of body weight basis. Kittens also need about 30% of
total energy from protein. Therefore, kitten food must meet all the nutritional needs, including high
amounts of energy and protein, from weaning until maturity at about one year.
Puppies: As with kittens, puppies occasionally need a replacement for the bitch's milk. Milk replacer
for puppies is used similarly to milk replacer for kittens as described above but should have pup-specific
instructions on the container.
Puppies generally begin eating puppy food three or four weeks after birth (whelping) and are
completely weaned by seven or eight weeks. They require up to twice the energy intake of adults per
kilogram of body weight and need to have 25% to 30% of total energy provided by protein
depending upon their breed.
Prior to weaning, as with kittens, puppies should have puppy food available. These meals should begin
when the pups are three to four weeks old and be small quantities at first. Puppies often play in their
food when it is first introduced, but they will quickly learn its value. By the time the pups are ready to
wean at six to eight weeks old, they should be eating their dry food consistently. This is important
training for the pups. It also helps the bitch by providing a separate source of nutrition for the rapidly
growing puppies.
Small breeds of dogs reach mature body weight in nine to twelve months, while giant breeds may not
be mature until 24 months of age.
Small breed puppies are those whose adult size will be 20 pounds or less. These pups can often be fed
free choice from weaning. With the constant availability of food, most will develop good eating habits
and not become overweight. Owners with other pets or concerns about overeating should feed their
puppies by the portion control method.
Most medium breed puppies (adult size between 20 and 50 pounds) and all large or giant breed pups
(adult size over 50 pounds) are best fed with the portion control method.
The Challenge of Feeding Puppies: If puppies are allowed to over-eat, they may consume too many
calories and too much calcium, grow too rapidly and develop bone growth problems. In breeds that are
prone to these diseases, such as many large and giant breeds, overfeeding can lead to an increased
frequency of hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD), osteochondrosis (OCD) and hip dysplasia. The
formation of the young growing bone is disrupted and the resulting malformation, lameness and pain
may cause serious clinical disease.
The clinical signs seen with these bone growth diseases include bowing of the front legs. Sometimes,
these signs are misdiagnosed as weak bones due to calcium deficiency (rickets). Rickets is a very
uncommon disease so it is important to accurately diagnose these bone diseases by x-rays. Adding
more calcium to the diets of dogs with HOD, OCD or hip dysplasia will actually worsen the diseases and
may result in life-long damage to the bones.
Therefore, with large and giant breed puppies, it is important to aim for a slower rate of growth. Do
not over-feed or try to push the growth rate too fast. Controlled feeding of a balanced diet specifically
made for large and giant breed puppies facilitates optimal skeletal development. Remember, the adult
size of a dog is determined genetically, not by how fast it grows.
© 2004 ASPCA
Pet Nutrition
ALL ABOUT DOGS and CATS Resource Center for Canine & Feline Lovers
ALL ABOUT DOGS
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Pet Health Articles
Arthritis In Cats
Arthritis Management - Dogs
Arthritis Treatment - Cats
Causes of Arthritis in Pets
Cold Weather/Holiday Tips
Essential Needs
Flea Control
Glucosamine & Chondroitin
Hip Dysplasia In Dogs
Hot Weather Tips
Importance of Water
Is Your Dog Overweight?
Obesity In Dogs - Causes
Obesity in Dogs - Prevention
Removing Ticks
Tick Control
Pet Nutrition Articles
Importance of Pet Nutrition
What's Really In Pet Food (API)
Pet Food Labels: Part One
Pet Food Labels: Part Two
Selecting A Commercial Pet Food
Food Not Fit For A Pet
Food Pets Die For
The Truth About Cats and Dogs
Diet and the Skin
Feeding Puppies & Kittens
Feeding - Reproductive Stages
Feeding Geriatric Pets
Special Nutrition Care For Cats
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