Dog Life Span - Stages & Steps

The Puppy and the Young Dog's first food is the mother's milk. During 2 days, the puppy will breast feed on colostrum, a kind of yellowish milk, which is very rich and concentrated than normal breast milk. This liquid gives the puppy provisional immunity until it can develop its own immunity. Later, the puppy will breast feed on concentrated and very energetic milk until weaning, which depending on the breed and animal's health will happen after 2 weeks or 2 months after birth. After this time we can substitute the breast milk with milk that has been adapted for dogs and the age of the puppy. Cow milk will not be used to feed the dog because of its composition. The denominated milk as maternal milk usually comes as a powder, so we must mix it with water before feeding it to the dog. Weaning must finish close to 8 weeks after birth. At this age we will try to cover the qualitative and quantitative necessities of proteins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals, since a lack of these would harm the puppy's growth. The contribution of energy during this period comes mainly from lipids. It is obvious that estimating the necessities of a pure bred dog are easier because we can imagine what their size and weight will be when they grow. If there is any doubt it is convenient to ask the veterinarian.

Estimated Energetic Growth Necessities According to the Age and Type of Dog (In kcal/day)*

Weaning Until 4 months Up to 6 months Up to 12 months Until 18 months Small Dog (Approx. 5 kg.) 1200 960 720 480** 480 Medium Dog (Approx. 25 kg.) 3750 3000 2250 1800** 1650 Large Dog (Approx. 50 kg.) 5325 4500 3375 2925 2475 Very Large Dog (Approx. 70 kg.) 5975 4480 3824 3346 2868 * Indication data ** End of Growth

Maintenance Energetic Necessities of the Adult Dog*

Small dog (5 kg.) 480 Kcal/day Medium Dog (25 kg) 1500 Kcal/day Large dog (50 kg.) 2250 Kcal/day Food In grams In Kcal In grams In Kcal In grams In Kcal Red meat (low fat) 145 290 480 960 690 1380 Pasta 110 88 370 296 545 436 Vegetables 100 60 340 204 490 294 Oil 1 tspn. 34 1.5 tspn. 68 1 tbspn. 102 Yeast 1 tspn. 15 1.5 tspn. 28 1 tbspn. 43 Complement (M/V)** 1 tspn. -- 1.5 tspn. -- 1 tbspn. -- * Information indicated for a dog kept at 20°C wit one or two hours of daily activity ** (M/V) Minerals and vitamins tspn = teaspoon tbspn = tablespoon