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Growing puppies have very specific nutritional requirements that are different from those of adult dogs.  Feeding puppies correctly reduces their risk for obesity and orthopedic diseases, and increases their chances for a healthy life.  Puppies are very sensitive to nutritional imbalances which can include too much or too little of a nutrient or even improper balance between different nutrients.  Nutritional imbalances that might have minimal negative effects – especially in the short term –  in an adult dog can have disastrous results in a growing puppy, such as malformed or fractured bones, anemia, poor growth, skin problems, or even heart disease. One of the reasons puppies have such specialized nutritional requirements is that they have to be able to grow from tiny puppies at birth to full-sized adults within approximately one year and stay healthy.  Nowhere are the unique requirements more evident than in large or giant breed puppies.  For example, a Great Dane puppy that weighs 1 or 2 pounds at birth grows well over 100 pounds within one year (and even more by the time they’re full-grown at 18 months)!  But even small breed puppies need careful nutrition while growing to optimize their health. Too many calories from puppy food, treats, and other foods during growth can cause puppies to become overweight.  However, even before those extra calories cause a puppy to become overweight, they cause puppies to grow too quickly which – especially in large breed puppies – can increase their risk for bone and joint problems that can affect them for their entire lives.  Keeping your puppy at a perfect body condition score of 4 to 5 (on a 9-point scale) is critical (and it’s better to err on the side of your puppy having a body condition score of 4 or even a little lower,…

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