Food is a fundamental aspect for the well-being of the dog, if possible even more when it comes to a growing dog. Natural weaning tends to occur around 2 months, which is why it is not convenient to separate the puppies from their mother earlier. In addition, a premature separation could hinder the puppy’s socialization process, since it begins precisely with its mother and siblings.
After weaning, we may wonder what to feed a 2-month-old puppy to ensure proper development. In this ScoobyDog article, we are going to explain how to start feeding at this age and what alternatives we have to feed our puppy so that we cover all its nutritional needs.
When does only one puppy start eating?
Puppies, as mammals that they are, begin their life feeding on the milk provided by their mother. Living with her and her siblings, as well as maintaining breastfeeding, is recommended for at least two months of life. Therefore, adopting a dog before that age is not advised. Even in the case of orphaned puppies and fed with artificial milk, the litter must remain together until the minimum of eight weeks.
But this does not mean that they have to spend all that time drinking only milk. From 21-28 days of age, the puppies will begin to show interest in their mother’s food and it is a good time for them to start solid food. The lactating female has to be consuming a diet for growing puppies, so there is no problem in accessing it. If it is a hard food such as feed, we can moisten it with warm water to help the puppies to eat it more easily.
In these cases, the mother will be the one who will prevent them from accessing milk, so that they will eat more and more solids and the final weaning will end. Therefore, when we adopt a puppy, it is not necessary that we look for milk for a 2-month-old puppy. When you arrive at our home you already have to be used to eating only your food. For adopters wondering what to feed a 2-month-old puppy, we explain below.
What should a 2 month old puppy eat?
Mainly, there are three types of food for puppies of two months and other ages: dry food, wet can or homemade food.
I think for puppies of 2 months
When the two-month-old puppy arrives at our home, the most important thing to bear in mind is that, if what we are going to feed him differs from what he was eating until then, a gradual transition must be made . It is a good idea to give us a small amount of the food you are used to so that we mix it with the new one until we make the change. This progression is necessary because abrupt dietary changes often trigger digestive problems. Coupled with the stress of moving home and separating from his family, the puppy could become ill.
But if you wonder what to feed a 2-month-old puppy, the truth is that a very widespread option is feed. In the market you will find such a huge variety of products that it is difficult to know which one to choose . As a guide, keep these tips in mind:
- The dog is a carnivorous animal, omnivorous in practice, that needs a menu based on proteins of animal origin . This means that the first ingredient on the feed list has to be meat.
- Dried or dehydrated meat guarantees that the indicated content is maintained in the final product. Fresh meat loses water in the feed manufacturing process, so the final content will be approximately half of what is declared.
- The feed always has to be specifically formulated for growing puppies . Other ranges will not be able to cover all the nutritional needs of this period, which lasts, at least, until the year of life.
- A good diet is an investment in present and future health.
- The most expensive feed is not always the best. You have to read the label and look at aspects such as those we have discussed.
- In addition to the feed, the puppy must have clean and fresh water at his disposal permanently.
Wet food for 2 month old puppies
Now, if you ask yourself “what to feed a 2-month-old puppy if I don’t have feed” or if you prefer another option, the truth is that there are alternatives. The moist food or canned are another variety of widespread dog food. It is usually given occasionally or as a supplement to feed, but it could also be a single diet. In that case, we must look at the same recommendations given for the feed. Of course, you have to know that this type of puppy food is less economical.
There is also another, less known alternative, which is dehydrated food . You just have to add water and serve. In addition, as we will see now, homemade food following a balanced diet can be another good alternative.
Homemade food for 2 month old puppies
Now that you know what to feed a 2-month-old puppy, we stop at home cooking. You have to know that opting for this option has numerous benefits, since we ourselves acquire the fresh ingredients and prepare them, keeping their nutrients and serving the dish at the moment or freezing it for later consumption. But in order for homemade food to feed a puppy correctly, the menu has to be prepared by experts in canine nutrition . Otherwise, we run the risk of not meeting all their needs and finding a puppy with growth and health problems.
For all the above, if you consider giving your dog homemade food, be clear that it is not synonymous with giving him your leftovers. Not even to prepare dishes like the ones you would eat. Find out well and contact professionals. For this reason, we recommend you consult this other article: ” Homemade food for puppy dogs “.
How much does a 2-month-old puppy eat?
Quality is the basis when deciding what to feed a 2-month-old puppy, but we also have to pay attention to quantity. It is not true that a puppy has to eat large amounts to grow larger. You do not have to overfeed or give him supplements , but respect the amounts that the manufacturer or the nutrition expert prescribes for the puppy according to its size. The daily ration should be divided into about four doses . As it grows, these intakes will be reduced. With about a year we can feed him only once or twice a day.
So how much should a 2-month-old puppy eat? It will depend on the breed or the size that they can become as an adult, their level of physical activity, and the type of food chosen. Therefore, it is not possible to set an exact amount that works for all 2-month-old puppies, since a pug puppy, for example, can eat 60 to 90 grams per day, while a beagle puppy can eat between 140 and 240 grams.
Finally, it must be borne in mind that the edible prizes we give them, very common during education, must be deducted from the daily ration, since they involve additional calories, which could unbalance the diet and cause overweight problems. Prizes can never exceed 10% of the daily feed percentage.