Puppy Update

[Amber Griffin]

Hi everyone! 

So I am now bringing home a gorgeous Pomeranian puppy in three days!

Her name is Nala

I've accidently bought the normal eukanuba puppy food, instead of the "small breed" puppy food, will that be a problem? I feel like the "small breed" label is just a marketing ploy. Do I need the small breed food? 

 

[RuralPug]

I feed mostly raw myself, but the food labelling laws in this country ensure that a commercial food may not be labelled a "complete" diet unless it agrees with the established science (which is not always up to date  ) so any food so labelled should be safe.

There are differences between growth requirements for large breed puppies and small breed puppies - toy breeds do have a higher metabolic rate than large breeds, for instance, and need more calories per kilo of their weight. They also mature faster.

Having said that, one packet of the less specialised food is not going to cause a huge problem for your puppy - I'm sure the breeder will have given you diet instructions and my guess is that they include daily servings of raw mince along with the kibble, plus other extras.

I've just realised that you haven't got your puppy yet - if the bag is unopened, you should be able to return it and swap for the smaller breed kibble - then you would have no problems and can start off with the exact same food that the breeder has been feeding the pups. 

[Scottsmum]

Small breed kibble is usually much smaller in size. She'slikely to be a tiny wee thing so if you use it you may have to break it with a mallet /hamner or soak it to soften it up.  Most places that sell that brand should return or exchange.

[RuralPug]

 

OOPS gremlins - double post sorry.

 

Edited July 26, 2017 by RuralPug

[RuralPug]

1 hour ago, Scottsmum said:

Small breed kibble is usually much smaller in size. She'slikely to be a tiny wee thing so if you use it you may have to break it with a mallet /hamner or soak it to soften it up.  Most places that sell that brand should return or exchange.

Excellent point! I forgot to mention that!

 

[Amber Griffin]

Hi everyone, I was too excited I opened the packet and put it in a container, I don't think it will make that much of a difference, I will break it up and maybe serve it with some wet food or something else to boost their nutrience, but overall, do I have the all clear? I don't need to buy the small breed one?

[Rebanne]

ask your breeder what they are feeding the pup and go with that. You do not need to boost any complete food. Ask your breeder these things, they are the ones breeding Poms.

[Tassie]

Very exciting ... can understand how you got carried away with the food.      I would definitely get the breeder to tell you what the pup has been eating, and use that for the first week or so, changing only gradually to what you're planning to use if it's different.    Depending how old the puppy is, I would think you'd need to breakup the Eukanuba, and when you start feeding it, I'd be inclined to moisten it to make it easier for the pup, then see how you go.   I wouldn't mix it with wet food .. that would upset the balance .. just soften with water.