American pittbull

Question
I just got a pittbull and it is 10 weeks old, I really need to get all the information on taking care of this puppy to train it the way i want to. I would like know what kind of food i should really feed them and the vitamins and etc. I just need all the information that you can give me. Thank you so much.


Tyrone

Answer
Hi Tyrone,

Congratulations on getting a puppy!

There's actually a lot more to puppy care than choosing the right food. I'll tell you a little bit about some of the other things you should be aware of, after I tell you about what kind of diet to feed the pup.

I can't tell you what brand to buy. A lot depends on your budget, and which foods are sold in your area.

There is no one dog food out there that is perfect for every dog. The higher quality foods tend to be harder to find and more expensive, but the money you will save in veterinary bills is more than worth it. Buy the best puppy/dog food you can afford.

Keep your puppy on a puppy food diet for his first full year. Puppies need extra nutrition that they can't get in regular dog food.

Feed your puppy the same kind of food every day. Unlike humans, a dog's digestive system cannot handle changes in food. It can cause upset stomach and diarrhea.

If you do decide to switch to a new food, gradually - over a period of 5-7 days. Change to the new food by mixing portions of both foods until you slowly phase the old food out. Your puppy may experience diarrhea if his food is suddenly changed.

Feed your puppy at the same time every day.

Always have fresh drinking water available.

Keep food and water bowls clean.

Don't overfeed your puppy. Follow the guidelines on the puppy food package for recommended feeding amounts. The amount you feed will change as the puppy gets older.

Don't be alarmed if your puppy's appetite changes. It is normal for your puppy to lose his appetite or experience digestive upset occasionally. If your puppy's upset stomach becomes severe or last longer than a day or two, contact your veterinarian.

Do not feed your puppy immediately before or after exercise. Always allow at least an hour to pass between feeding and exercising to prevent the risk of swelling and twisting of the stomach. Feed your puppy after you eat so your dog feels part of the 'pack' but knows you're the head of that pack.

It is not recommended to feed your dog scraps as it's difficult to create a balanced diet - adding the odd tidbit occasionally is fine but make sure you reduce your dog's regular food intake to compensate or your puppy may get overweight. Don't feed fatty scraps as your dog will put on weight. Raw meat can be infected with bacteria so always ensure it is thoroughly cooked and all the bones have been removed as these can damage teeth and cause obstructions in the gut. Never feed dogs chocolate as it is also toxic to their systems (3oz of chocolate can kill a medium-sized dog).

The first ingredient in your puppy's food should be a form of meat, such as beef, chicken, turkey, etc.  Not a "Meat Meal" or Meat By-Product, but the real thing.  
Puppies were not meant to primarily eat corn and wheat based diet. Those grains are hard to digest, and many dogs develop allergies to them. Look for a pet food that has rice or barley, instead.

Some dog foods contain meant "By-Products".These are left over animal parts, such as the eyes, skin, or other body parts humans don't usually eat. Dogs aren't human though, and really don't mind these meat sources, as gross as it sounds! Still, real meat from an identified animal source is best.

Don't buy a puppy or dog food that contain the artificial preservatives ethoxyquin, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Instead, make sure the food you choose is preserved with Tocopherols (vitamin E) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C), they're both natural preservatives.

Here are some web sites with info on other aspects of puppy care that should help:

House training:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/housebreaking.htm
http://www.seefido.com/html/puppy_housebreaking__house_hyg.htm

Puppy biting:
http://www.perfectpaws.com/bite.html
http://dogbreedinfo.com/puppybiting.htm

Puppy Chewing:
http://www.inch.com/~dogs/chewing.html

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,
Patti