What puppies should (and shouldn't) eat

A simple guide to building a balanced diet during your puppy's first year.

The first twelve months shape your dog's lifelong relationship with food. Puppies need more calories per pound than adult dogs, plus carefully balanced calcium, phosphorus, and DHA to support bone and brain development.

Pick a complete-and-balanced puppy food labeled for your dog's expected adult size. Large-breed puppies grow more slowly and need formulas with controlled calcium to protect joints. Feed measured meals 3–4 times a day until 6 months, then twice daily.

Skip table scraps as a habit, and avoid grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, chocolate, xylitol-sweetened foods, and cooked bones — all of which range from upsetting to dangerous. Plain cooked chicken, carrots, blueberries, and a spoon of pumpkin make safe occasional toppers.

If your puppy refuses food for more than a day, has persistent diarrhea, or isn't gaining weight steadily, book a video visit. Early adjustments are easy; long-term deficiencies are not.