For a puppy to grow up healthy it is crucial to provide them with the recommended amount of calories, amino acids, minerals and vitamins. In our following recipes for your puppy, we have paid attention to a moderate energy supply. According to breed, age and activity levels your puppy might need more or less than suggested in our recipes. If your puppy gets too much calories it usually does not lead to obesity, but your puppy will most likely grow too fast. This a burden on the skeleton, which is still insufficiently mineralized. It is therefore advisable to check the weight of your young dog at regular intervals and compare it to a growth chart.
The simplest way to regulate the energy supply is by regulating the intake of oil and treats. If your puppy is too light, you increase both by 20 %, is he too heavy, you give 30 % less of each. With Vitamin Optimix Puppy & Junior you can supplement the meal with the optimal amount of minerals and vitamins.
further information:
meat:
You can use e. g. beef, lamb, chicken, turkey; possibly horse, goat, kangaroo. Please make sure that at least two types of meat are not fed at all, to have alternative sources of protein in reserve when needed. As vets we have to point out that there is an increased risk of infection with raw meat. You don't have to feed raw, there is only a low nutrient loss due to cooking or frying. There is one exception to raw feeding: never feed raw pork meat. It is acceptable to feed a variety, as long as the products and the daily change are well received.
fish:
You may feed raw fish once per week. If you want to feed fish more than once per week you should cook it to prevent a Vitamin B1 deficiency. It is possible to mix it up, as long as the change is well received.
innards:
Acceptable innards are rumen, leaf tripe, spleen, heart, udder, lung and kidney. They do not necessarily have to be included in the ration. Innards have a higher connective tissue content compared to muscle meat. This can cause a change in faeces consistency when given in large amounts. We recommend that the percentage of innards is not more than 25 % of the meat content.
Liver has a high content of vitamin A. With our Vitamin Optimix Puppy & Junior you should forego the liver feeding.
Maw meat may have remains of thyroid which, when feeding large amounts regularly, may have effects on the hormone balance.
bones:
Feeding bones is not necessary. Our meal plan supplies the sufficient amount of calcium and phosphorus through the mineral powder. If bone feeding is still desired you can replace up to a maximum of 5% of the meat ration with meaty bones such as chicken, turkey or duck necks, fleshy oxtail or lamb ribs.
dairy products:
Suitable dairy products such as cottage cheese, cream cheese, curd, yoghurt, lean curd and buttermilk are highly digestible proteins that partially contain lactic acid for the intestinal function. Please consider that higher amounts of lactose can lead to changes in faeces consistency. Therefore, it should always be individually tested which and how much of a dairy product can be tolerated.
eggs:
Please only feed cooked eggs or raw egg yolk. Too many egg whites can cause a biotin deficiency. Don't feed eggshells as they may result in calcium oversupply.
vegetables and fruit:
They provide fiber for the intestinal function and can be fed crushed, shredded, pureed or cooked for a better nutrient absorbability. Alternatively you can use flakes and soak them in three times the amount of water before feeding.
Your puppy should never get onions, garlic, avocado, grapes and raisins, because they are toxic for dogs. Fruit kernels and stones must be removed before feeding. Don't puree fruit kernels either because of the containing toxic cyanide.
The ratio of fruit and vegetables can be individually chosen according to compatibility.
Cooked vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, chinese cabbage, pumpkin, celery, spinach, beetroot; calorie rich varieties are peas, red/white beans, corn; cooked vegetables in the glass (so-called baby food) or frozen vegetables (heated up!) are also acceptable
Raw vegetables: carrots, lettuce, ripe tomatoes, cucumber, fennel, turnip cabbage, zucchini etc.
Fruit: apples, oranges, pears, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, kiwis, nectarines, melons, peaches, plums
oils:
Because of different contents of Omega-3 & Omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E you should use safflower oil, hemp oil, corn germ oil or sunflower oil and salmon oil. The perfect ratio is reached by 80% safflower oil, hemp oil, corn germ oil or sunflower oil and 20% salmon oil.
mineral powder:
At the beginning add the mineral feed in small portions about 4 - 5 days into the feed. Please don't heat up and mix it well under the ration.
Feeding plan for a growing dog with an expected weight of 2.5 kg:
| Age Actual body weight | ≥ 8th week approx. 0.6–0.9 kg | ≥ 12th week approx. 0.9–1.4 kg | ≥ 18th week approx. 1.4–2.5 kg | ≥ 8th month |
| Meat (gross weight) | 65–80 | 80–100 | 100–110 | 65–85 |
| Vegetables | 15–20 | 20–25 | 25–30 | 25–45 |
| Oils* | 0.9–1.1 | 1.1–1.3 | 1.3–1.5 | 1–1.5 |
| Treats | 8 | 10 | 10 | 5 |
| Vitamin Optimix Puppy & Junior | 1.1–1.6 | 1.6 | 1.5 | – |
| Vitamin Optimix Barf plus Calcium | – | – | – | 1.5 |
Feeding plan for a growing dog with an expected weight of 5 kg:
| Age Actual body weight | ≥ 8th week approx. 1.1–1.8 kg | ≥ 12th week approx. 1.8–2.8 kg | ≥ 18th week approx. 2.8–5 kg | ≥ 10th month |
| Meat (gross weight) | 100–135 | 135–160 | 160–170 | 115–150 |
| Vegetables | 30–35 | 35–40 | 40–50 | 50–75 |
| Oils* | 1.5–2 | 2–2.3 | 2.3–2.5 | 2–3 |
| Treats | 10 | 15 | 15 | 10 |
| Vitamin Optimix Puppy & Junior | 2.0–2.7 | 2.7 | 2.5 | – |
| Vitamin Optimix Barf plus Calcium | – | – | – | 2.5 |
Feeding plan for a growing dog with an expected weight of 10 kg:
| Age Actual body weight | ≥ 8th week approx. 2.2–3.5 kg | ≥ 12th week approx. 3.5–5.5 kg | ≥ 18th week approx. 5.5–10 kg | ≥ 10th month |
| Meat (gross weight) | 170–225 | 225–270 | 270–290 | 210–260 |
| Vegetables | 45–60 | 60–75 | 75–80 | 100–120 |
| Oils* | 2.5–3 | 3–4 | 4–4.5 | 5–6 |
| Treats | 20 | 25 | 25 | 15 |
| Vitamin Optimix Puppy & Junior | 4.5–5.5 | 5.5 | 5.0 | – |
| Vitamin Optimix Barf plus Calcium | – | – | – | 4.5 |
Feeding plan for a growing dog with an expected weight of 15 kg:
| Age Actual body weight | ≥ 8th week approx. 3.5–5 kg | ≥ 12th week approx. 5–8 kg | ≥ 18th week approx. 8–15 kg | ≥ 12th month |
| Meat (gross weight) | 240–300 | 300–370 | 370–400 | 290–350 |
| Vegetables | 65–80 | 80–100 | 100–110 | 140–170 |
| Oils* | 3.5–4 | 4–5 | 5–5.5 | 7–8 |
| Treats | 30 | 35 | 40 | 15 |
| Vitamin Optimix Puppy & Junior | 7–8.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 | – |
| Vitamin Optimix Barf plus Calcium | – | – | – | 5.5 |
Feeding plan for a growing dog with an expected weight of 20 kg:
| Age Actual body weight | ≥ 8th week approx. 4.2–6.5 kg | ≥ 12th week approx. 6.5–10.5 kg | ≥ 18th week approx. 10.5–20 kg | ≥ 12th month |
| Meat (gross weight) | 280–360 | 360–450 | 450–490 | 360–440 |
| Vegetables | 75–100 | 100–120 | 120–130 | 170–200 |
| Oils* | 4–5 | 5–6.5 | 6.5–7 | 9–11 |
| Treats | 35 | 40 | 50 | 20 |
| Vitamin Optimix Puppy & Junior | 9–12 | 12 | 11 | – |
| Vitamin Optimix Barf plus Calcium | – | – | – | 7 |
Feeding plan for a growing dog with an expected weight of 25 kg:
| Age Actual body weight | ≥ 8th week approx. 5–8 kg | ≥ 12th week approx. 8–13 kg | ≥ 18th week approx. 13–25 kg | ≥ 12th month |
| Meat (gross weight) | 320–420 | 420–530 | 530–580 | 410–480 |
| Vegetables | 90–120 | 120–140 | 140–160 | 200–250 |
| Oils* | 5–6 | 6–8 | 8–8.5 | 11–14 |
| Treats | 45 | 55 | 60 | 20 |
| Vitamin Optimix Puppy & Junior | 11–15 | 15 | 14 | – |
| Vitamin Optimix Barf plus Calcium | – | – | – | 8 |
Feeding plan for a growing dog with an expected weight of 30 kg:
| Age Actual body weight | ≥ 8th week approx. 5.9–9.3 kg | ≥ 12th week approx. 9.3–15 kg | ≥ 18th week approx. 15–30 kg | ≥ 12th month |
| Meat (gross weight) | 360–475 | 475–600 | 600–660 | 490–600 |
| Vegetables | 100–130 | 130–160 | 160–180 | 240–290 |
| Oils* | 5.5–7 | 7–9 | 9–9.5 | 14–17 |
| Treats | 50 | 60 | 65 | 20 |
| Vitamin Optimix Puppy & Junior | 14–19 | 19 | 17 | – |
| Vitamin Optimix Barf plus Calcium | – | – | – | 9 |
Feeding plan for a growing dog with an expected weight of 35 kg:
| Age Actual body weight | ≥ 8th week approx. 7–11 kg | ≥ 12th week approx. 11–17 kg | ≥ 18th week approx. 17–35 kg | ≥ 15th month |
| Meat (gross weight) | 410–540 | 540–660 | 660–740 | 540–620 |
| Vegetables | 110–150 | 150–180 | 180–200 | 270–310 |
| Oils* | 6–8 | 8–10 | 10–11 | 16–19 |
| Treats | 50 | 65 | 75 | 20 |
| Vitamin Optimix Puppy & Junior | 17–21 | 21 | 19 | – |
| Vitamin Optimix Barf plus Calcium | – | – | – | 10.5 |
Feeding plan for a growing dog with an expected weight of 40 kg:
| Age Actual body weight | ≥ 8th week approx. 7.4–12 kg | ≥ 12th week approx. 12–19 kg | ≥ 18th week approx. 19–40 kg | ≥ 15th month |
| Meat (gross weight) | 430–580 | 580–730 | 730–820 | 600–740 |
| Vegetables | 120–160 | 160–200 | 200–220 | 300–360 |
| Oils* | 6.5–8.5 | 8.5–11 | 11–12 | 18–22 |
| Treats | 55 | 70 | 80 | 25 |
| Vitamin Optimix Puppy & Junior | 19–25 | 25 | 22 | – |
| Vitamin Optimix Barf plus Calcium | – | – | – | 11.5 |
Feeding plan for a growing dog with an expected weight of 50 kg:
| Age Actual body weight | ≥ 8th week approx. 8.5–14 kg | ≥ 12th week approx. 14–23 kg | ≥ 18th week approx. 23–50 kg | ≥ 18th month |
| Meat (gross weight) | 480–660 | 660–850 | 850–970 | 710–830 |
| Vegetables | 130–180 | 180–230 | 230–260 | 350–400 |
| Oils* | 7–9.5 | 9.5–12 | 12–14 | 22–27 |
| Treats | 60 | 80 | 90 | 25 |
| Vitamin Optimix Puppy & Junior | 22–29 | 29 | 27 | – |
| Vitamin Optimix Barf plus Calcium | – | – | – | 13.5 |
Feeding plan for a growing dog with an expected weight of 60 kg:
| Age Actual body weight | ≥ 8th week approx. 10–16 kg | ≥ 12th week approx. 16–27 kg | ≥ 18th week approx. 27–60 kg | ≥ 18th month |
| Meat (gross weight) | 550–730 | 730–960 | 960–1.100 | 820–1.000 |
| Vegetables | 150–200 | 200–260 | 260–300 | 400–480 |
| Oils* | 8–11 | 11–14 | 14–16 | 27–33 |
| Treats | 70 | 90 | 110 | 25 |
| Vitamin Optimix Puppy & Junior | 24–32 | 32 | 30 | – |
| Vitamin Optimix Barf plus Calcium | – | – | – | 15.5 |
Feeding plan for a growing dog with an expected weight of 70 kg:
| Age Actual body weight | ≥ 8th week approx. 12–19 kg | ≥ 12th week approx. 19–32 kg | ≥ 18th week approx. 32–70 kg | ≥ 18th month |
| Meat (gross weight) | 630–830 | 830–1.100 | 1.100–1250 | 930–1.050 |
| Vegetables | 170–230 | 230–300 | 300–330 | 450–500 |
| Oils* | 9–12 | 12–16 | 16–18 | 32–37 |
| Treats | 80 | 100 | 120 | 25 |
| Vitamin Optimix Puppy & Junior | 26–34 | 34 | 32 | – |
| Vitamin Optimix Barf plus Calcium | – | – | – | 17.5 |
* 1 tsp. oil approx. 4–5 g, 1 tbsp. oil approx. 8–12 g
Feeding bones is possible, but not necessary. Up to 5% of the daily meat ration can be replaced by meaty bones. At a meat quantity of 400 g 5 % meaty bones are approx. 20 g bones per day or 40 g every 2 days or 60 g every 3 days or 140 g per week.
25% of the meat ration can be replaced by dairy products and eggs. If you need 20 - 40 g more treats, then reduce the daily meat ration by 100 g. You shouldn't feed bones or mineralized snacks as treats.
We wish you a lot of fun with these recipes!
image credits: Fotolia.com, #71756888, © Mikkel Bigandt
