Dr Shay Rutherford will take you through exactly how to feed your puppy for optimal development and health as they grow.

Dogs are no longer considered puppies at different ages, largely dependent on their breed. Toy breeds, small and medium breeds generally reach adulthood at 12 months of age. Larger breeds can continue to grow and develop until they are a lot older. This means they often don't reach full maturity until they are between 18 and 24 months old.

So, how do you know when it's safe to transition them to adult food?

The most obvious sign that your pup is now an adult is that they've stopped growing any taller. They often become calmer, with energy levels plateauing and you'll find they need less sleep throughout the day.

Puppies require a lot of nutrients for their growth, nutrients that adult dogs may not need so much of in their mature phase of life. Ensuring they get the nutrients they need is essential for their bone and joint development and optimal eye and brain health.

Let's break down what these nutrients actually are:

The specific nutrients of which puppies require higher amounts of include:

• Protein
• Essential amino acids
• Fat and essential fatty acids
• Calcium
• Phosphorus
• Sodium
• Chloride
• Iron
• Manganese
• Zin

Arguably the most important on the list is calcium. The maximum safe level of calcium for all life stages (except large puppies who will weigh approximately 32kg or more at full maturity) is 2.5%. For these larger puppies, the maximum level is lower, at 1.8%.

How do you know your puppy is getting enough of them?

You can ensure your puppy is getting enough of each of these by feeding them a puppy specific food or by adding a supplement to their diet.

But here's the thing with supplements...

Always be cautious that the supplements you are buying for your dogs have been properly formulated for puppies specifically. Some nutraceuticals and super foods are not suitable for puppies, or the safe levels are much lower than they are for an adult dog. Additionally, supplements need to be formulated by someone qualified to do so. The professionals know exactly the right dosage of each ingredient to ensure the supplement is benefitting the puppy and producing visible effects.

You should consider adding these 3 ingredients to your pup's diet:

• Omega 3 fatty acids
• DHA
• EPA