Nutrition for puppies and kittens in practice: How to monitor growth and prevent dietary mistakes
- Ecommercy
- 2026-09-22
- 11:58
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The growth period is one of the most nutritionally demanding stages of life. A growing animal must not only meet its maintenance requirements but also obtain the nutrients needed for the development of bones, muscles, organs, the nervous system and the immune system.
Because young animals have a more limited ability to compensate for nutritional deficiencies and excesses, dietary mistakes may remain clinically unnoticed for some time, with their consequences only becoming apparent after growth has been completed.
During the webinar “How to feed puppies and kittens for healthy growth”, vet Aleksandra Szuba discussed practical tools for assessing the entire feeding strategy of a young patient rather than relying solely on the information provided on a food label.
Full webinar recording:
Nutritional requirements during growth
A young animal is not simply a smaller version of an adult. Nutrients are required not only to maintain basic physiological functions but also for the intensive synthesis of new tissues.
Energy, protein and many micronutrient requirements per kilogram of body weight are higher than in adult animals. Nutrients involved in skeletal development, haematopoiesis, nervous system maturation and immune development are particularly important.
These include calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, iron, zinc, copper and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. DHA plays an important role in the development of the central nervous system, retina and cognitive function.
At the same time, it is important to remember that minimum values specified in nutritional guidelines do not always represent optimal values for an individual patient. For some nutrients, avoiding excessive intake is just as important as preventing deficiency.
Assess the entire feeding strategy, not just the food
Analysing a single food label is not enough to assess the nutrition of a young patient. The entire feeding strategy needs to be considered.
Assessment should include the type of diet, whether it is complete and appropriate for the species and life stage, its calorie content, the actual portion size, number of meals, additional foods, treats, chews and supplements, as well as the patient’s clinical response.
Skin and coat condition, stool quality and frequency, appetite, satiety, activity level, gastrointestinal signs, growth rate and muscle development should also be considered.
A diet may be correctly formulated but fed in an inappropriate amount. Conversely, a patient may receive an appropriate amount of energy from a diet that is not nutritionally balanced for growth.
The goal is controlled growth, not maximum growth
In clinical practice, the aim should be harmonious development while maintaining an appropriate, relatively lean body condition.
Rapid growth should not be considered a goal in itself. Excessive energy intake can accelerate weight gain, but it does not improve the animal’s genetically determined adult size or conformation.
This is particularly important in large- and giant-breed puppies. Accelerated growth increases the mechanical load on the immature musculoskeletal system and may contribute to the development of orthopaedic disorders.
The most important modifiable nutritional factor in this context is excessive energy intake. This should not be equated solely with a high fat or protein content. What matters is the animal’s total energy intake from all components of the diet.
Energy calculations are a starting point
RER, MER and DER can be used to estimate an initial feeding allowance. However, they should not be treated as fixed values throughout the entire growth period.
Actual requirements depend on breed, age, sex, genetic line, activity level, living conditions, health status and individual metabolic rate.
Considerable differences may occur even between animals from the same litter. In dogs in particular, predicted adult body weight can be difficult to estimate. Information from the breeder about the parents’ body weights, previous litters and characteristics of the particular breeding line may therefore be useful.
Every calculation should be verified against the individual patient’s response. If BCS increases, weight gain accelerates and the patient begins crossing growth chart centile lines, the feeding allowance may need to be adjusted even if it matches the theoretical calculation.
Similarly, failure to achieve expected weight gain should not automatically result in larger portions without first assessing digestibility, diet quality, clinical status and actual food intake.
BCS and MCS in young patients
Body weight alone has limited value without an assessment of body composition. It does not distinguish between weight gained through skeletal growth, muscle development and fat accumulation.
BCS should be assessed at every paediatric visit. In long-haired breeds, palpation is essential.
MCS should also be monitored. However, it is important to remember that a young animal has not yet developed the muscle mass typical of an adult. Physiologically lower muscle development should not be confused with significant muscle wasting.
A combination of low BCS and clearly reduced MCS should prompt a review of the entire feeding strategy and further diagnostic investigation.
A high BCS in a large-breed puppy does not protect against malnutrition. Instead, it increases the mechanical load on the immature musculoskeletal system.
The importance of growth charts
Growth charts help determine whether body weight is increasing at an expected rate and whether the patient is beginning to cross centile lines rapidly.
They are particularly useful in large- and giant-breed puppies, patients at risk of overfeeding, animals with gastrointestinal disorders, patients with a history of neonatal problems and young animals with delayed growth.
However, a growth chart does not provide information about body composition. A patient may follow a predictable growth pattern while still having an excessively high BCS. Growth charts should therefore always be interpreted alongside BCS, MCS, body conformation and predicted adult body weight.
Crossing a centile line does not automatically mean that the feeding allowance should be substantially reduced. The assumptions regarding target adult weight, parentage, sex and body proportions should first be reassessed.
Complete diets and life-stage suitability
The first step when assessing a commercial food should be to confirm that it is a complete diet formulated for the appropriate species and growth stage.
For dogs, predicted adult size should also be considered. A food suitable for a small-breed puppy may not necessarily be optimal for a rapidly growing giant-breed puppy.
Assessment should include calorie content, protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, the Ca:P ratio, essential fatty acids and compliance with appropriate nutritional guidelines.
The words “puppy” or “kitten” on the label alone are not sufficient to assess a product. Not all relevant parameters are necessarily provided on the label, so complete analytical data may need to be obtained from the manufacturer.
Protein and musculoskeletal development
The belief that a high protein intake is a major cause of developmental orthopaedic disease in large-breed puppies often leads to unnecessary protein restriction.
Protein and amino acids are essential for the development of muscles, organs, enzymes, hormones, blood and structures of the immune system.
Total energy intake, growth rate, BCS and calcium-phosphorus balance are considerably more important factors in musculoskeletal development.
Routine protein restriction in a healthy growing dog should not replace appropriate control of dietary energy and mineral intake.
Calcium and phosphorus should be assessed together
During growth, both calcium deficiency and excess can be problematic.
Deficiency is most commonly seen in improperly balanced home-prepared diets based largely on meat without an appropriate source of calcium. Meat provides substantial amounts of phosphorus but relatively little calcium, which can lead to a severely imbalanced Ca:P ratio.
Excess calcium is often seen in puppies fed a complete growth diet whose owners additionally provide mineral supplements, bone meal, eggshells, bones or supplements marketed for “strong bones”.
Young dogs have a limited ability to regulate intestinal calcium absorption. Chronic excessive intake can interfere with bone remodelling and normal skeletal development.
Dietary assessment should include absolute calcium intake, phosphorus intake, the Ca:P ratio, the amount of both minerals relative to energy intake and all additional dietary sources of minerals.
A normal serum total calcium concentration does not confirm that dietary calcium intake is appropriate. Calcium homeostasis may maintain serum concentrations within the reference range despite an inappropriate dietary intake.
Meal frequency and distribution in puppies
Young puppies should receive several smaller meals throughout the day. During the first few months, four meals per day are generally recommended. The number can then gradually be reduced as the animal grows.
At around six months of age, many dogs can transition to three meals per day and, once the period of intensive growth has ended, to two.
Meal frequency should be adapted to the dog’s size, portion volume, gastrointestinal tolerance and individual characteristics.
Feeding once daily is not an optimal approach for young dogs, particularly large breeds.
Ad libitum feeding in kittens
Kittens have high energy requirements and a relatively small stomach capacity. Physiologically, they consume many small meals throughout the day.
In some healthy kittens, ad libitum feeding or very frequent access to a complete diet may be appropriate. Body weight and BCS must still be monitored regularly.
As growth slows and after neutering, this feeding strategy should be reassessed.
A physiological pattern of frequent small meals should be distinguished from uncontrolled access to energy-dense dry food. Frequent feeding does not have to mean a lack of control over total daily energy intake.
Ad libitum feeding in puppies
For most puppies, free-choice feeding increases the risk of overfeeding.
Dogs often do not regulate their energy intake sufficiently, particularly when food is highly palatable, there is competition for food or they are strongly food-motivated.
This approach is particularly unsuitable for large- and giant-breed puppies, in which excessive energy intake may accelerate growth and increase the risk of developmental disorders.
A nutritional history must include everything the patient consumes
One of the most common reasons for underestimating energy intake is failing to account for treats, chews, pastes, food used in licking mats and food-dispensing toys, table scraps and access to other animals’ food.
In puppies undergoing intensive training, rewards may provide a significant proportion of total daily energy intake. Chews and functional supplements may also provide additional fat, calcium, phosphorus, vitamins and other nutrients.
Simply asking which main food the animal receives does not constitute a complete nutritional history.
It is worth asking separately about training treats, foods used to administer supplements or medications, what is placed on licking mats, foods provided while the owner is away and treats given by other household members.
Controlled variety and prevention of neophobia
Early exposure of kittens to different food consistencies, textures and feeding methods may reduce the risk of neophobia.
This can have important practical benefits. A cat that does not accept wet food may be more difficult to manage later in life if kidney or urinary disease, or another condition requiring dietary modification, develops.
However, exposure to variety should not result in nutritional chaos. The foundation of the diet should remain complete, stable and possible to assess. New foods should be introduced gradually and in small amounts.
Excessive food rotation may contribute to selective eating and make it more difficult to assess ingredient tolerance, particularly in patients with gastrointestinal or dermatological signs.
Assessing different feeding models
There is no single feeding model that is optimal for every young patient.
Commercial diets are easier to use and are formulated to be nutritionally balanced, provided that they are complete and appropriate for the relevant life stage.
Home-prepared diets allow greater control over ingredients and individualisation of the recipe but carry a greater risk of errors involving supplementation, preparation and failure to follow the prescribed proportions.
Wet foods and home-prepared diets are generally more palatable and contain more water, but they may be more expensive and logistically demanding. Dry food is convenient and energy-dense, which also increases the risk of overfeeding when portions are measured by volume rather than weight.
The feeding model should take into account the patient’s needs, the owner’s capabilities, the animal’s health status and whether the recommendations can be followed consistently.
Home-prepared diets during growth
A home-prepared recipe for a puppy or kitten cannot simply be a modified version of an adult animal’s diet.
It must account for requirements for energy, protein, amino acids, fat, essential fatty acids, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, iodine, zinc, copper, iron and other micronutrients.
In cats, species-specific requirements must also be considered, including taurine and appropriate forms of certain vitamins.
Using a random vitamin and mineral supplement does not guarantee that the recipe is properly balanced. Supplementation must be based on the composition of the entire diet.
Microbiological risks of raw diets
A raw diet can be nutritionally balanced, but it remains a feeding model associated with an increased microbiological risk.
This risk applies both to the patient and to members of the household. It should be discussed particularly in households with children, older adults, pregnant women or immunocompromised individuals.
Hygiene during preparation, thawing and storage, as well as appropriate cleaning of surfaces that come into contact with raw products, must also be considered.
When does a diet need to be adjusted?
Red flags include increasing BCS, rapidly crossing centile lines, failure to achieve expected growth, marked underweight, reduced MCS and chronic gastrointestinal signs.
A diet that is inappropriate for the species or growth stage, an unbalanced home-prepared diet, additional calcium supplementation alongside a complete diet, or the simultaneous use of several vitamin and mineral supplements all require prompt reassessment.
Orthopaedic signs, pain and reluctance to move require parallel assessment of BCS, growth rate, energy intake, calcium, phosphorus, the Ca:P ratio, activity and all additional products being given.
A practical monitoring strategy
Nutritional assessment should be an ongoing process. At each follow-up visit, body weight, BCS and MCS should be updated, growth rate assessed and the actual feeding allowance reviewed.
Treats, chews and supplements should be discussed again, as these may change between visits.
In large breeds, portion adjustments may be required more frequently because of rapid growth. Any change in diet type, calorie density, texture or the proportion of wet and dry food should prompt recalculation of the feeding allowance.
The most important indicator remains the individual patient’s clinical response: a steady and harmonious growth rate, appropriate BCS, adequate muscle condition, normal stool quality, healthy skin and coat, appropriate activity levels, and the absence of signs associated with nutrient deficiencies or excessive intake.
Summary
There is no single universal feeding protocol for growing dogs and cats.
Energy equations, nutritional guidelines and manufacturers’ feeding tables are essential reference points, but they need to be regularly compared with the condition and development of the individual patient.
In large- and giant-breed puppies, energy control, maintaining an appropriate BCS, monitoring growth rate and ensuring an appropriate calcium and phosphorus intake are particularly important.
There is no justification for routinely restricting protein or supplementing calcium when an appropriately selected complete diet is being fed.
In kittens, the need for frequent small meals and controlled exposure to different food textures and types should be considered, with particular emphasis on wet food.
A young patient’s diet should be complete, consistent, easy to monitor and regularly adjusted to their changing nutritional requirements.
FAQ
Are RER and DER enough to determine the feeding allowance for a growing patient?
No. They provide a starting point for calculating the initial feeding allowance. This should subsequently be reassessed based on body weight, BCS, MCS, growth rate, growth charts and the patient’s clinical response.
How often should the feeding allowance be adjusted?
The feeding allowance should not be set once for the entire growth period. The frequency of adjustments depends on age, expected adult size and growth rate. Rapidly growing large-breed dogs should be monitored more frequently.
Can BCS be used in puppies and kittens?
Yes, but the animal’s developmental stage should be considered and MCS should be assessed alongside it. Young animals may physiologically have less developed musculature, but marked underweight and a substantially reduced MCS require intervention.
What is the role of growth charts?
They help determine whether weight gain is progressing at an expected rate. However, they do not provide information about body composition and should therefore be interpreted alongside BCS, MCS and clinical examination.
Does crossing a centile line always mean that the feeding allowance should be reduced?
No. The predicted adult body weight, sex, parentage and size of the parents should first be reassessed. Energy intake should only be adjusted after evaluating BCS and the entire diet.
What is the most important nutritional risk factor in large-breed puppies?
Excessive energy intake leading to overly rapid growth and a high BCS. Controlling energy intake is more important than routinely reducing dietary protein.
Does a high protein intake increase the risk of orthopaedic disease?
Protein should not be regarded as the main cause of developmental musculoskeletal disease. Total energy intake, growth rate, BCS and calcium-phosphorus balance are more important factors.
How should calcium and phosphorus be assessed?
Their absolute intake, Ca:P ratio and intake relative to energy should all be considered. The assessment should include the main diet, supplements, bones, chews and other sources of minerals.
Should calcium be supplemented when feeding a complete diet?
No. Additional calcium supplementation alongside a complete growth diet may result in excessive intake and impaired skeletal development.
Can total serum calcium be used to assess dietary calcium balance?
No. A normal concentration does not rule out inappropriate calcium or phosphorus intake. The body may maintain calcium homeostasis despite an inappropriate dietary supply.
How should a commercial growth diet be assessed?
Confirm that it is complete and formulated for the appropriate species and life stage and, in dogs, suitable for the predicted adult size. Calorie content, protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, Ca:P ratio and essential fatty acids should also be assessed.
Can kittens be fed ad libitum?
For some healthy kittens, this may be appropriate provided that body weight and BCS are monitored regularly. The feeding strategy should be reassessed as growth slows and after neutering.
Can puppies be fed ad libitum?
Generally, this is not recommended, particularly in large and giant breeds. Uncontrolled portions increase the risk of excessive energy intake and accelerated growth.
How detailed should a nutritional history be?
It should include every source of energy and nutrients: the main diet, treats, chews, food used in food-dispensing toys, foods used to administer supplements or medications, table scraps, supplements and access to other animals’ food.
Can small amounts of additional foods affect the overall diet?
Yes, particularly in small patients. Training rewards can provide a significant proportion of daily energy intake, while chews and functional products may add additional fat, calcium, phosphorus and vitamins.
How should a home-prepared diet for a young animal be assessed?
The recipe should be evaluated against nutritional requirements for growth. The assessment should include energy, protein, amino acids, fat, essential fatty acids, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, iodine, zinc, copper and other micronutrients.
Are raw diets appropriate for puppies and kittens?
They can only meet nutritional requirements if properly balanced. The microbiological risk to both the patient and household members must also be considered.
Is it worth exposing kittens to different food textures?
Yes. Controlled exposure may reduce the risk of neophobia and make it easier to introduce wet foods or therapeutic diets later in life. However, it should not result in constant, uncontrolled rotation between products.
When does a diet require urgent reassessment?
When BCS is increasing, centile lines are being crossed rapidly, growth is delayed, the patient is underweight, MCS is reduced, chronic gastrointestinal signs are present, orthopaedic problems develop, or mineral supplementation is uncontrolled.
This article is based on a webinar presented by vet Aleksandra Szuba.