NRC Nutrition Guide

Science-based nutritional requirements for dogs at every life stage

Early Growth

4-14 weeks

Rapid growth phase - your puppy needs 2-3x more nutrients than an adult dog. This is the most critical period for proper development.

Calculate Your Dog's Daily Energy Needs

Units:

Current Weight (lbs)

Expected Adult Weight (lbs)

Daily Energy Requirement

1,811 kcal

Protein

101.9 g

Calcium

5.4 g

Phosphorus

4.5 g

Iron

39.8 mg

DHA + EPA

0.2 g

Arachidonic Acid

0.1 g

NRC Table 15-2: Puppy Growth Factors

Page 706

The growth factor adjusts energy requirements based on how close a puppy is to their expected adult weight. As puppies grow, their energy needs per kg of body weight decrease.

Formula: Growth Factor = 3.2 × [e^-0.87p - 0.1]

Where p = current weight ÷ expected adult weight

p (Current/Expected)	Growth Factor	Description
10%	2.61	Very young puppy, 10% of adult weight
20%	2.37	Young puppy, 20% of adult weight
30%	2.14	Early growth, 30% of adult weight
40%	1.94	Mid-growth, 40% of adult weight
50%Midpoint	1.75	Half adult weight
60%	1.58	60% of adult weight
70%	1.42	Approaching adult size
80%	1.28	Near adult weight
90%	1.14	Almost fully grown
100%	1.02	At expected adult weight

How to read: A puppy at 20% of expected adult weight has a growth factor of 2.37, meaning their energy formula multiplies by 2.37. At 80% of adult weight, this drops to 1.28 as growth slows.

Source: NRC 2006 - Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, Table 15-2, Page 706

NRC Table 15-3: Puppy Nutrient Requirements(4-14 weeks)

Page 706

Nutrient requirements for growing puppies, expressed per 1000 kcal of metabolizable energy (ME). Early growth (4-14 weeks) requires higher protein and minerals for rapid development.

Macronutrients

Nutrient	RA	SUL	Unit
Protein	56.3	—	g
Total Fat	21.3	82.5	g

Amino Acids

Nutrient	RA	SUL	Unit
Arginine	1.98	—	g
Histidine	0.98	—	g
Isoleucine	1.63	—	g
Leucine	3.22	—	g
Lysine	2.2	5	g
Methionine	0.88	—	g
Methionine + Cystine	1.75	—	g
Phenylalanine	1.63	—	g
Phenylalanine + Tyrosine	3.25	—	g
Threonine	2.03	—	g
Tryptophan	0.58	—	g
Valine	1.7	—	g

Fatty Acids

Nutrient	RA	SUL	Unit
LA - Linoleic Acid (Omega-6)	3.3	16.3	g
ALA - Alpha-Linolenic Acid (Omega-3)	0.2	—	g
Arachidonic Acid (AA) - 20:4 n-6 (Omega-6)	0.08	—	g
EPA + DHA (Omega-3)	0.13	2.8	g

Major Minerals

Nutrient	RA	SUL	Unit
Calcium	3	4.5	g
Phosphorus	2.5	—	g
Magnesium	100	—	mg
Sodium	550	—	mg
Potassium	1.1	—	g
Chloride	720	—	mg

Trace Minerals

Nutrient	RA	SUL	Unit
Iron	22	—	mg
Copper	2.7	—	mg
Zinc	25	—	mg
Manganese	1.4	—	mg
Selenium	87.5	—	µg
Iodine	220	—	µg

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Nutrient	RA	SUL	Unit
Vitamin A (RAE)	379	3750	µg
Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol)	3.4	20	µg
Vitamin E (Alpha-Tocopherol)	7.5	—	mg
Vitamin K3 - Menadione (Synthetic/NRC Requirement)	0.41	—	mg

Water-Soluble Vitamins

Nutrient	RA	SUL	Unit
Thiamine (B1)	0.34	—	mg
Riboflavin (B2)	1.32	—	mg
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)	0.375	—	mg
Niacin (B3)	4.25	—	mg
Pantothenic Acid (B5)	3.75	—	mg
Vitamin B12	8.75	—	µg
Folic Acid	68	—	µg
Choline	425	—	mg

Important: Puppies have significantly higher requirements than adults. Protein needs are 2.25x adult levels (56.3g vs 25g per 1000 kcal). Calcium is 3x higher for bone development.

Source: NRC 2006 - Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, Table 15-3, Page 706

Critical Nutrients

Protein

56.3 g per 1000 kcal

Adult baseline: 25 g(225% of adult)

Why: Essential for rapid muscle and tissue development during growth

Sources: Chicken, Beef, Turkey, Eggs, Fish

Calcium

3 g per 1000 kcal

Adult baseline: 1 g(300% of adult)

Why: Critical for bone development - puppies need 3x more than adults

Sources: Raw meaty bones, Eggshell powder, Bone meal

⚠️ Large breeds (>25kg adult): Min 0.54g per kg body weight for first 14 weeks

Phosphorus

2.5 g per 1000 kcal

Adult baseline: 0.75 g(333% of adult)

Why: Works with calcium for proper skeletal formation

Sources: Meat, Bones, Organ meats, Fish

Iron

22 mg per 1000 kcal

Adult baseline: 7.5 mg(293% of adult)

Why: Supports rapid blood cell production during growth

Sources: Liver, Spleen, Red meat, Egg yolks

DHA + EPA

0.13 g per 1000 kcal

Why: Brain and eye development - critical during early growth

Sources: Salmon oil, Sardines, Mackerel, Fish oil

Arachidonic Acid

0.08 g per 1000 kcal

Why: Only required during growth - supports brain development

Sources: Poultry fat, Egg yolks, Organ meats

Important Rules

Fatty Acid Balance

Keep LA:ALA ratio between 2.6 and 16. This ensures proper omega-6 to omega-3 balance for development.

2.6 ←──────[Good Zone]──────→ 16

Fish Oil Limits

EPA should not exceed 60% of total EPA+DHA. Excess EPA can interfere with arachidonic acid metabolism.

EPA: ≤60% | DHA: ≥40%

Large Breed Puppies

If expected adult weight is over 25 kg, ensure at least 0.54g calcium per kg body weight for the first 14 weeks to prevent developmental issues.

Arginine Addition

For high protein diets (above 180g crude protein), add 0.01g arginine per gram of protein above 180g.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗Over-supplementing calcium (causes skeletal issues, especially in large breeds)
✗Using adult requirements instead of puppy-specific values
✗Not accounting for expected adult size in calculations
✗Insufficient protein for rapid growth phase
✗Neglecting DHA for brain development

Source: NRC 2006 - Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats

Tables 15-2, 15-3, 15-4, 15-5, 15-6, 15-7, 15-8