Some breeders try and raise their pups to the ideal weight of an adult dog faster. This process is known as ‘steaming up’. However, pups that are growing too fast, for instance through a high protein content in their food, will develop other problems later in life.

One of these problems may relate to the bone structure of the animals. Bones are living organs. Within the bones a constant process of developing new cells and discarding old cells is taking place. That’s how the bones will remain ‘as good as new’. A cartilage skeleton is formed in the embryo stage and shortly thereafter. Slowly but surely this will develop into a bone skeleton. Blood vessels and nerves are present in the bones. Spaces are left open for those future blood vessels and nerves. Lack of space results when the growing blood vessels do not match these open spaces.

The overpressure causes pain. This is popularly called ‘growing pains’. In fact it is a matter of growing too fast, often as a result of too much protein. An overdose of building materials, one could say. Wolves are the ancestors of dogs. Wolves are meat eaters. By nature, muscle tissue contains no more than approximately 15% of protein. Growing up takes a lot of energy.

That is the reason why food for puppies and young dogs should have a high fat content. Part of the fat may come from plants. Vegetable oils are full of essential unsaturated fatty acids.