The short answer to this question is no. Cerelac or any human baby food should not be given to puppies. Why? Simply because puppies have different nutritional needs than human babies.
Plus, cerelac usually contains sugar, which shouldn’t be given to any dog, let alone puppies. Puppies should also not be given the amount of flour that is present in cerelac because of the starch content. It may cause digestive issues, such as diarrhea, vomiting, which may even hamper growth.
Why is cerelac not good for puppies?
There are a number of issues with feeding human cerelac or baby food to dogs. To begin with, here are the major problems:
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Doesn’t have the necessary nutrients that puppies need.
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Contains high amounts of sugar for dogs.
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Made with rice or wheat flour, which is too much starch for dogs.
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May have additives like flavourings that can harm dogs’ stomach.
Let us now discuss each issue in detail:
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Nutritional gap: Puppies need a lot of protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals for growth and development. They also grow extremely rapidly, and are almost fully grown by the time they become 1–2 years old. This rate of growth is much higher than humans. Therefore, relying on human cerelac during the most rapid growth period of a dog’s life can cause massive nutritional deficiencies. It can even hamper their growth.
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High sugar content: Cerelac has a high sugar content. While that isn’t as much of a problem for human babies, for puppies it is a huge concern. Firstly, sugar may cause many digestive problems, which may lead to nutrient malabsorption. Next, it may get stored in their body as fat and cause health issues right from puppyhood. Dental issues are also common in puppies who are given a sugar-rich diet. Apart from that, their metabolism may get damaged, which may cause even more dangerous issues, such as pancreatitis, extreme blood sugar spikes, and even diabetes.
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Too much starch: While humans rely heavily on carbohydrates for energy and bodily fuel, dogs actually get most of their energy from dietary fats. Fats provide 2.25 times more energy per weight unit than protein or carbohydrates. So fat metabolism is their optimal energy-producing process. While older dogs can still have some healthy carbs, puppies’ digestive systems are very sensitive and high-starch food may easily upset their stomach. Energy from starch is hardly even bioavailable to them because they can’t digest it properly.
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Harmful additives: While baby food is hardly a product to add additives to, some baby foods do contain flavourings and thickeners for palatability. None of these are good for puppies’ sensitive stomach, especially at such a foundational age. In fact, if they are sick or have digestive problems, it can exacerbate the issue.
Why do people feed cerelac to puppies?
People usually feed cerelac to puppies due to an emergency, such as when someone has just found an orphaned puppy. Otherwise, it could be that they do not have any experience in taking care of dogs. Sometimes, some also feed cerelac to puppies for convenience. The widespread logic is, if it’s safe enough for human babies, it must be fine for dogs. But the major issue here is that carelac is made for a completely different species with their unique needs, which is humans. Dogs have different needs, so it is no surprise that it can’t be met with cerelac. Therefore, the major reasons are:
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Emergency cases
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Lack of experience with dogs
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Convenience
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Misinformation
Can cerelac cause loose motions or digestive issues in puppies?
Yes, cerelac may cause loose motions and other digestive issues in dogs. This may be due to the high sugar or starch content, the flavourings or additives that are present in the food, or simply because their body is rejecting the dairy in the baby food because of lactose intolerance. In fact, even lack of bioavailable protein may disrupt the digestive and metabolic processes, leading to diarrhea. In short, cerelac may cause loose motion due to:
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High sugar content
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Excess starch content
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Flavourings and additives
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Lactose intolerance
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Lack of enough protein in diet
Does cerelac contain ingredients that are harmful for dogs?
It’s not like the ingredients in cerelac are inherently harmful to puppies immediately; they can cause long-term damage to their system because cerelac is not made for dogs. For example, it’s not like sugar is poisonous for puppies. However, sugar in their food can cause rapid weight gain and obesity, may cause metabolic issues, damage their teeth & gums, and affect their overall health during a time of rapid growth and development.
Can you ever give cerelac to puppies in emergencies?
In an emergency situation, it may be okay to give cerelac to puppies. But, even then, do not continue giving it to them as it can only be a stop-gap measure, not a nutritious meal. For example, if you find an orphaned or starving puppy and don’t have any way of acquiring anything else, you may give them a little bit of cerelac for a day or two until you can make other arrangements. But, even then, limit it as much as possible.
What should you feed puppies instead of cerelac?
Cerelac is usually given to puppies when there’s no access to the mothers’ milk or people fail to find puppy-safe food because of lack of knowledge or availability. But, there are a number of alternative foods that you can try giving puppies if mothers’ milk is not available:
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0–4 weeks old: The best food for puppies this young is mother’s milk. There’s really no alternative to that if the pup is this young, because their very survival is dependent on proper nutritional balance. Home food, goat/cow milk or even commercial puppy milk is not recommended. Feeding home-made puppy formula is also not recommended. In such cases, it is best to consult the vet for the proper next steps.
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5–10 weeks old: At this stage, you can slowly start giving the puppy semi-solid food. Boiled and mashed chicken mixed with a tiny amount of the boiled chicken broth and rice can be fed. Pureed veggies like pumpkin, carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans, etc.; rice mashed with curd; mashed eggs; etc.; may be fed during this time. You can feed small amounts 4–5 times a day.
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After 10 weeks: Once they are 10 weeks of age, you can slowly start transitioning to fresh foods like BLEP dog food. Start by mixing small amounts of, for example, BLEP Chicken Pumpkin Pawer to their current diet. Then, over the next 5–6 days, slowly increase the amount of BLEP food and decrease the amount of current diet in their meals. In 9–10 days, you should be able to feed BLEP to them for every meal.
Unsure about how much BLEP to feed? You can fill out our handy BLEP Dog Diet Calculator for a custom diet chart!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can puppies eat cerelac safely?
No, puppies shouldn’t be fed cerelac or human baby food at all because it lacks the nutrition that puppies need. Plus, it is high in sugar and starch, which is bad for dogs.
Why do people give cerelac to puppies?
People usually feed cerelac to puppies because of emergencies or due to lack of knowledge about how to care for dogs. Some may also feed it to puppies as a convenient and affordable food option for puppies.
What happens if a puppy eats cerelac?
Feeding cerelac in an emergency may not harm a puppy immediately, but regular feeding may lead to severe nutritional deficiencies, digestive problems and even improper growth.
What can I feed a puppy instead of cerelac?
Puppies should ideally drink mother’s milk till 8–10 weeks of age, with some semi-solid food in the later half. But, sometimes, the puppy may be an orphan or separated from the mother. In such cases, if the puppy is between 0–4 weeks, consult a vet for the right steps, because there’s really no good alternative for mother’s milk at this stage. Between 5–10 weeks, you can slowly start feeding semi-solid food to pups: mashed up chicken, veggies, eggs, etc. may be fed, before transitioning to fresh food like BLEP dog food after week 10.
Can stray puppies be fed cerelac in emergencies?
In emergencies, small amounts of cerelac may be given to puppies. But, it is best to find an alternative as soon as possible.
How do I transition my puppy from cerelac to proper food?
Mix cerelac with small amounts of either home-made mashed food or fresh food like BLEP dog food. Then, over the next 5–6 days, slowly start increasing the amount of fresh food and decreasing the amount of cerelac. In 9–10 days, they should be able to fully adapt to fresh food.
What is the best food for puppies during weaning?
Mashed up food like gruel made of boiled chicken and rice; curd and rice; puree of veggies like pumpkin, carrots, sweet potatoes, etc.; mashed boiled eggs, etc. can be given during weaning.
How many times should a weaning puppy be fed?
Puppies should be fed 4–5 small meals a day, depending on their age and stage of weaning.
Looking to explore more tips on how to look after your furry friend? Check out our other guides likeCan Dogs Eat Apples?,Can Dogs Eat Blueberries?,Dog Food for Weight Loss,Raw v/s cooked meat for dogs,Home Remedies to cure tick fever,Finding Good Dog Food in India,How many times should I feed my dog?,Things you should do to keep your pet healthy,Types of Dog Food,How Prebiotics and Probiotics can improve your dog's digestion,Essential Tips for a New Dog Parent, and others. Each guide is designed to help you make better food and care choices for your dog, to keep them happy, healthy, and thriving.
References:
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/when-does-my-puppy-finish-growing/
