Feeding a puppy correctly is key to supporting its growth, development, and overall health. Different-sized breeds have unique nutritional needs, and an appropriate diet helps prevent growth issues and supports bone, muscle, and immune system health. Vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids—particularly Omega-3 and Omega-6—are crucial for growth support. Additionally, natural antioxidants like polyphenols and carotenoids offer cell-protecting benefits and strengthen the immune system. Meat should be the main ingredient in a puppy’s diet, and grain-free options are often recommended to support digestion.

Small Breeds

A dog breed is generally considered small if its adult weight is under 10 kg. Examples of such breeds include the Chihuahua, Prague Ratter, Scottish Terrier, Norwich Terrier, Dachshund, and Yorkshire Terrier.

Small breed puppies grow quickly, reaching their full size by about one year. With small stomachs and fast metabolisms, they need food that is high in calories, protein, and fatty acids to sustain their energy for active growth. Food with small kibble size is ideal for these puppies to make it easier to eat.

Medium Breeds

A dog breed can be considered medium-sized if its adult weight is approximately 10–25 kg. Examples include the Airedale Terrier, Australian Cattle Dog, Border Collie, Siberian Husky, Cocker Spaniel, and Australian Kelpie.

The growth of medium-sized breeds is slightly more gradual than that of small breeds. Their diet should be balanced, as a diet too high in energy can lead to rapid growth, increasing the risk of developmental issues. Puppy food for medium-sized breeds is recommended to have slightly less protein and calories than that for small breeds to ensure controlled growth, supporting healthy bones and muscles.

Large and Giant Breeds

A breed is considered large when its adult weight approaches 30 kg and giant when it exceeds 45 kg. Large breeds include the Alaskan Malamute, German Shepherd, Doberman, Golden Retriever, and Labrador Retriever, while giant breeds include the Bordeaux Dog, Cane Corso, Leonberger, Mastiff, and Great Dane.

Large and giant breed puppies grow more slowly and can continue to grow until they are 18-24 months old. These puppies need a diet lower in calories and calcium to avoid issues with joints and skeletal development due to rapid growth. Food with supportive ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin is beneficial for these puppies.

Note: The weight ranges mentioned above are approximate. Categorizing breeds as small, medium, large, and giant is not an official classification, and weight ranges may vary across sources. Additionally, each dog is an individual, and there can be considerable differences even within the same breed.

Vitamins and Minerals in Puppy Nutrition

Puppy growth and development require a broad range of vitamins and minerals.

Calcium and Phosphorus: A balanced ratio of these minerals supports bone growth and prevents developmental issues. Calcium aids in the growth of bones and teeth, but excessive amounts can cause bone growth abnormalities. On average, a growing puppy needs about 500 mg of calcium per kilogram of body weight daily. Phosphorus works alongside calcium, supporting muscle and nervous system functions.

Vitamin D: This vitamin aids calcium absorption, which is crucial for bone and teeth development. However, excess Vitamin D can lead to calcium buildup in tissues, which is harmful.

Vitamin A: Promotes the development of vision, immune function, and the health of skin and mucous membranes. It also plays a role in the healthy growth of soft tissues and bones.

B Vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12): These are essential for energy metabolism, nervous system function, and red blood cell production. They also help maintain healthy skin and coat, especially important for long-haired breeds. For example, B1 (thiamine) is key for carbohydrate energy production, while B6 supports red blood cell formation.

Vitamin E: As an antioxidant, Vitamin E protects cells from oxidation and supports immune function. It is important for muscle and nervous system health and helps shield cells from damage.

Vitamin C: Vitamin C strengthens the immune system and also acts as an antioxidant. For a growing puppy, Vitamin C is beneficial for immune support and helps prevent inflammation.

Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 Fatty Acids (EPA and DHA): DHA, in particular, supports brain development and learning ability. Foods such as fish, especially fatty varieties like salmon or herring, are rich in DHA. EPA is beneficial for reducing inflammation and supporting joint health. Both of these omega-3s are advantageous for cognitive development in puppies and aid in enhancing learning capacity.

Omega-6 Fatty Acids: Omega-6 fatty acids contribute to skin and coat health and provide an energy boost, essential for actively growing puppies. Omega-6 also aids in tissue healing.

Natural Antioxidants: Polyphenols and Carotenoids

Polyphenols: These plant-derived antioxidants can support immune function and protect cells from damage. Found in foods like berries, polyphenols in a dog’s diet may help reduce inflammation and protect cellular health against oxidation.

Carotenoids: Carotenoids, such as beta-carotene and lutein, are natural pigments with antioxidant properties. Beta-carotene converts to vitamin A in the dog’s body, supporting vision, skin health, and the immune system. Lutein particularly supports eye health and may help prevent age-related changes.

Meat Content and Quality in the Diet

In a puppy's diet, meat should be the main ingredient as it provides high-quality protein and all the essential amino acids necessary for growth. Meat supports the development of muscles, bones, and tissues. Ideally, a puppy's food should contain 50–70% meat to ensure it receives the necessary amino acids and protein for muscle development. By selecting high-quality meat, you also ensure the puppy receives natural minerals and vitamins.

The Role of Grains in Dog Nutrition

Grains like wheat and corn are not ideal as a dog's digestive system is not equipped to handle large amounts of carbohydrates. Some dogs can tolerate gluten-free grains such as rice and oats, but a grain-free diet reduces the risk of digestive issues and allergies. Many breeders prefer grain-free food for puppies to minimize such risks.

How to Choose the Right Puppy Food?

Here are some tips for selecting the right food:

1. Check the Nutritional Content: Good dry food should contain high-quality meat as the main ingredient. Look for products with at least 30% protein and around 15–20% fat.

2. Choose According to Size: Puppy food varies depending on the breed size, as large and small breeds grow at different rates. Reputable dog food manufacturers offer specialized formulas for small, medium, and large breeds, which can significantly ease your selection process.

3. Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids: Omega fatty acids, such as DHA, are essential for the development of the puppy's brain and eyes. Look for foods that contain these fatty acids from fish or flaxseeds.

4. Vitamins and Minerals: Growing puppies need calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, and other essential vitamins and minerals to support healthy growth. Ensure the food you choose contains these key nutrients.

5. Avoid Unnecessary Additives: Try to avoid foods that contain artificial additives, colors, or cheap fillers like corn or wheat, which can cause digestive issues, especially for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

A dog’s constant itching, stomach problems, or recurring ear infections can be frustrating both for the pet and the owner. One common reason behind these problems is food hypersensitivity, which burdens the dog’s body and shows up as various skin and intestinal symptoms. Often, alongside hypersensitivities, yeast is also discussed, as it can get out of control in an irritated body and cause recurring infections. But what are dog hypersensitivities and yeast, how are they related to each other, and what kind of diet can help in managing the problems?

Food hypersensitivities – what is it about?
A dog’s food hypersensitivity means that the body reacts negatively to a certain ingredient. The reaction is not always an actual allergy, but the consequences can be just as troublesome. Typical symptoms are constant itching, redness, flaking of the skin, and hair loss. In some dogs the problems show especially in the stomach: the stool is constantly loose, the dog suffers from diarrhea, or its stomach is otherwise sensitive.

The most common causes of hypersensitivity are beef, chicken, dairy products, and grains, but symptoms can arise from almost any ingredient. Since every dog is an individual, there is no single list of “forbidden ingredients” – only what does or does not suit one’s own dog.

Food hypersensitivity is often investigated using an elimination diet. In this case the dog receives, for several weeks, only one protein source and one carbohydrate. If the symptoms ease, new ingredients are gradually added to the diet and monitored to see if symptoms return. The process is slow but often necessary in order to find the cause.

Yeast – a consequence of symptoms, not just a cause
Yeasts are single-celled fungi, of which the most common on the skin and in the ears of dogs is Malassezia pachydermatis. It is also found in healthy dogs as part of the normal microbiota, but when the defense mechanisms falter, yeast can grow excessively and cause infections. There are almost always predisposing factors in the background: food hypersensitivity or atopy, moisture and warmth (e.g. narrow ear canals, skin folds), hormonal changes and underlying diseases (such as hypothyroidism or diabetes), repeated medication courses as well as stress and aging.

Yeast may occur in the ears, on the skin, between the paws, and at mucosal and mucosal-skin borders (lip folds, genital areas). In the ears, the symptom is a sweet, pungent smell and dark, sticky discharge that does not go away even with regular cleaning. On the skin, yeast causes itching, hair loss, inflammatory problems, and flaking. The areas between the paws may redden and become sore, the nail beds may discolor, and the skin may thicken into “elephant skin.” Prolonged scratching predisposes to secondary bacterial infections.

Alongside Malassezia, in some dogs also yeasts of the genus Candida can accelerate in the intestines, especially when the intestinal bacterial balance is disturbed (e.g. illness, medications, stress). In this case intestinal well-being is closely connected with skin and ear symptoms. Candida displaces lactic acid bacteria, and the toxins it produces get absorbed into the metabolism. This condition is sometimes called “leaky gut,” and it can show up as various allergy and skin symptoms.

Yeasts themselves are not “bad,” but belong to the normal microbiota. The problem arises when their number gets out of control and the balance is disturbed. Therefore yeast is not just a local problem but a sign of imbalance in the body.

Myth vs. fact: yeast in food
Myth: Yeast infection is caused by the yeast contained in food.
Fact: The baking or nutritional yeast in food is not connected to yeast in a dog’s skin and ears. The core of the problem is the balance of the dog’s microbiota and immune defense, not a single row of “yeast-free” ingredients.

How are yeast and hypersensitivities diagnosed?
A dog’s skin and ear symptoms, such as itching, redness, flaking, or dark brown ear discharge, can be caused by many different reasons. Symptoms often resemble each other, so finding the real cause is not always possible with home methods.

The veterinarian carefully examines the symptomatic area and, if necessary, takes samples from the skin or ear canal. With a microscope the number of yeast cells and bacteria as well as the degree of inflammation can be assessed. In the case of food hypersensitivities and allergies, diagnosis is often based on an elimination diet, i.e. a strictly limited diet with which the ingredient causing the symptoms is identified.

Only when the underlying cause of the problem is identified can the right treatments and a suitable diet be chosen. If it is a yeast overgrowth, treatment usually includes medicinal local treatment and a possible course of medication. If the background is allergy or food hypersensitivity, the main help comes from the right kind of food that does not contain problematic ingredients for the dog.

When the cause has been identified and treated, the dog’s well-being can be maintained with high-quality complete food, such as the ERA series recipes, which are designed to support sensitive dogs’ digestion and immunity. This way the dog not only gets relief from symptoms but also a solid foundation for long-term health.

The role of nutrition in managing yeast and hypersensitivity symptoms
Nutrition should be easily digestible, protein-focused, and soothing for the intestines. Single-protein recipes make it easier to pinpoint the cause of symptoms, since then it is known exactly what the dog eats. Grain-free recipes suit many sensitive-stomached dogs, and slowly absorbed carbohydrates such as brown rice and sweet potato provide energy without irritating the intestines.

Support products can help the body recover: probiotics and prebiotics balance the microbiota, Saccharomyces boulardii yeast protects the mucous membranes, glutamine strengthens the intestinal walls, and omega fatty acids reduce inflammation and support skin and coat condition. Their effect materializes over weeks to months as the body recovers.

ERA Centurion – grain-free options
The ERA Centurion series is designed especially for dogs with allergies or sensitive stomachs. The recipes are completely grain-free and based on salmon and venison.

The series includes two options:

• ERA Centurion Salmon & Venison Adult Small – for small adult dogs under 10 kg
• ERA Centurion Salmon & Venison Adult M/L – for medium and large adult dogs

The first ingredient is always fresh salmon, in addition to which there is plenty of dried venison. The high protein content and sweet potato as a low glycemic index energy source make the food nutritious and highly digestible. Functional ingredients – such as seaweed, glucosamine, chondroitin, and probiotics – support the dog’s overall well-being, joint health, and dental condition.

ERA Centurion is particularly well suited for dogs prone to food hypersensitivities, skin problems, or yeast issues.

ERA Millennium – a versatile option for every dog
The ERA Millennium series offers a broader selection of recipes from puppies to adults. Millennium foods combine high animal protein content, fresh meat as the first ingredient, and carefully chosen carbohydrates such as brown rice and sweet potato.

The series includes options for dogs of different sizes and with different protein bases, for example chicken & pheasant, duck & lamb, and salmon & herring. The series has its own recipes for puppies and adults of small, medium, and large breeds, so the dog gets exactly the nutrition it needs.

ERA Millennium is a good choice for a dog that does not necessarily need completely grain-free food but benefits from high-quality proteins, slow-releasing energy, and gut-supporting ingredients. Probiotics and prebiotics strengthen the immune system, and omega fatty acids keep the coat shiny and the skin healthy.

A well-being dog is a happy dog
Food hypersensitivities and yeast infections in dogs often go hand in hand. If the diet does not suit the dog, the body becomes burdened and yeast gets favorable conditions for growth. That is why the problem cannot be solved only with local medicines – a holistic approach is needed, in which nutrition plays a central role.

The ERA food series has been developed with these needs in mind. ERA Centurion offers grain-free options for sensitive and allergic dogs, while ERA Millennium offers versatile recipes for dogs of different sizes and life stages. The common factor is high quality: fresh meat as the first ingredient, a high share of animal protein, and functional additives that support the dog’s health comprehensively.

When you want to ease your dog’s hypersensitivities and keep yeast problems under control, diet is the key. ERA gives you the tools to choose a healthy and tasty option suitable for your dog.

Discover the ERA series products in our online store and find the food for your dog that makes everyday life easier and well-being lasting >>.

“Hypoallergenic dog food” is a term that appears increasingly often in connection with dog food products.
The word is frequently used to describe foods that are suitable for sensitive or allergic dogs – even when the product doesn’t actually meet the criteria of a true hypoallergenic diet.

The situation is made more confusing by the fact that “hypoallergenic” is not an official or regulated term.
This means it can be used in many different ways, and it can be difficult for consumers to know what it really stands for.

For dog owners, it’s not always easy to understand what makes a food suitable for a sensitive dog – and why grain-free and easily digestible options like ERA Centurion can be an excellent choice, even if they aren’t sold under the “hypoallergenic” label.

What does hypoallergenic dog food mean?

Regular dog foods often contain several protein and grain sources – such as beef, corn, and wheat. These ingredients can trigger sensitivities in some dogs.

Hypoallergenic food has a simpler and more carefully controlled recipe. Typically, such food includes:

• a monoprotein recipe, meaning only one animal protein source (e.g. horse)
• only one carbohydrate source (e.g. sweet potato)
• no commonly allergenic ingredients, such as wheat, corn, or beef

In addition, some hypoallergenic foods contain hydrolyzed protein – protein that has been broken down into very small pieces so the dog’s immune system no longer recognizes it as an allergen.

Hypoallergenic foods are often used under veterinary supervision and/or as part of an elimination diet to help identify which ingredients are causing allergic reactions.

Hydrolyzed Protein

Some dogs’ immune systems mistakenly react to certain proteins that are otherwise completely normal and nutritious.
In these cases, the body misidentifies them as “harmful” and may respond with itching, skin irritation, or digestive issues.
When protein is hydrolyzed, its structure is broken down so that the immune system no longer reacts to it.

Hydrolyzed foods can be:

• partially hydrolyzed, where protein chains are broken down but some allergenic structures may still remain
• extensively hydrolyzed, where proteins are reduced to very small peptides, making the food better suited for dogs with more severe allergies

The smaller the protein molecule, the less likely it is to trigger an allergic reaction.
For this reason, hydrolyzed diets are often used in elimination trials – especially when the cause of a dog’s symptoms is unknown or the dog has reacted to multiple proteins.
However, it’s good to note that not all hydrolyzed foods are equally “hypoallergenic.”
If hydrolysis is only partial, the food may still cause symptoms in some dogs.

Why is the term often misused?

The term “hypoallergenic” is not officially regulated, which means it can be used quite freely. Some foods contain several common allergens yet are marketed with the impressive-sounding word hypoallergenic. That’s why it’s important to always check the ingredient list carefully and choose food that truly meets your dog’s individual needs.

For example, a grain-free recipe based on salmon and venison can be ideal for sensitive or allergic dogs – but the correct way to describe it would be “suitable for sensitive dogs” or “grain-free complete food,” not hypoallergenic.

ERA Centurion Salmon & Venison

ERA Centurion Salmon & Venison is a grain-free complete food made from high-quality ingredients.
Fresh salmon and venison provide easily digestible animal proteins, while sweet potato serves as a gentle carbohydrate source.

The recipe contains no common allergenic carbohydrate sources such as wheat, barley, corn, or potato, and it supports both digestion and skin health.
Added salmon oil, probiotics, seaweed, and joint nutrients make it a tasty and balanced choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs or a tendency toward skin problems.

When choosing food for an allergic or sensitive dog, the most important thing isn’t the marketing word on the label, but the quality and content of the food itself.
Grain-free, easily digestible food made from high-quality proteins can be an excellent option – even if it isn’t sold as “hypoallergenic.”

ERA Centurion Salmon & Venison is a great example of a food that combines:

• high-quality ingredients
• good tolerance
• excellent digestibility
• great taste

– making it a perfect choice for many dogs that need gentle yet nutritious food.

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