Is Cerelac good for my pup? Maybe you’ve seen friends, family, or your vet feeding young pups Cerelac. You’ve wondered to yourself, “‘Is that safe?“‘ ‘”‘Isn’t that for human babies?”‘ Well, look no further. The answers to your questions are found here. Cerelac is used as a replacement mother’s milk for young puppies until they can chew solid foods.
As pet owners, you probably are constantly wondering if you are doing everything you can to be the best pet owner possible. After all, our animals are our children.
In this article, we will go over what exactly Cerelac is. We will also weigh its benefits and disadvantages.
What is Cerelac?
Cerelac is a cereal-based food. The cereal is promoted for infants 6 months and older as a supplement to breast milk when it is no longer the sole item in an infant’s diet. It is often used as a replacement for mother’s milk. The food contains soy products, vitamins, and minerals that are good for a puppy until they start eating solid foods. Cerelac can be given to pups from three weeks old onward if mixed with water or other liquids to make it easier for them to eat appropriately.
Benefits of Cerelac for dogs
- Cerelac is cost-friendly, and you can find it at your local grocery store.
- It’s easy to prepare and comes with step-by-step instructions on how to prepare it.
- Cerelac has vitamins in it that can benefit your pup’s health.
- Cerelac has a long shelf life of 6 months.
- no extra ingredients are necessary, all you need to add to Cerelac is hot water.
Disadvantages of Cerelac for dogs
- It has a low grade of energy.
- It does not contain enough protein and fat your dogs need for growing.
- Cerelac is not enough for a dog diet; they need meat as the primary source of protein.
- Cerelac is made from vegetable extracts, so it does not have all the necessary minerals needed for a growing puppy.
- The cereal which makes up Cerelac has a low level of iron content compared to meat meal. Puppies under 12 weeks old can lead to anemia because their bodies do not store extra iron naturally yet.
- It contains sugar, malt extract, soybean oil, and other additives, including artificial colors such as FD&C Red 40 Lake (E129), Titanium dioxide (E171) – lookout for them on the packaging! Artificial flavors like vanilla flavor (which is derived from either castoreum or vanilla beans), caramel color (E150d), and chemicals. It contains preservatives like BHA, propyl gallate, TBHQ are also mentioned as the ingredients of that cereal.
- It does not have enough fiber content, which makes it difficult for dogs to digest correctly.
WARNING: If your dog has diabetes, you should consult with a veterinarian before giving him Cerelac. It increases blood sugar levels in pets!
What are the the ingredients in Cerelac?
Let’s first clarify what “low-grade energy” is. Low-grade energy means the contents of the product have low carbohydrates and protein in them. Both carbohydrates and protein are the two main energy sources in a dog’s food. We’ve all heard of FD&C RED 40,
one of the most common dyes that have been known to cause cancer. Did you know it’s linked to brain tumors? Titanium Dioxide, is said to not be harmful to dogs however if your pup’s body doesn’t need it and it’s not benefiting his or her health, then why put it into your pup’s body? BHA, is commonly used in dog food as a preservative to keep the fat in the food from going rancid. Another we love but that is not beneficial for dogs is Sugar or Corn Syrup, sugar is very bad for your pup. It can cause several health issues such as Diabetes, spikes in blood sugar levels, Metabolic changes, dental diseases from issues like tooth decay, enamel loss, and cavities, Weight gain leading to obesity in the long term, Pancreatitis, Arthritis, and many other health problems. Cerelac also contains dried Skim Milk, milk is not dangerous for your pup, but it can be hard for them to digest.
As you can see, Cerelac Ingredients’ disadvantages outweigh its benefits. Because of that scientists and Vets got together and decided to formulate a Cerelac that was more suited for your special pup.
Such formulas as Petswill Puppy Cerelac and Pet Centre Puppy Cerelac. These formulas are recommended by Vets, which have great nutrients and probiotics your pup needs to grow big and strong.
How many types of Cerelac are there? (Puppy and Baby Cerelac)
Baby Cerelac comes in 4 stages varying by age group. Stage 1 is for babies 6 months and older, Stage 2 is for ages 8 months and older, Stage 3 is for ages 10 months and older, and Stage 4 is for ages 1 to 2 years of age. All four stages come in various flavors, such as honey, banana, mixed fruit, and rice & vegetables.
Cerelac for Puppies was designed for puppies 1-3 months. It is recommended that puppy Cerelac should be gradually mixed with puppy food (Pedigree). As the puppy starts to grow, slowly replace the Cerelac with rice curd. Cerelac for puppies also comes in a variety of flavors such as Chicken, Vegetarian, and Beef. The puppy formula has been put together in such a way where your pup can have all the nutrients it needs while being gentle on their digestive system.
Other reasons your pup may need Cerelac
Cerelac can also be used if your pup has an upset stomach. Because Cerelac is a grain or maize-based cereal, it can help settle an upset stomach, and it’s easy to digest. Make sure to check with your vet before giving your sick pup Cerelac. Another reason you can use Cerelac with your pup, is if they are old and have trouble chewing because of little to no teeth. Cerelac is soft and gentle on a pup’s mouth.
7.) Healthy Ingredient to look out for
Your pup’s health is the most important to you. So, here is some information that can help when trying to find a healthy food source.
Vitamins A, B, D, E, K: these vitamins aid your dog’s body in building bones, teeth, connective tissues, and it’s great for their immune system.
Vegetables: Although it is not an ingredient that your dog needs to eat, vegetables in her diet can be very beneficial as they provide many vitamins and minerals.
Fruits: Again, not a big part of a dog’s diet, but fruits like blueberries and apples are a great source of fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants while [cranberries may assist with the urinary tract and help with dental hygiene by killing bacteria.
Fats: We all hear about the dangers of fats, but they are necessary for proper cell function and digestion. They provide energy and help your dog absorb certain vitamins. They also help keep their coat healthy and shiny. Keep an eye out for high-quality fats such as Omega-6, fish oils, canola oil, chicken fat, and olive oil.
Minerals and Nutrients: Many minerals are important for your pup’s health such as zinc, iron, potassium, calcium, and manganese. As well as [L Carnitine], a nutrient that acts as a transport for fatty acids and helps in the cellular production of energy, and DL-Methionine, one of the 10-plus essential amino acids that are required by dogs.
Water: It is one of the most important things your pup needs to support their health and it keeps them hydrated. So look for high moisture content on the ingredients list. Always make sure you provide plenty of fresh, clean water for your pup. Omega-3
Fun fact! Did you know dogs descended directly from wolves? That they were the first domesticated animal. Their wolf ancestors started associating with people, drawn by garbage dumps and dead carcasses from hunters.
Cerelac has been used for puppies under the age of three months as a mother’s milk replacement. However, taking dry puppy food and making it soft and mushy with hot water. That works just as well. Plus, it has all the nutrients a growing pup needs.
8.) Other substitutes for mother’s milk?
Today there are a few more options for substituting mother’s milk. A few of them you can make right at home. All you need is evaporated milk, corn oil or Karo syrup, pediatric multivitamin, 2 egg whites, and yogurt. Make sure before giving your pup any homemade recipes you consult with your vet first. Multiple puppy brands have formulated mother’s milk replacements for pups. Such as Milko-Pup and Royal Canin baby dog milk.These brand have healthy ingredients for you pup like, 10g contains protein (min) 2,75g, carbohydrates 4,7g, Fat (min) 1,9g, vitamin A 250i.u., vitamin D3 15i.u., vitamin E 5i.u., vitamin BI 100mcg, vitamin B2 200mcg, nicotinamide 1,2mg, vitamin B6 150mcg, vitamin B 12 1,5mcg, calcium pantothenate 750mcg, choline bitartrate 2,5mg, magnesium 50mcg, iron 120mcg, copper 25mcg, manganese 30mcg, cobalt 10mcg, iodine 10mcg, biotin (vitamin H) 30mcg, folic acid 3mcg, fluoride 0,05mcg, sodium chloride 15 mg, calcium 130mg, phosphorus 100mg, zinc 1 mg, moisture (max) 250mg, BHT (antioxidant) 1,2mg.
In conclusion, based on all the evidence we have, I do not think Cerelac in short-term use will harm your pup; however, it will not provide much nutrition for them either. But, as we have talked about there are other options for mother milk substitutes. Don’t feel bad if you are one of those pup parents that supplemented mother’s milk with Cerelac. We are all learning and growing as pup parents. Go to your nearest pup store and ask an employee to help you find food that’s right for your puppy. Maybe something a bit more gentle if your pup is young. You could even do some research on different puppy foods and their ingredients. Remember just like how we as humans need a balanced diet so do our pups.
