As a quality breeder, my priority is the health of the dogs I breed. Part of that responsibilty includes doing everything I can to insure their wellbeing after they go to their new home. While all quality dog foods will provide everything needed to sustain life, virtually all of them are cooked during the manufacturing process. The heat from the cooking causes much of the nutrients to be lost during the process. NuVet Plus cold processsed allowing all the benefits of its rich nutrients to be retained, giving your new puppy an extra layer of protection, espcially during the most critical first year of life. Additionally, when puppies nurse, they rely on their mother's colostrum (highly nutritious milk produced right after birth) for the anitbodies they need to fight infection. However, the maternal antibodies' effectiveness declines as the puppy's immune system begins to mature. By 8 weeks, your puppy's immune system is at a vulnerable point and will soon be challenged on multiple fronts. When a puppy is moved away from its mother and siblings to live with its new family, the immune system is weaken by the stress of adoption and exposure to bacteria and viruses in its new home. These pathogens for which the puppy's body has not yet developed antibodies, and it is widely recognized that the immune system is less effective in times of stress. So giving NuVet Plus is important to helping your puppy grow into a healthy adult. The vaccine series is also started during this time period. Vaccines are only efffective if the immune system can respond properly. If the immune system is distracted by combating an actual disease processor and it does not receive the nutrients required to keep it strong during times of stress, the health of the puppy is at risk. The best way to prevent illness during this critical time is to provide the nutritional support required for proper immune system function. NuVet Plus is a synergistic combination of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals know to boost immune system function. All of NuVet Labs' ingredients are sourced in the United States, manufactured in a human-grade U.S. FDA registered pharmacetical laboratory, and cold processed to maximie the potency of the nutrients. NuVet Labs has been in business since 1997 and has never had a product recall. By including NuVet Plus into your puppy's daily diet, you can be confident that you are providing the nutrients required for optimal immune system support performance.