You should find a puppy food that is intended to be fed for growth. Next you need to decide whether to feed dry kibble, wet food also referred to as canned food , or a combination.
There is no research to support that one food form is better than the other and so this choice is really based on personal preference. In general, it is a good idea to expose your puppy to both forms of food, even if you plan on exclusively feeding one or the other. There may come a time where you need to feed canned or dry food and if your puppy turns into a picky eater as an adult dog, he or she may refuse a food type that is unfamiliar.
We want our puppies to grow into healthy adult dogs, but we do not want to over feed them. You can use the following methods to keep your puppy a healthy weight:.
Remember that as your puppy grows, his or her energy needs will also grow and so you will need to continually adjust the food dose based on body condition and weight.
Feeding management refers to how you feed your puppy and there are a couple of options to consider:. As your puppy grows, it is very important to monitor his or her weight to make sure growth is occurring at an appropriate rate and that your puppy is not getting overweight.
Food changes should be done gradually over a week or two to prevent stomach upset and possible diarrhea. Unless your veterinarian recommends an abrupt change in diet, take your time. Feed your puppy his special food and nothing else. It might be tempting to give your puppy enticing foods like bacon or ham from the table, but do not get into the habit of doing this.
Table scraps will often make your puppy vomit or give him diarrhea. Giving your puppy table scraps may also lead to obesity and even pancreatitis. Bear in mind that the more people food you give your puppy, the more he'll want, so it can interfere with training and even cause behavior problems. Consult your veterinarian about dog safe supplemental feeding.
Low fat options include vegetables green beans, carrots, broccoli, etc. Remember, everything in moderation and you have to be cautious of creating a picky eater. Watch for the signs of low blood sugar in small breeds. Toy and miniature breed puppies are predisposed to low blood sugar hypoglycemia. In extremely rare instances, the puppy's blood sugar can drop and the puppy will be lethargic.
In severe cases, the puppy can start having seizures. You can try rubbing Karo syrup on the gums to help, but still take your puppy to your veterinarian. Providing access to food all the time or every hours for the first 6 months of life for toy breed puppies will help prevent dietary based hypoglycemia.
For larger breed puppies, feeding three times per day is generally sufficient. Part 3. Provide fresh water with your puppy's food. Fresh water should be provided for your puppy at all times; there's no need for a schedule. Set aside a quiet area for your puppy to eat. Puppies need a quiet area to eat their food. Make sure that your puppy has a nice quiet space to eat and prevent other animals from getting to your puppy's food bowl.
If your puppy feels threatened while eating, he may start guarding his food bowl. This resource guarding behavior can escalate and become dangerous to you and others. Make sure that your puppy can access his food and water bowls with ease. Feed your puppy at the same time every day. Puppies are like babies in that they like to stick to a schedule.
Meal feeding also helps with house training, since the puppy will need to relieve itself on a schedule. However, as he grows his stomach expands relative to his frame and he can cope with larger, less frequent meals. If your puppy is under 3 months of age, then feed him 4 meals a day. If your puppy is between 3 - 6 months of age, then feed him 3 meals a day 4 for toy breeds. If your puppy is 6 months or over, feed him 2 meals a day. Make arrangements if you will not be home to feed your puppy.
If you are often not home during the day, you'll need a way to feed your puppy while you are gone. For example, you could come home at lunch or arrange for a neighbor to feed your puppy in the middle of the day. This schedule will only be for a few months, then you can feed morning and night when your puppy is older. Take your puppy to his potty place after he finishes eating.
Most puppies need to eliminate minutes after eating a meal, so it is a good idea to get into the habit of taking your puppy to go potty right after he finishes eating. Doing so will help prevent accidents in the house and teach your puppy good bathroom habits.
How much you feed your puppy is every bit as important as what you feed it. If you give it too much, even of a good food, this leads to weight gain that could ultimately shorten the dog's life. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Provide puppy treats in moderation.
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Never exercise a puppy or adult dog right after he finishes eating. The weight of food in the stomach may cause the stomach to flip over on itself and cause the life-threatening condition called bloat or GDV Gastric dilation and volvulus.
Clubs Offering: Training Classes. Puppy Feeding Fundamentals. By Erika Mansourian Aug 15, 6 Minutes. Aug 15, 6 Minutes. Feeding Your Puppy: A First-Year Timeline 6—12 weeks: Growing pups should be fed puppy food, a diet specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs for normal development. Feeding adult food will rob your puppy of important nutrients.
Four feedings a day are usually adequate to meet nutritional demands. Large breeds should be fed unmoistened dry food by 9 or 10 weeks; small dogs by 12 or 13 weeks. A pup should be losing her potbelly and pudginess by 12 weeks. If she is still roly-poly at this age, continue to feed puppy-size portions until body type matures. Spaying or neutering lowers energy requirements slightly; after the procedure, switch from nutrient-rich puppy food to adult maintenance food. Small breeds can make the switch at 7 to 9 months; bigger breeds at 12, 13, even 14 months.
Err on the side of caution: Better to be on puppy food a little too long than not long enough. After age 1: Most owners feed adult dogs two half-portions a day. How much food should I give my puppy? How often should I feed my puppy? Is it worth it to buy expensive puppy food? Dry food, wet food, or both?
Canned food is the most expensive to feed, and dogs often find it most palatable. Your dog should have a complete, balanced diet to fulfill nutritional requirements. Meat alone may not do it. Semi-moist food is available in one-serving packets. It is usually made to look like hamburger.
Kibble is the most economical, and the major makers offer a complete and balanced diet for dogs of all sizes and ages. Dry food can be fed exactly as it comes from the bag. Weigh the puppy weekly and record his progress, comparing him to breed-appropriate weight charts. Adjust his food intake to achieve an average rate of growth. Weighing a dog, even a squirming puppy, is easy. Just weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the puppy.
A young dog carrying too much weight has an increased risk of orthopedic problems, due to stress on immature joints. Obesity can also lead to diabetes , diseases of the heart and other organs, and general lethargy. My puppy is begging! Should I feed him people food or table scraps? Puppy Feeding Tidbits Feeding your pup the moment you get home may encourage puppy separation anxiety.
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