How Much Food Should You Feed Your Puppy
A post shared by Raffles and Frederik on Apr 12, 2017 at 7:28am PDT
The feeding guidelines printed on the puppy food bag are a starting point, but really, portion size depends on the individual dogs.
Watch your puppys body condition as she grows, and adjust portion sizes accordingly. If she seems to be holding on to her puppy pudge for too long, it could be a sign shes eating too much. Similarly, if she leaves food in the dish, it may mean shes ready to drop from three to two meals a day. Also, if youre giving your puppy lots of treats throughout the day, you may need to adjust her meal size.
In general, several meals spread throughout the day is the best way to feed your puppy. A feeding schedule helps distribute calories and energy throughout her day. As a bonus, sticking to a regular feeding schedule means a regular potty schedule, too!
When To Switch To Adult Food
In general, dogs are considered puppies until about one year of age. However, different breeds age at different rates. For example, many large and giant breed dogs are considered puppies until two or more years of age and will therefore need to remain on puppy food beyond age one. Conversely, some small dog breeds reach adult size before the age of one. Your veterinarian is the best source of information when it comes to your dog’s diet, so ask for advice before making the switch to adult food.
When deciding on the right time to feed adult dog food, the goal is to switch to adult food around the time the puppy stops growing but before he starts gaining excess weight. Keep track of your puppy’s weight and height and look for the numbers to increase at a slower rate. Most dogs will begin to reach a plateau around one year of age, but you might notice the growth slow down as early as eight or nine months of age.
How Much Should My Puppy Eat
The amount of food your puppy eats should be enough to maintain his ideal body weight. Use the puppy feeding guide on the label of your dog food as a starting pointthe amount you feed him depends on his age, size, breed, activity level, temperament, environment and health. To keep him at a healthy weight, do not overfeed him, even if he still seems hungry or begs for more food. If you have a large-breed puppy, you may be inclined to leave food out for him at all times or feed him a few extra cups per day, but this can lead to obesity and bone development problems. As a general rule, a young puppy should be fed 3 to 4 times a day to keep up with his high-energy lifestyle. This amount should be reduced to twice a day after he reaches 6 months of age.
Talk to your vet about how much your puppy should be eating each day. Be sure to tell your vet what type of food you are currently feeding your puppy, as not all dog food contains the same level of nutrients. This could affect the amount of food that is recommended for you to feed your puppy.
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How Long Do You Feed A Dog Puppy Food
As often as were asked how long do you feed a dog puppy food, its quite remarkable how many people are genuinely worried about moving their puppy to adult food either too soon or too late.
You should feed a puppy on puppy food while theyre younger than 12-months, but the transition process can start earlier.
Your dog is a puppy for as long as you want them to be. Nobody is going to tell you different. But in the interests of answering this specific question of how long do you feed a dog puppy food the appropriate time to stop feeding puppy specific food is no later than 12-months old.
Why?
Because in purely simplistic terms, at 12-months old your puppy is technically an adult.
Lets break down the puppy to adult dog process.
As you can see, puppy growth stages can seem like a flash before our eyes.
Try Feeding Your Dog Vegetables
Have you already fed your dog all of their meals for the day? Try treating your dog with raw cucumbers, carrots, broccoli, or celery. You can also try boiling them first to break down some of the insoluble fiber. However, before feeding your pet vegetables from the bottom of your fridge, make sure you wash off any pesticides and chemicals first to avoid giving them an upset stomach.
Before completely changing your peckish pups diet completely, its a good idea to consult your vet. We can help you make informed decisions on the best meal plans for your dogs breed, activity level, size, and other health factors.
Providing the very best in veterinary care, and the ability to establish innovated programs.
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Tip #: Store The Food In A Cool Dry Dark Place
When storing dog food, always remember that bacteria is your enemy.
And where do you find bacteria? In places that are humid.
Thats why its important to store your food in a cool, dry placeand avoid places where the food could get wet or too hot .
Storage at temperatures of 120°F for more than 48 hours can accelerate the normal degradation of the vitamins.
You should also avoid sunlight as much as possible, since light will increase the speed at which the food degrades.
Given these tips, a kitchen closet or pantry makes a great storage place for dog food. Just run the A/C in the summer to keep the food from spoiling due to the heat.
Dates On The Packaging Are There For A Reason
Contrary to popular belief, expiration dates are not just suggestions on when food might spoil. It has been tested by food makers to see how long their food lasts.
Following the stamped dates about how long is dry dog food for is the most sensible thing to observe all the time.
There was an exact science that came with it. Its the same for dog food. There is a possibility that you can stretch the dates to a few more weeks, but it will still go bad after you have opened it.
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% Of Large Breed Dog Owners Unsure Of When To Stop Feeding Puppy Food Purina Reports
ST. LOUIS Nestlé Purina PetCare highlighted discrepancies and misunderstandings among pet owners when it comes to purchasing and feeding puppy formulas in a survey released Aug. 24, showing many pet owners are unaware that dog maturity varies by breed size.
According to Purina, toy and small dog breeds that weigh less than 30 lbs take between nine and 12 months to fully mature, while medium-sized dogs weighing between 30 and 80 lbs can take up to 16 months to fully mature, and large and giant breeds weighing more than 80 lbs can take up to two years to reach full maturity.
“Puppies have specific nutritional requirements to help support their rapid growth and development, said Callie Harris, DVM, veterinarian at Purina. Similar to babies, puppies’ bodies are fast-growing, but unlike babies, puppies pack all their growth into one to two short years. It’s important to feed a high-quality puppy food formula for at least the first 12 months and up to 24 months for large breeds.
The survey, which included 1,000 puppy owners in the United States, revealed 92% of large breed dog owners were unaware that they should feed puppy food for up to two years, while 47% of small breed dog owners did not realize their dog should be fed puppy food for up to one year.
Pet owners are more likely to determine an appropriate diet based off their dogs size , but do not account for breed differences and their effects on size and development.
What Kind Of Puppy Treats Should I Give
Many pet owners like to reward their dogs with treats, but its best to limit them. Because puppies need so many nutrients to grow, its important to give them food that provides complete and balanced nutrition. A puppy should get most of their calories from puppy food rather than from treats, which typically dont provide complete nutrition.
Aim for no more than 5% of calories from treats, say nutrition experts at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Choose treats that are the right size for your puppy. A Yorkshire terrier, for instance, doesnt need an extra-large dog biscuit. And avoid table scraps, which teach your puppy at a young age to beg for treats at the table and can cause digestive upset and pancreatitis, a serious illness.
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Consider giving other types of treats to deepen the bond with your puppy. Healthy snacks like bits of carrot, green beans, or bell peppers give your puppy something to crunch without many calories. And remember, in your puppys mind, spending time with you is the best treat of all.
Play is a treat, training is a treat, learning tricks is a treat, Buffington says. Dogs are a pack species, and they want to be a member of the pack. Anything a member of the pack does with them is positive reinforcement.
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When To Start Feeding Puppies Wet Food
Feeding a puppy the right food is really important. If you are unsure about when to start feeding puppies wet dog food, then give this guide a read!
Getting ready to welcome a new puppy into your home can be both an exciting and nerve-wracking time, especially if youre a first-time owner.
Preparing for their arrivalby puppy-proofing your house and stocking up on pup-friendly toysand treats can help make the transition easier, for both you and them. Picking the right type of food for your new furry friend, however, can be daunting, especially since there is so much choice out there.
Seeing as your dog will likely eat whatever they can find, youll have to do your own research into what is best for them and at what stage. But its something worth investing your time in as early nutrition plays a big part in a dogs development of healthy muscles, bones and teeth. Encouraging healthy eating in the beginning will also set up good habits that will last into adulthood.
Our guide will help you make the best choice for your new pet, including the different benefits and uses of wet dog food.
How Do I Know The Puppy Food Will Meet My Dogs Needs
The Association of American Feed Control Officials sets nutrient guidelines that most pet food manufacturers follow. Check the package label for a statement saying the food is formulated to meet AAFCO nutrient guidelines for complete and balanced nutrition, or that feeding trials following AAFCO guidelines have substantiated that it provides complete nutrition.
Along with that statement, the label should give the life stage the food is suited for. Puppies should be eating food labeled for growth or for all life stages.
After a month or six weeks on the food, assess your puppys health. They should be playful and energetic, with a shiny, thick coat. Formed brown feces are a sign that your puppy is digesting most of the nutrients in the food.
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What Can A Puppy Eat
Most pet food should be formulated to be a complete diet, meeting all the nutritional and calorific needs of your pet. Puppy food is no different and so you should keep your new family member on a diet of their food only.
However, we understand that training your puppy is an important part of helping them to become a model citizen and increasing your bond together. Traditional dog treats are a great way of encouraging your puppy to learn, but these should be given sparingly in order not to disrupt their balanced diet. Always make sure you are using treats that are suitable for puppies. Portioning off some of your puppys daily diet to use as treats is one way of ensuring they dont over-eat. As a general rule, traditional dog treats should not make up more than of their daily calorie intake.
Better still, you can use healthy alternatives to treat your dog. While some fruits and vegetables are unsafe for dogs to eat, many can be consumed safely and make great substitutes for traditional treats. They are delicious, effective training snacks and dont upset your puppys diet to the same extent. However, be advised that while some fruit and veg are healthy alternatives, they can be quite hard on young teeth and could even be choking hazards for puppies, so should be given with caution. Although these treats are healthy alternatives, they should still make up no more than 10% of your puppys daily intake, due to the sugar content.
Get The Latest Recipes Right In Your Inbox:
Keep your dog healthy and fit with this easy peasy homemade recipe its cheaper than store-bought and chockfull of fresh veggies!
I never thought I would be one of those dog owners who made homemade human food for their pups. Not in a million years.
But when Butters recently fell sick with an upset stomach, our vet advised us to feed him a bland diet chicken and rice without any kind of seasoning. So thats what we did we poached a chicken, shredded it in a food processor, and mixed in some white rice and fed him this bland diet for 3 days.
Thats when I started to do some research on homemade dog food, and I have been so amazed as to how many different kinds of vegetables dogs can have. And with the help of Balance IT, you can create so many different recipes for your pup!
Now the best part about making homemade dog food just like making anything at home is that you know exactly what is going into the dog bowl, and not any of that questionable gelatinous gunk from the canned food.
But its important to note that dogs have different nutrient requirements than humans for their proportional body size, such as:
Now this recipe here has a balance of 50% protein, 25% veggies and 25% grains, but the ratios can easily be adjusted to suit your pups breed and/or needs.
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The Benefits Of Feeding Premium Food
Why move your grown-up pup to a premium adult dog food? Because quality counts. It’s crucial to continue his superb puppy nutrition into adulthood. Downgrading to a lower-quality brand at this stage of his life may upset his digestive system, and won’t provide him with the same level of nutritional excellence he was raised on.
Think of a baby. When it’s time to start giving him solid food, you wouldn’t dream of feeding your child anything less than the best nutrition you can buy. The same is true for your maturing puppy. He needs the best age-appropriate food there is to help maintain his overall health.
Premium foods, such as IAMS, are specifically designed to provide your dog with a food that has:
- High-quality ingredients
- Clear, bright eyes
- Small, firm stools
Founded on more than 60 years of research into canine nutrition, premium formulas from IAMS help maintain your dog’s health and provide him with the nutrition he needs for a long life. Basic brands may not provide these benefits or match the level of expertise that goes into every bag of dog food from IAMS.
Move On From Puppy Food
Puppy food is very high in calories and nutritional supplements so you want to switch to adult food once your puppy begins to approach maturity. There is no set age when the switch should be made because it will vary with the breed and individual dog.
In general, the smaller the dog the faster they reach maturity. Small breeds up to 30 pounds mature around ten to twelve months of age although some toy breeds reach maturity even sooner. Medium breed dogs up to 80 pounds will reach maturity between twelve to sixteen months and I believe your puppy may fall into this category. It really depends how much Great Pyrenees she has in her. Large breed dogs weighing more than 80 pounds can take up to two years to reach maturity.
When making the switch to adult food, do it slowly over the course of one to two weeks by gradually mixing in increasing amounts of the adult food with decreasing amounts of her puppy food to minimize gastric upset.
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When Should I Stop Feeding Puppy Food
The right time to transition from puppy food to adult food varies for each dog. Your puppys age, breed, expected adult size, and current health status will all impact when the diet change should occur.
For most dogs, its recommended to wait until they are fully grown before changing to an adult diet. Small and medium-breed dogs are typically finished growing at around 8 to 12 months of age, while large and giant breeds may not reach their full adult size until 18 months of age. If youre unsure of your dogs breed, a good rule of thumb is to wait until your dog is about a year old.
Some dogs may need to transition earlier if they have medical problems that can be managed with diet changes, such as food allergies or digestive issues. Your veterinarian can help you decide the best time to make the transition and choose an adult dog food that will be best suited to your dog.