Converting From Caloriesto Serving Size
Once youve entered your dogs ideal weight and activity level, youll know the number of calories per day.
However, to convert calories into something you can use, youll need to enter the number of calories in your dogs food.
The number of calories in a given amount of dog food is known as its metabolizable energy . Its usually reported somewhere on a dog food package like this
- Calories per cup
- Calories per kilogram
By the way, the calculator assumes youre feeding your dog just once a day.
If you prefer to feed your dog twice a day, be sure to divide your result in half so that both meals add up to the full daily calories suggested.
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 6 weeks on the food, assess your puppyâs 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.
How Often Should I Feed My Dog
Set mealtimes are recommended for most dogs for a variety of reasons. Keeping mealtimes consistent, as well as the type and amount of food you feed him, will help him maintain both his digestive health and his weight. Consistent mealtimes can also help prevent accidents in the house.
For most dogs, feeding twice each dayonce in the morning and once in the eveningis appropriate.
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How Long Do Puppies Eat Puppy Food
Dont overlook the importance of planning and allowing for a transitional process when changing dog food. Imagine eating the same meals every day. Then, suddenly, you switch to something completely different. Youll probably experience a tummy ache or other gastrointestinal problems.
The same thing goes for your puppy. Remember that its a process that should take a minimum of six days, and sometimes longer . Heres a video that highlights the transition process so you know how to properly change your puppys food.
Using Food In Training
The best way to use food when training your puppy is to take food from their daily allowance. If your puppy is eating kibble, this will be easy!
If you are raw feeding your dog, you can look into finding some bitesize, frozen meat pieces. Although, you wont be able to just carry these around with you all the time in your pocket!
Dont panic if your dog has barely any, or even no food when it comes to your scheduled mealtime.
Your puppy will still be getting all the food he needs each day, as long as training food comes from his daily allowance.
Training will be spread out through the day anyway, so as long as you arent getting through the food so quickly that your pup is becoming sick, you will be okay.
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Feeding A Puppy In The First Year Of Life
Of course, puppies have different feeding needs at different ages. This is especially true for really young pups who arent ready for kibble. Puppies normally start weaning to solid food by 4 weeks of age and should be eating dry food by 7 to 8 weeks of age.
Puppies have small stomachs, so it can be hard for them to take in all of their nutritional needs at one meal. Up to 6 months of age, its helpful to split up their daily amount of food into three feedings spread out throughout the day.
Once your pups are 6 months old, you can feed them twice a day, dividing their daily amount of food into two feedings. They can stay on this twice a day feeding schedule as adults as well. This is particularly helpful for small breed dogs since some have a harder time balancing our their energy and sugar levels when only fed once a day.
While puppies do need special nutrition, its important not to overfeed them. All dog foods are required to provide recommended feeding amounts on their packaging. These feeding recommendations are based on the weight of your puppy. For example, Bil-Jac Puppy Select offers the following recommendations:
These guidelines are recommendations based on averages, but they will give you a good place to start you should always monitor your puppys appetite and growth pattern and adjust the feeding amounts up or down as dictated by body condition.
How Much Should I Feed My Puppy A Complete Puppy Feeding Guide With Chart
The decisions you make about your puppys nutrition will affect his growth, development and even his behavior.
Feeding your puppy a high-quality, complete and balanced puppy food helps set him up for a long and healthy life as an adult dog. This raises a lot of questions for first-time puppy owners, though.
How much should you feed your puppy and when? When should you stop feeding puppy food?
Get answers to these questions and more in our complete puppy feeding guide below. Our experts answer your questions and offer advice to help set you and your puppy up for success.
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Take Your Dogs Lifestyle Into Account
Combine this information with your knowledge of your dogs lifestyle to come up with the initial amount of food to offer your dog.
For example, if I had a relatively inactive 35-pound Corgi who had a tendency to gain weight, I might start with a little less food than the table recommends. On the other hand, if my dog was a 35-pound Border Collie who never sits still, I would feed a little more.
Tips To Maintain A Puppy Feeding Schedule
Youre well on your way to feeding your pup a perfectly healthy diet. Just dont overdo it on treats. Keep in mind that treats should take up no more than 10% of your puppys total food quota for the day.
Finally, pay attention to your pups cues and always keep the following in mind:
- Stick to dog food and skip the table scraps some human foods can make your dog sick.
- Keep fresh water out along with any food, and clean both food and water bowls regularly.
- Dont start a medical diet or supplements without a prescription or recommendation.
- Always consult a veterinarian with any questions you may have.
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Should I Feed My Puppy Raw Meat
Whilst this is not our current view, we do understand that many people prefer to use raw food to feed their dogs. We would encourage you to question where your puppy food comes from and whether it can be trusted as a healthy option for your furry friend!
Raw meats are very high in protein but also low in fibre, and can often open up the possibility of bacterial contaminants to their diet.
Our diets have been formulated to provide a developing puppy with a specific amount of micro and macronutrients to foster healthy development. Be careful of raw diets that don’t consider such things.
How Much To Feed A Puppy
Now you know what to feed your puppy, but just how much food does he need each day? Because puppies grow at such fast rates, they need to start eating a complete and balanced puppy food as soon as theyre weaned, usually between six and eight weeks.
The amount of food your puppy needs depends on how much hell weigh at maturity. A Labrador Retriever will weigh more at maturity than a Russell Terrier, for example. So, the larger dog requires more food as a puppy.
The chart below can help you determine how much dry food to feed your puppy. You should also review the specific feeding instructions on the back of his puppy food and consult with your veterinarian.
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What Food Can Puppies Eat
If youre wondering can puppies eat dog food, or can puppies eat regular dog food? These are great questions! Puppies and their adult counterparts have different nutritional needs, so its important to ensure your pup is getting the balance of nutrients they require to grow into healthy and strong adults. By choosing food that is specially formulated for puppies and nutritionally balanced for long-term feedinglike this Chicken & White Rice Recipe thats high in calcium and phosphorusyoull be giving your pup the head start they need.
Can puppies have treats?
Yes! Treats are important and can be used for training but all in moderationand always check with your vet or trainer first.
When looking for good treats for puppies use these tips:
Opt for safe fruits and vegetables or other low-calorie snacks.
If your puppy suffers from medical conditions, check in with your veterinarian to find the treats that work best for their health.
Apples are high in antioxidants and dietary fiber.
Pups love the crunch of carrots and you’ll love the benefits.
Blueberries are an excellent source of vitamins K and C.
Cranberries for dogs provide an excellent source of vitamins.
Green beans are rich in vitamins and dietary fiber.
Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamins C and K.
Other Puppy Feeding Faqs
How Do I Know if Im Feeding My Puppy Enough?
You can easily monitor this by looking at your puppys body composition starting from 8-10 weeks of age. Puppys ribs, spine and pelvic bones should not be visible. The outline of the ribs and your puppys waist should be seen. If theyre overweight, their stomach is more rounded, and ribs and waist wont be visible.
Can You Overfeed a Puppy?
Yes, feeding your puppy too much can cause obesity, digestive issues and other problems with their development. If a puppy is overweight, theres a bigger chance of obesity once theyre adults.
When Can Puppies Eat Dry Food Without Water?
At around 8 weeks, puppies should have all of their baby teeth and will be able to start eating dry food. Nevertheless, your puppy might need some time to adjust. For the transition period, mix the dry food with some water. You can add less water every few days.
When to Switch Puppy to Dog Food?
You can switch to adult dog food once your dog has grown to its full size. Have a look at the Petfinder puppy feeding guide above. And of course, follow the guidelines given by your vet, as each dog is unique. Generally, toy dogs reach their adult size by 11 months, small and medium dogs by 13 months, large dogs by 16 months, and giant dogs by 24 months.
When to Switch Puppy to 2 Meals a Day?
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What Factors Impact How Much To Feed A Dog
Several factors can impact not only how much food to feed your dog, but also what type of food he needs.
- Weight: Maintaining an ideal body condition is important for your dogs overall health. If your dog is not his ideal body condition, you may need to make adjustments in what and how much you are feeding him, says Dr. Callie Harris, DVM. Consider a weight management formula to help your dog achieve and maintain his ideal body condition. We also recommend working with your veterinarian to rule out any health concerns.
- Activity Levels: The feeding recommendations on dog food packages are based on average adult dogs with normal activity levels. If your dog gets a lot of daily exercise by going on daily runs or hikes with you, he may need more calories to meet his energy needs. Dogs who are less active and overweight may need a more managed daily caloric intake, according to Dr. Harris.
- Age: As your dog grows, his nutritional needs change. If your dog is still a puppy, he needs a puppy food for growth and development. Seniors may benefit from senior formulas that help keep older dogs active and their minds sharp. Work with your veterinarian to determine the type of food your dog needs based on his life stage and lifestyle.
Once you find a complete and balanced food that meets your dogs individual needs, you can determine how much food to feed him. The dog feeding chart on the back of his dog food package can help guide you.
How Do I Know If Im Feeding My Puppy Enough
Your pup loves their food and might be eager to take treats. Does that mean theyre hungry and that you should increase their food intake? Here are a few ways to ensure your pet is getting enough food.
- Talk to your vet and ask for a weight check.
- Check his figure. A puppys belly should be narrower than his chest and hips.
- Assess his mood and strength. Does the pup seem weaker or more tired than usual? This behavior could be a sign you need to call your vet, and the provider may tell you to increase the pups food.
- You should be able to feel your pets ribs with light pressure, but they should not be visible.
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How Much Should Puppies Eat
A fresh meal service like Ollie helps change your feeding approach as your dog changes ages from puppy to adult so you dont have to worry about portions during different life stages.
Since puppies are growing rapidly, they need more food than adult dogs. Puppy nutrition is crucial for developing a foundation for future growth, as well as their bone and organ development. Puppies must have a specific amount of calcium in their diet, otherwise, they can develop metabolic bone disease or orthopedic conditions like early-onset arthritis. Toy-breed puppies, in particular, are prone to hypoglycemia.
Puppies need small, frequent feedings. For the first few months of a puppys life, they will need small meals of food throughout the day as they transition from their mothers milk to solid food. Starting around four months, puppies can begin eating about three times a day, and after that, puppies will quickly graduate to twice-a-day feedings.
Feeding them three or four times per day makes it easier for puppies to digest and help keep energy levels consistent. However, its important to not overfeed them, since overweight puppies are more likely to become overweight adult dogs.
Even though puppies grow quickly, its important to keep caloric intake and food amount consistent from four to twelve months of age. Puppies use fewer calories for growth as they become older. This comprehensive puppy feeding chart has vet-recommended guidelines on how much and how often to feed your puppy.
Read Dr Kristy Conns Advice:
Congratulations on your newest four-legged addition to your family. I understand the excitement and trepidation that comes with bringing home a furry ball of joy. You want to do right by her and that includes making sure she is getting the correct amount of nutrition. This is a popular time of year for bringing home puppies so Id like to take the opportunity to review basic puppy feeding guidelines for the first year of life while covering your question which may also answer any future questions you or other readers may have.
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What Cant A Puppy Eat
Unfortunately, while some human foods can be consumed safely by puppies in small quantities, there is an exhaustive list of toxic and even life-threatening foods which should be avoided at all costs. Here are just some of the more common ones:
- Almonds
- Onion
- Heavily salted or sweetened food
It is best to only give your dog food which has been specifically manufactured for dogs to avoid any potentially harmful foods and be careful of leaving toxic food and drink where your puppy can reach it.
You can find more information on what dogs can and cant eat here.
How To Manage Your Puppys Treat Intake
Limiting your puppys treat intake is important for many reasons. First, treats dont have as much nutritional value as food, so you dont want your puppy to fill up on empty calories. Second, it sets a bad precedent and can increase your puppys begging habits. A healthy alternative to treat training is to use puppy food as training rewards. Remember, not all meals have to be eaten from a bowl.
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How Much Raw Food To Feed My Dog Per Day
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