Do You Know How Much To Feed a Puppy?
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Puppies are probably the most adorable beings on the planet. They are small, soft, cuddly and just as sweet as can be, but they also present a new list of challenges for new dog owners. Whether you have had a dog in the past or not, you might not be familiar with the requirements for feeding a puppy. Perhaps you thought that puppies eat this time of day, this type of food or that. Whatever you think you know about feeding a puppy, get rid of it. We have the guidelines from expert veterinarians that discuss the proper way to feed your new puppy so that you all get the best out of your new living situation.
It’s imperative to understand how and when to feed your new puppy, because his eating habits have a direct relationship with his health. A puppy that eats too much is more likely to become obese. An obese puppy is more likely to suffer from serious health complications such as damaged joints and bones, diabetes and other health related issues that aren’t good for him. Your puppy’s quality of life depends largely on how well you are able to feed your dog, how well you are able to exercise your new puppy and how well you listen to what your vet has to say to you about feeding new puppy the correct way.
Newborn to 8 Weeks
Unless you are a dog owner with a dog that just had puppies, you should not have a puppy this young. If a breeder was open to giving you a puppy this young, you are working with a backyard breed who has no idea what he or she is doing breeding dogs and there is a good chance you will have much bigger issues with which to contend at a later date. On that note, your puppy needs to be with his mother at this point, and he needs to be able to nurse at will. He knows when he is hungry and he will nurse from her when he feels that way. While some puppies lose their mothers very early on and are unable to nurse from their mother, it’s very important to keep them together during this time at all costs. However, a puppy without a mother will be given special formula that is designed for him to drink from a bottle to keep him healthy during this time.
Unless you are fostering a puppy without a mother, you need not worry about this type of feeding. If you are fostering a puppy, you already know all you need to know about caring for a small puppy that is bottle-feeding for any length of time.
Weaning
The next issue is weaning. Let’s say that your dog had puppies and you are caring for them alongside your dog. You will, over the course of probably three to four weeks, work on weaning your puppy away from the mother’s milk and to real food. This should happen around four to six weeks, but it might take a bit longer for your puppy to be ready for this change in his life. What you will do is begin to choose the food that your vet recommends for your particular dog breed and his or her overall health. You will then go ahead and take it upon yourself to add milk and food together, blend it and leave it out for the dog. Over time, you will add more food and less milk until the day you are not adding anymore milk at all.
How Often to Feed the Dog
The big question now is how often you will feed your new puppy. Babies should be fed four times per day. You will start by feeding your dog ¾ cup of food and ¼ milk and do that four times a day. When you get to a half cup, you will stop feeding the puppy four times a day and break it down to three times per day. It’s very easy for a puppy to digest a small meal throughout the day, and that is why so many of us should eat smaller meals, too. These puppies are often very quick to eat and might act as if they are still hungry, but they should not be fed more often.
According to veterinarians, puppies can be fed only twice per day when they reach the age of six months. Unless, of course, you have a large breed dog and that means it should still be fed around 3 to 4 times a day to keep up with its size and its growing needs. The same feeding schedule is crucial for a puppy’s body, too. That means if you feed your puppy twice a day at 8 am and 5 pm, make sure you choose those times every day. Keep feeding as close to schedule as possible so that you can ensure your puppy is never left hungry, is always full and begins to rely on your schedule.
As your dog matures, it’s going to become time to feed your dog dog food rather than puppy food. However, vets cannot give you a timeframe on that without knowing your dog. The time in which your dog matures varies greatly by personality and breed, so you will want to talk to your vet about the timeframe your puppy should be moved from eating puppy food to eating dog food so that everyone is happy.
Additionally, you will also want to keep your vet apprised of the situation when you have animals that are being fed. He or she will be able to tell you when you should feed your dog, what you should feed your puppy and how you should do it in the best possible manner. Knowing this information and having a great vet with whom you have a good relationship will help you raise the healthiest and happiest puppy possible. Keep that in mind as you welcome your new puppy into your life.
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