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Feeding a Puppy...Puppy Feeding ScheduleFeeding a puppy with natural healthy puppy food and following a puppy feeding schedule will ensure that your puppy grows up to be strong and
healthy.
Feeding a Puppy - Puppy Feeding Schedule
When you get a new puppy, you should set a puppy feeding schedule that fits into your daily routine so that you can incorporate potty training into the schedule as well.
By feeding a puppy on a set schedule, the puppy will go to the bathroom more regularly, making potty training easier and faster.
As a general rule of thumb, very young puppies should be fed more often that older puppies.
Here is a rough guideline of a puppy feeding schedule. For puppies who are:
Feeding a Puppy - How Much Should be Fed?
Each puppy is an individual with a different metabolic rate, so the amount to be fed to each puppy can vary.
As a general guideline, start off by feeding your puppy a little less than as suggested on the puppy food package. Watch your puppy eat. She should have as much as
she wants in about 10-15 minutes each feeding. If she finishes all the food in just a few minutes and still looks hungry, give her more within that time frame. If she
leaves any, throw it away and give her a little less next meal.
But how do I know if my puppy is eating too much or not enough? You may ask. The answer is simple - watch your puppy's waistline and tummy size.
A healthy, well-fed puppy should be slightly lean, with some cover over the ribs. It is all right to have a bit of puppy fat, but a big round tummy is definitely a no-no -
it means that she is overweight. An overweight puppy is not healthy and can develop a lot of health problems down the road.
One simple way to check if your puppy is too fat is to try to feel her ribs. If you can feel her ribs, then she is fine. If you can't feel the ribs, then she is too fat.
Usually a fat puppy has a protruding tummy and little or no waistline at all.
Some dog parents think that as a puppy is growing, she needs a lot of food to help her get bigger fast. Actually, we should aim for a moderate growth rate, or even a
slightly slower-than-average rate. The size of an adult dog is genetically determined, and a puppy will reach that size almost regardless of how fast she grows.
By slowing down her growth rate, not only does she eat less food, but also - more importantly - she will have better skeletal health.
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Feeding a Puppy - Puppy FoodUnless you have a lot of experience raising puppies, it is advisable to feed your puppy a commercial puppy formula instead of preparing her food at home. Puppies are growing 20 times faster than adult dogs, so they need a special, well-balanced diet to aid their physical development. When choosing a commercial brand of puppy food, we should of course choose one that is natural and of high quality. The quality of food that she eats determines how well her immune system will develop and therefore how healthy she will be. You do not have to get the most expensive brand of puppy food, but choose the best you can afford. There are basically three forms of commercially produced puppy diet: dry kibble, semi-moist (sealed packages), and moist (canned). Most trainers and veterinarians recommend dry kibble food. Canned foods are typically higher in fat and are usually 80 to 83 percent water, so you are getting less food for your money. The semi-moist foods are about 55% water and use high salt or sugar levels for preservation - both of which your puppy does not need. Another reason for feeding a puppy dry kibbles is that the abrasive action of eating them is good for the teeth and gums. For very young puppies who have difficulty eating dry kibbles, you can soak the kibbles in water for 10 to 15 minutes until soggy. Also, deep-chested large breeds, such as Saint Bernard, or Great Danes, are prone to bloat and pre-moistened kibbles may lower this risk. Here are some high-quality puppy dry kibble formulas that we recommend: Innova Puppy FoodFeeding a Puppy - Do Breeds and Size Matter?
Breeds and size do matter when it comes to feeding a puppy.
If you have a tiny-breed puppy (such as Chihuahua, Maltese, etc.), make sure that they are fed frequently. Four or more feedings a day may be necessary when they are very
young. As you can imagine, the stomach of a tiny-breed puppy is extremely small, so tiny breeds can become
hypoglycemic very quickly if they are not fed frequently. Hypoglycemia can lead to
coma and death if not treated immediately.
As for large-breed puppies, in the past, many people thought that growing puppies of larger breeds needed to have more calcium, phosphorus, protein and calories, but now
it has been found that the opposite is true. Large-breed puppies actually need less calcium so their bones can develop normally. By reducing the calcium and controlling
the calories in diets for large-breed puppies, and therefore preventing them from growing too fast, we could actually help them grow with fewer skeletal problems.
Some high-quality puppy food for large breeds such as
Innova Large Breed Dry Puppy Food
Feeding a Puppy - Is the Food Suitable for Your Puppy?One way to tell if a diet is suitable for your puppy or not is to look at her poops. The most suitable diet should be easily digested and produce dark brown, firm, formed stools. If your puppy produces soft or light stools or is always having gas or diarrhea, then the diet may not be a suitable one for her. You may want to consult with your vet and try to change her diet. If you do have to change her food, remember to do so gradually over at least a week to 10 days to avoid upset tummy, and you should try a new diet for at least 10 days before making any further changes. In more serious cases, a puppy may develop allergic reactions towards certain food ingredients. You may notice symptoms such as itchy skin, diarrhea, ear infections, and so on that are typical symptoms of allergies. If that happens to your puppy, you need to work with your vet to figure out which food ingredient(s) your puppy is allergic to so that a suitable hypoallergenic diet can be formulated. TopFeeding a Puppy - How about Treats?
Treats are good for training to reward good behavior, but do not give excessive amount to your puppy.
Treats should never account for more than 10% of your puppy's caloric intake. In other words, your puppy's food should be her only main source for the nutrition she
needs, so be careful not to give her too many treats before meal time.
Hard chew treats keep your puppy entertained and improve dental health by exercising the gums and scraping the teeth. It also satisfies your teething puppy's need to chew.
Avoid giving your puppy any treats that contain sugar. These treats are bad for her teeth as well as her waistline. Also, too much sugar can cause unwanted behavior such
as hyperactivity.
Visit our page on All Natural Dog Treats for recommendations of different types of
good quality treats for your puppy.
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Feeding a Puppy - Some Tips
References Pitcairn and Pitcairn, Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (Rodale, 2005). PetEducation.com The Kennel Club (http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/index.html) TOP of Feeding a Puppy |
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