Do you usually feel guilty about consuming three delicious meals every day plus other snacks while your puppy just gets a scoop or two of dry kibble? If you own a puppy, then it does not always have to be this way.
Puppies need small but frequent meals. For the first six months of a dog’s life, they will need little amounts of food each day as they go from their mother’s breast milk to solid meals. In the first four months, puppies can start eating three times daily, and after this period, they will graduate to eating twice a day.
Feeding them three or four times per day makes it easier for puppies to digest what they eat, and it also helps in keeping their energy levels consistent. However, do not overfeed them, since overweight puppies are more likely to become overweight adult dogs.
Toy-breed puppies should be fed four to six times each day for the first 12 weeks of their lives. Medium-breed puppies should be fed three times a day, while large-breed puppies should be fed three to four times a day.
Though it is very important to know the type of breed you have, energy levels and metabolism can differ by up to thirty percent. Thus, you must proportion every meal accordingly.
There are many different healthy means of feeding your puppy, depending on what she wants. Here are some ways to do that:
1. Allow your puppy to decide
For puppies with healthy weights and fewer accident-cases around the house, you can always let them decide on when they want to eat.
This will require you leaving tiny pieces of meals around the house all day and allowing your puppies to find them whenever they are hungry. This can be a great method for highly-intensive puppies as it helps them to burn more fat than their over-weighted friends.
However, if you choose to leave food exposed all day for your puppy to eat whenever she wants, use only dry food, which will not spoil.
For those who have nursing dogs, they will probably need to be fed by this method.Nursing dogs require a lot of calories to produce a reasonable amount of milk for their puppies.
Nevertheless, bear in mind that leaving your puppy’s meal out in the open could attract insects, raccoons, or rodents. This happens more when outside, so always be watchful.
And if you have more than one puppy, they may run over the food. Also, this technique should not be used for puppies that are diabetic.
2. Use the portion control method
For the puppy who just won’t stop eating, utilize the portion control technique. First, ask your veterinarian what your puppy’s ideal weight is. If you are feeding your puppy a portion of commercial dog food, ensure that you feed her the required amount printed on the pack of the product.
Sometimes, notwithstanding, the required amount may exceed your puppy’s needs. Visit your vet to know the right food to feed your puppy with.
You can feed your pet puppy once or twice a day (when they have stopped breastfeeding). It is best to feed her twice daily at eight to twelve-hour intervals.
If this is what you plan on doing, divide the required amount written on the pack into two or you will end up feeding your puppy double of what it needs.
3. Use the time feeding technique
If you do not want to keep your pets food out for too long, then you should use the time-feeding technique. This works by giving your puppy a given period of time, like thirty minutes, to eat.
When the time elapses, throw away what she has not eaten. When you offer her food again eight to twelve hours later, your puppy will definitely be hungry and willing to eat.
4. Know the right amount of treat to give to your puppy
Dog treats complete five percent to ten percent or less of your puppy’s daily meal. Ask your veterinarian about the daily amount of treats to provide your puppy with. This will differ according to his activity level and weight.
If you love spoiling your puppy with treats, ensure you give her little pieces. Also, you can keep some of your puppy’s daily kibbles and use them as treats when training her.
5. Does she look fine but always hungry?
Using the guidelines provided on a commercial dog food pack should be a great starting point in knowing how much to feed your puppy. If she looks fine but still hungry, then consider feeding her more often.
However, bear in mind that some puppies may look hungry but are already overweight. If this is the case of your puppy, then consider switching to a diet that is more filling to her.
The daily amount of food your puppy need may change when she becomes more active, or when the weather is very cold or hot, or when your puppy has an infection or is recovering from an illness.
Before giving her more food to eat, ensure that she is not just looking for love and attention. And if this is the case, give her that instead.
How many times should a dog be fed in a day?
Generally, dog owners should feed their dogs two times a day. Energy level; size, breed, and age are all important factors to bear in mind when feeding your puppy. Fresh dog food is gradually replacing the famous dry kibble and wet canned food.
Among the hundred questions often asked by experienced and new dog owners, the most important question is on "how often should I feed my puppy?" Nutrition and diet are very important components in keeping your puppy healthy and active for a long time.
Though there is no one rule on how often a grown puppy should be fed, twice a day is the most ideal option.
Nevertheless, more important than the number of times a puppy should be fed is the meal size. Portion size may differ according to your dog’s health condition, breed, and age, and settling on the correct amount can be sometimes tricky.
To make things easier, consider using a dog food delivery service to provide your canine companion with nutritious, delicious, and appropriately-portioned dog food that even people can eat.
Most dog owners have reported that these dog food delivery services offer healthy dog food that is good for their dogs. They have also reported that the food is usually delivered to their doorstep and has boosted their dogs’ health goals.
What affects the number of time a puppy feeds?
Vets recommend feeding a puppy at least two times a day. Puppies with dietary needs or medical issues may need restrictions or special feeding schedules. Talk to your vet about your puppy’s eating habits to ensure thatyou are meeting their healthcare requirements and nutritional needs.
Conclusion
Since puppies grow very fast, they need to eat more than other adult dogs. Puppy nutrition is important for creating a foundation for future growth, as well as organ and bone development. Puppies must have a certain proportion of calcium in all their diets; otherwise, they could develop metabolic issues or orthopedic diseases such as early-onset arthritis. However, with the information shown in this piece, we believe you now know how much and how often to feed your puppy!