How much dry food to feed a puppy

A sturdy, high-quality dog house can offer shelter from all the elements. See which ones we recommend for all kinds of situations. There are many elements to keeping your dog healthy.

These include giving your dog enough exercise, playtime, and, of course, food. But do you know how much to feed a puppy? We hope our puppy feeding guide will help you provide the proper diet for your pup. How much food to feed a puppy depends on his age and weight.

Most dog and puppy food packages have a feeding chart on the label, similar to our chart below. A typical feeding schedule for puppies is 7am, noon, and 5pm. If you decide to do more than three feedings, you can adjust your schedule for puppy eating times as needed. This is because puppies still have small stomachs which means they cannot eat a lot before they get full. Such overeating can lead to digestive upsets, diarrhoea, distended stomachs and instil bad eating habits that continue into adulthood.

We would advise feeding 3 to 4 small meals per day. Feeding your puppy first thing in the morning will give them energy to start the day ahead.

You should avoid feeding your puppy their last meal too close to bedtime, so they have time to digest their food and go to the toilet before going to sleep. Giving your puppy their final meal of the day before 6pm will prevent toileting accidents during the night. Furthermore, we recommend purchasing a puppy-sized meal bowl for your new pet.

If your puppy seems to be eating their food too quickly, you can give them a puzzle feeder to slow them down. Once your puppy is six months old, depending on their size and breed they may now be approaching adulthood, which means it is time to start the gradual transition to fewer, but larger meals. A good practice is to think ahead. When would those two meals a day make sense to your future timetable, while allowing your dog a healthy breakfast and afternoon meal?

Use those times to familiarise your puppy with when to expect food. You can find more information on when to feed your puppy here. So long as the food is nutritious and suitable for puppies, it should be sufficient to help your puppy grow properly.

There are a whole host of different types of dog food available to choose from: wet; dry; grain-free; food with fish, rice and vegetables; and food for small, medium and large breeds. James Wellbeloved offer a whole host of different puppy foods which will encourage your puppy to build a healthy appetite and to grow up fit and strong.

Weaning normally takes place at six to eight weeks, after which it is safe to transition to solid food. If your puppy has only just finished weaning, feed them wet food or soften dry food with some water, so it is easier for them to eat. Wet food can often be more palatable and easy to eat while your puppy still has soft teeth. However, dry kibble is generally better for helping develop teeth and gums.

If your puppy is still struggling to eat dry food, you can try mixing it with a little warm water to make it softer, until their teeth get stronger. Lastly, wheat and grain are fine for puppies to eat and grain-free food is just as nutritious an option as other types of dog food. This is because modern dogs have evolved to be able to digest grains more easily compared to their ancestors.

That being said, like a small percentage of humans, some dogs are intolerant to grain in their diet, so grain-free food is a healthy and delicious alternative. Whatever you decide to feed your puppy, unless all the food is consumed in one sitting, remember to pick it up and keep it fresh. While dry food can be left out for up to a day, wet or moistened food can go mouldy and should be removed after no longer than half an hour.

You will need to ensure your puppy constantly has fresh water anyway, so we recommend always feeding your puppy fresh food too. Most pet food should be formulated to be a complete diet, meeting all the nutritional and calorific needs of your pet.

More solid foods make picking up after your pup a lot easier. Transition your puppy slowly by mixing the new food into his puppy portions. Continue to serve mixed portions for about 2 — 3 days. The whole process should take about a week.

Which dog food diet is healthier: Wet vs Dry vs Raw Selecting a puppy food can be daunting. Keep fresh water out along with any food, and clean both food and water bowls regularly. Always consult a veterinarian with any questions you may have. Learn more about feeding a dog Get dog nutrition tips from experts. Share this Article Print. Finding pets for you…. However, many dog owners stick with dry food not just for its low cost but also its positive effects on oral health.

A combination of dry and wet foods can be a great way to give your puppy a complete, balanced diet. Talk with your veterinarian and use the chart below to help you map out how much you should feed your puppy.

Also, be sure to add water to dry and wet food. Did you just adopt a puppy? That's so cool! At 5 to 6 months, you can slowly transition to 2 to 3 meals per day by gradually reducing the mid-day meal and slightly increasing breakfast and dinner.

Overfeeding your puppy can set them up for health problems such as joint issues and obesity. Puppies should be trim and fit, not chubby and round. Freshwater should be available all the time.