How Much Should I Feed My Puppy?

Our question this week was:

How much should I feed my puppy?

Every brand of food has different nutrients, caloric densities and feeding recommendations. There is no set formula for how much to feed a puppy. Always consider your pup’s age, weight, and activity level when deciding on the “amount” to feed.

Weigh your puppy each week and check the manufacturer’s recommendations on the bag for the amount to feed based on his new weight. More active pups may burn more calories and require more food. The opposite is true for less active pups.

When your puppy is between 3 to 6 months old feed three meals per day. As your puppy ages, his size increases, and he will need more food each day. This amount of food is divided into 3 feedings.

Once your dog is over 6 months of age, his adult feeding pattern can be established. Some dogs do well on one feeding a day but two feedings a day is usually recommended. Small breeds and toy dogs should continue to be fed three times a day, to help prevent low blood sugars.

Here is a link to an article that might be useful as it contains other common questions about feeding.

Our question this week came from Belmar, from New Jersey.

Dr. Debra

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