| Adult Dog Size (lbs) | Dry Food Feeding Amount (Cups) |
|---|---|
| 26 to 50 | 2 to 2-2/3 |
| 51 to 75 | 2-2/3 to 3-1/3 |
| 76 to 100 | 3-1/3 to 4-1/4 |
| 100+ | 4-1/4 plus 1/4 cup for each 10 lbs of body weight over 100 lbs |
The right amount of high-quality dog food is one of the best ways to keep dogs healthy. Overfeeding or underfeeding your dog may have negative health effects.
Here are some reasons why it matters and some actions you can take to decide how much to feed your dog.
Different Types Of Puppy Food
Pet owners can select from five main categories of dog food. These five categories are:
Kibble is also called dry food. Given that it is the most economical and cost-effective option, kibble is the food of choice for many dog owners. When properly stored, kibble frequently comes in large bags and remains fresh for a long time. Because it rubs against a dog’s teeth, kibble also serves as a dental cleaner.
Avoid semi-moist varieties, particularly those that resemble human foods. These frequently have very little nutritional value, so they shouldn’t be relied upon to provide a balanced diet. They can be used as a treat occasionally, but they won’t give your Pitbull, whether they’re puppies or adults, the nutritional balance they require over the long term. Learn more about our favorite Pitbull foods.
Wet dog food comes in a can or pouch. Additionally, this food is readily available and keeps well for a very long time. Although canned food is typically more expensive, not every canned food formula will provide a Pitbull puppy with the right nutritional balance. Additionally, canned food typically has a high water content of up to 75%. The more water, the less nutritional value to your puppy. This may mean she needs to eat more.
Consider the ingredients carefully when choosing wet dog food. Additionally, she will have looser stools than dogs who eat mostly kibble. Try to find products that state clearly that they completely satisfy a puppy’s nutritional needs. Often the label will mention this. When buying canned dog food, exercise extreme caution because it frequently contains more bad fats than digestible proteins.
Veterinarians create the fresh dog foods, which are made with premium, fresh ingredients. There are even services like The Farmer’s Dog where you can order freshly made dog food that is tailored to your dog’s breed, age, and weight. Although they are more expensive, these are excellent for your dog. Even if you are unable to afford it, you should occasionally think about giving your Pitbull puppy fresh, human-grade dog food as a special treat.
Some pet owners might believe that they can prepare food for their animals that is superior to the available commercial dog food options. You probably shouldn’t feed your puppy home-cooked meals unless you’re doing so in close coordination with your veterinarian and in accordance with their detailed instructions. There is no way to test it for nutritional value. Additionally, many spices and ingredients used by humans can be detrimental to dogs and difficult on their digestive systems. While sneaking a treat here and there won’t be a big deal, avoid making it a daily ritual to prepare meals for your dog.
Bones and raw food, also known as biologically appropriate raw food, When selecting this diet for their dogs, pet owners must exercise extreme caution. For a puppy’s stomach, raw diets are frequently far too rich. Additionally, they may not always be nutritionally balanced for your puppy’s needs.
Consult your veterinarian and a pet nutritionist first if you’re considering the BARF diet for your Pitbull. Organs, vegetables, fruit, seeds, nuts, and grains must all be consumed raw in raw diets, along with raw edible bones and meat. Never feed your Pitbull a raw diet without first having a clear conversation with your vet.
How Much Should A Pitbull Puppy Eat?
To aid in their growth, pitbull puppies require food with a higher calorie and fat content. An ideal diet would include 22% to 32% protein. Protein is pivotal in muscle and bone growth. Pitbull puppies should ideally spend the first six weeks of their lives exclusively on their mother’s milk. If the mother is unable to nurse the puppies for this length of time, pitbull puppy formulas can be used in their place. Males tend to be larger and will need more sustenance.
Newborn Pitbull puppies are blind and deaf at birth. Within the next few weeks, they will develop eyes and ears. Puppies will primarily be sleeping or eating at this time. Puppies appear to be doing very little, but they are actually growing quite quickly right now. They will remain very tethered to their mothers and depend on the milk from them for nutrition.
The mother’s milk has everything puppies need. It is high in colostrum, which gives pups antibodies. Colostrum is the first milk produced by a momma dog directly after birth. It is custom-created to fulfill the unique needs of puppies and is full of antibodies, hemoglobin, and other growth factors. Colostrum cannot be recreated artificially. If possible, mother dogs should breastfeed puppies right after birth to get this nutrient-rich health supplement that is important to their development.
Encourage mother dogs to nurse their pups for as long as possible. But regrettably, some mother dogs will reject their puppies or are unable to provide them with enough milk. If this happens, contact your vet as soon as possible. To make sure your puppy gets everything she needs, they can assist you in selecting the proper supplements and substitutes.
Puppies start to look and feel a little bit stronger by the time they are two weeks old. Their eyes and ears will open. Which puppies are the strongest and most active will be evident. Ensure that every puppy has a chance to breastfeed from their mother. Smaller puppies who might not be getting enough milk may need to be supplemented with formula. In the first few weeks, making sure that puppies are receiving enough nutrition is a lot of work for puppy owners. This crucial period in their development lays the groundwork for a healthy life.
Pitbull puppies will have their feet under them at three weeks old. Around their mothers, they will begin to take exploratory steps. They will probably be unsteady and a little unsteady. They should continue to survive solely on the mother dog’s milk. Do not attempt to wean a puppy just yet. Try to stick to one type of formula if you need to start a puppy on it. Ask your veterinarian for the best milk substitute. Try not to introduce any solid food to a three-week-old puppy. As a Pitbull puppy learns to use their legs, they will start to burn off extra energy, which will increase their appetite.
Your Pitbull puppy will be reasonably stable on her feet at four weeks old. She should still be nursing if possible. There are a few ways to start weaning if it is necessary at this time. As we previously mentioned, substituting formula for breast milk will give a puppy the same nutritional support that she would receive from her mother. You can introduce a small amount of puppy food diluted with water at this time. Approximately three times as much water should be used in the mixture as dog chow.
Puppies might or might not be interested in puppy chow right now, and it’s okay if they aren’t. The best option is still her mother’s milk, which she may already be aware of. She will let you know when she’s ready to switch to dog food. Continue attempting to introduce it, but don’t press the matter. By now, they probably have a set of puppy teeth that have at least partially grown in.
Pitbull puppies will have a little more curiosity by the age of five weeks. They will be more curious about their surroundings and adept at using their legs and feet. By now, they should also be developing teeth, which may explain why they are showing an interest in solid dog food. A mixture that is primarily water should be fed to puppies at this age, to reiterate. The majority of their nutrition and food should still come from their mother’s milk.
Old Pitbull puppies should be interested in a mixture of water and dog food at six weeks (roughly one and a half months). If your puppy is eating well, you can reduce the amount of water in the mixture. She will continue to nurse and rely primarily on her mother for nutrition. But if that’s not possible, keep taking puppy formula as a supplement. If your puppy is unable to breastfeed, stay in close contact with your veterinarian to ensure that she is receiving the necessary nutrients and vitamins for her development.
Pitbull puppies should begin weaning from their mother by the time they are seven weeks old (or about one and a half months). They will likely be eating puppy chow. At this point, you can eliminate the majority of the additional water and focus on encouraging your puppy to consume more dog food in place of their mother’s milk. Mother dogs will probably get tired of nursing by now, and their bodies will need refueling.
By the age of eight weeks, pitbull puppies should be entirely dependent on puppy food. They should get offered meals about four times a day. It is best to establish a regular feeding schedule for your puppy. Even if your puppy cries a bit in between meals, it’s better to let her get a little hungry rather than giving in to the cries. Puppies shouldn’t be receiving formula at this point, and they shouldn’t be pestering their mother for milk either. They are also old enough to go to new homes. It is really best if they remain close to their mother until they are eight weeks old.
Nine-week-old pups will be 100% on solid puppy chow. Both dry and wet kibble come in a wide variety. They currently require three or four servings of approximately two cups of chow per day. Puppies will be extremely active at this stage, and your appetite may change. She might be a little less hungry on some days and want to eat everything in sight on others. To determine the cause of your dog’s refusal to eat, contact your veterinarian.
Puppies that leave their breeder’s care or enter your home at this age may be switched from the diet they were on to the diet their new owners prefer. Remember that this switch might give them a little stomach discomfort. Introduce a combination of old and new puppy chow to wean them off the old food if at all possible. You can gradually phase out the old food. Don’t rush this process because it could upset a puppy’s stomach.
A ten-week-old Pitbull puppy is nothing more than a handful. She will be enthusiastic and as inquisitive as possible. She might try to eat everything in sight in an effort to learn more about the vast, unfamiliar world she lives in. This includes food for people, dog food, and potentially hazardous household supplies. Keep a close eye on her and make every effort to maintain a spotless home. The appetite of your dog is now greater than you have ever seen it. She is exerting a lot of energy while playing, exploring, and picking up new skills, which is why. By ten weeks, your puppy should have visited the doctor to discuss puppy vaccinations and any dietary or other health concerns.
Puppies may begin to act out and exhibit a hint of stubbornness at this age. This can sometimes affect mealtimes. It is advised to leave the food out for 10 minutes if she refuses to eat during mealtimes before putting it away. Nothing teaches your puppy that mealtimes are when we eat like a growling stomach It’s crucial to establish these regular mealtimes and restrict your dog from choosing her own meals. She might be cute, but she doesn’t know what’s best for her long-term health and wellbeing.
Your Pitbull puppy should still be on a regular feeding schedule at eleven weeks (roughly two and a half months). Four times a day is ideal. If four meals a day are not possible, three is acceptable. Limit mealtimes to about 10 to 20 minutes. Ensure that you dispose of any leftovers that she doesn’t eat. Chow being left out all day suggests that she is free to eat whenever she pleases. Keep her on a regular feeding schedule to keep track of how much she consumes, teach her to eat the food you provide, and observe how she responds to it.
Your Pitbull puppy will be a ball of energy at twelve weeks (roughly three months) old. Periodic snacks and treats throughout the day are okay. Try not to overdo this. Stick to regular mealtimes. Three meals a day is perfect at this point. Even if your Bully puppy appears ready or interested in adult dog kibble, keep her on puppy food. A puppy’s health is ensured by the ideal ratio of nutrients in puppy-formulated dog food. Throughout her first year of life, she should continue eating puppy food. Given the amount of energy she is using, puppy kibble has a higher calorie count, so she will require that specially designed puppy diet.
The following is a general rule for pitbull puppies’ feeding schedules:
Keep in mind that as your puppy ages, she will require fewer calories. Younger puppies will require more food at various times throughout the day because they need it more. To maintain a healthy level of blood sugar, very young puppies will require feedings every few hours.
Pitbull puppies mature to adult size at around 13 or 14 months of age. So, once they turn a year old, you can anticipate that growth will slow down after beginning to accelerate in the first few months.
Newborn Pitbull puppies weigh about 7 to 10 ounces. They will weigh around 7 pounds by the time they are two months old. Pitbulls can weigh between 18 and 21 pounds at the age of four months. Around six months, they will reach 30 pounds. Pitbulls typically weigh 35 pounds by the time they are 6 to 8 months old, and 38 pounds by the time they are a year or 14 months old.
Some Pitbulls will weigh much more than that. Many reach 60 or even 100 pounds. Their particular bloodlines, purebred status, and parents’ genetic make-up all play a role. The information we are presenting is a general guideline.
The most crucial thing to keep in mind is that your Pitbull is healthy and receives proper nutrition from birth to adulthood, regardless of the size she attains.
Pitbull Puppy Feeding Chart At A Glance
| Age | Type of Food | Cups a Day | Meals a Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 – 30 days | Mothers Milk | n/a | Unlimited |
| 4 – 6 weeks | Mothers Milk & Softened Kibble | n/a | Unlimited |
| 7 – 12 weeks | Puppy Food | 2 – 3 | 4 |
| 13 weeks – 6 months | Puppy Food | 3 – 4 | 3 – 4 |
| 7 – 15 months | Puppy Food | 4 – 5 | 2 – 3 |
| Adult | Adult Dog Food | 4 – 5 | 2 – 3 |
| Senior | Adult or Senior Dog Food | 2 | 2 |
FAQ
How much should a 50 lb dog eat in a day?
Medium Breeds Look to Feed 1 34 Cups Per Day If They Weigh 30 Pounds If they’re 40, move that up to 2 ¼ cups. Last but not least, if your dog weighs 50 pounds, you should give them 2 23 cups per day.
How much should my pitbull eat a day?
Bullies should eat three meals per day starting around the age of four to six months. Pitbull puppies should eat two to three times per day if they are older than six months. Pitbull adults should consume one pound, or two cups, of food each day. Some larger Bullies may need more.
How many times do you feed a pitbull?
For those who only receive two meals a day, the best times are morning and evening. Treats should also only be given infrequently because too many can lead to your Pitbull gaining weight.