While feeding your dogs properly is always important, it’s particularly crucial to understand how much to feed a puppy so they can have the best start in life with the right nutrition.
Knowing how much to feed a puppy is essential because their developing bones, muscles, brain cells, and tissues require specific nutrients. Too few or too many calories, excessive supplementation, or nutrient deficiencies can all be detrimental to your dog in the long run. And no, feeding a typical dog food is not the answer because most won’t meet these needs.
If you’ve been entrusted with taking care of a puppy (or puppies—lucky you! ), read our guide below to find out how much to feed a puppy. It will assist you in determining the nutritional requirements your puppy will have at each stage of development so you can ensure their success.
Is it worth it to buy expensive puppy food?
Premium dog food has higher nutritional density, so you can feed your dog less to achieve the same results. Also, premium foods have stable ingredient profiles; the composition of bargain brands can vary from batch to batch.
The major dog food manufacturers make significant investments in product development and research, constantly modifying their recipes to stay competitive. Thus, consuming premium food puts you at the forefront of canine nutrition.
How Much Food Should I Feed My Puppy?
These amounts are for every 24 hours.
Ideal Weight of Dog (At Maturity) | Weaning-12 Weeks | 4-5 Months | 6-8 Months | 9-11 Months | 1-2 Years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3-12 lbs | 0.5-1 cup | 0.75-1 1/3 cups | 0.5-1.5 cups | Adult portion | Adult portion |
13-20 lbs | 0.5-1.25 cups | 1-2 cups | 9.75-1.25 cups | 1-1.5 cups | Adult Portion |
21-50 lbs | 0.5-1.5 cups | 1.5-2.75 cups | 1.25-2.25 cups | 2-3 cups | 2-4.25 cups |
51-75 lbs | 0.75-2.5 cups | 1.5-4 cups | 1.5-3.75 cups | 2.5-4.75 cups | 4.25-6.25 cups |
76-100 lbs | 1-2.5 cups | 2.75-3.75 cups | 2.75-6.25 cups | 4.75-7 cups | 6.25-11 cups |
101+ lbs | 2.5 cups + 1/3 cup for every 10lbs over 100 | 3.75cups + 1/3 cup for every 10lbs over 100 | 6.25 cups + 1/3 cup for every 10lbs over 100 | 7 cups + 1/3 cup for every 10lbs over 100 | 11 cups + 1/3 cup for every 10lbs over 100 |
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Mother’s milk is the best puppy food for your puppy during the first month of life because it has the ideal ratio of nutrients for a growing puppy.
A formula made specifically for puppies is the best choice if you are rearing puppies alone without the mother or if you need to supplement puppies for another reason. (Don’t substitute a kitten or human formula. ).
Puppies should be weighed daily. Even though a puppy might not put on weight the first day (a healthy starting weight varies by breed and can be determined by your veterinarian), there should be gradual weight gains after that. Contact your veterinarian if a puppy loses weight or fails to gain weight.
Puppies should always be breastfed and raised by their mothers. However, there are instances (such as when a puppy is left an orphan) where bottle feeding puppies becomes necessary. However, bottle feeding in the incorrect manner, quantity, style, or time frame can result in disease or even death. Here is how to bottle feed puppies:
As long as puppies gain weight daily and don’t exhibit signs of hunger (such as crying) until just before the next feeding is scheduled, it is typically unnecessary to monitor their exact calorie intake. Commercially available milk substitutes offer guidelines for what a typical puppy might consume each day, such as 2 teaspoons per 4 ounces of body weight. Keep an eye on these because puppies who consume too much at one feeding may experience diarrhea. Consult your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns.
When it comes to a 5-week-old puppy feeding schedule, this is typically the time when owners begin to wean their puppies.
After puppies have finished weaning, keep an eye on their diet and weight. If you’re wondering what to feed puppies, stick to puppy dog food (instead of adult formulas) because it’s made especially for ideal growth, has a balanced diet, and contains supplements for brain development.
FAQ
How much should a 10 month old puppy eat a day?
What Amount of Food Should I Feed My Puppy?Weaning-12 Weeks9-11 Months13-20 lbs0 Ideal Weight of Dog (At Maturity) 5-1. 25 cups1-1. 5 cups21-50 lbs0. 5-1. 5 cups2-3 cups51-75 lbs0. 75-2. 5 cups2. 5-4. 75 cups76-100 lbs1-2. 5 cups4. 75-7 cups.
How long can a 10 month old puppy go without eating?
Puppies, unlike older dogs, don’t have fat reserves. Therefore, they can’t go longer than 12 hours without food.
Can I feed my 10 month old puppy once a day?
Veterinarians recommend feeding a dog at least twice per day. Specialized feeding regimens or dietary restrictions may be necessary for dogs with medical conditions or dietary requirements.
Should a 10 month old dog eat puppy food?
But those requirements change once your dog is six to twelve months old. When your puppy reaches adult height and is ready to switch to adult food, that is typically when. Spaying or neutering typically takes place at this time as well, which reduces your dog’s need for extra energy and is another justification for switching from puppy to adult dog food.