Puppy Food--How Much to Feed?

I get asked a lot "How much puppy food should I feed?"

Well--it all depends on your puppy and what kind of food you are feeding. If you have a toy breed puppy, like a toy poodle, chihuahua, or shih tzu--and he is new to your household--you should really be feeding him as much he'll eat. These little guys can be prone to hypogycemia (low blood sugar). This condition can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. So it's important to keep these little ones eating. Especially during their first few days home which can be stressful. Please contact your veterinarian if you are concerned about your little one's appetite.

For older and larger puppies it's a good idea to follow the guidelines listed on the bag. Each food is a little different. If they give a range based on your puppy's weight it's usually best to feed at the low end of the range. Make sure you are measuring the food accurately. Don't just "scoop" it out. This will become especially important as your puppy gets older as you will want to keep track of how much food he eats daily. Usually the first question your veterinarian will ask you if your pet becomes ill is, "Is he eating? How much?" If you are just constantly keeping his bowl full of food it will be harder to monitor his eating habits.

For young puppies it's a good idea to offer small meals throughout the day. You can divide the food into three meals daily. As your puppy reaches adulthood--usually after he is neutered (or she is spayed) you can go to twice daily feedings. It is also a good idea to transition your puppy to an adult dog food after the spay or neuter surgery. This is done to avoid excessive weight gain. Having your pet spayed or neutered does not cause weight gain. Neutered and spayed pets simply require less calories. Usually this surgery is done when your puppy is between four and six months old.

Do you have any more questions about feeding your puppy? Please post using the comment link below.