Boxer Puppy Feeding Chart
Table of Contents
Feeding a boxer pup high-quality food sets him up for a vigorous and happy life. It is critical to provide them the optimal number of calories and ingredients in appropriate proportion to help them develop their young and weak skeleton. The best puppy feeding routine will aid you in safeguarding them from health conditions like flatulence and low blood sugar levels.
Are you questioning when and how much to feed a boxer puppy? At the age of 2 to 4 months, feed him 4 times a day. From 4 to 6 months, 3 meals a day would be adequate. After 6 months, you can serve them food twice or thrice a day. Never feed them once a day because they have deep chests, so they are prone to bloat.
In this guide, we will look at the best diet for boxers, when and how much you should be feeding your puppy, and much more.
What Is The Best Food For Boxer Canines?
Puppies
As growing pups, they will go through various swift growth spouts. At this stage, they are very active, so they need a large number of calories every day. They need food that features a great percentage of protein to ensure their muscles grow and develop in a healthy way. Growing pooches need a higher quantity of protein than adult mutts. A reasonable amount of fats must also be included in their daily diet.
These large breed doggies require puppy food that is well-balanced to aid them to grow at a healthy pace. An imbalanced diet will make them grow quickly, enhancing the danger of numerous developmental disorders. The best food for puppies should be loaded with good quality ingredients and free of preservatives, artificial colors, artificial flavors, and fillers.
Adults
In adulthood, their diet should contain a lower ratio of protein because now they are not growing anymore. Their food should contain lower calories because they have a slower metabolic rate. When he is fully grown, you can switch him to adult dog food. However, bear in mind, the growth time varies from dog to dog.
Generally, the majority of them are fully grown around the age of 16 to 18 months, but some can take as long as 24 months to become mature. Therefore, we would recommend working with the vet to confirm that you make the nutritional transition at the perfect time.
If you switch him to dog food too early, it could lead to growth issues, while the late modification may lead him to obesity. To make a shift from puppy formula to dog formula, you should gradually introduce the new food over the course of 1 to 2 weeks. Initially, mix in just a small ratio of the new food into old food.
If there are no issues, you can slowly increase the percentage of new food every day until he is fully switched onto his new food. A moderate amount of treats should also be incorporated into a boxer’s diet to help supplement their main food. Always choose high-quality treats because some treats are packed with unhealthy ingredients.
How Often To Feed A Boxer Puppy?
8 To 12 Weeks
At this age, they are very young and a bit underweight, so you should free feed them for at least the first 4 weeks at their new residence. They should have access to fresh food 24/7. If he is trying to gain his bearings, you may need to take him to his dish throughout the day. Once they finish eating, throw out the leftovers and wash the bowl and then refill it multiple times each day.
Growing Pups To 2 Years Old
It is vital to get him onto a feeding routine as soon as possible. You should establish schedules of everything (feeding, sleeping, physical activity, etc.) to make them well-mannered dogs. Growing pups often struggle to gain weight, and during adulthood, they can undergo a “skinny phase,” so we would recommend giving them three meals plus snacks every day.
2 Years And Above
At this stage, many boxers have accomplished their adult weight and height so that you can reduce the feeding frequency from three to two meals a day, plus snacks. If you are serving him regular snacks, then only one meal a day would be enough. Remember, they are susceptible to bloat, so avoid letting him so hungry that he hurriedly eats his food. In such a case, increase the meal frequency or use a stainless steel slow-feed bowl.
How Much Should I Be Feeding My Boxer?
The daily caloric needs of mature canines remain the same, but the growing puppies require a different ratio of food depending on their age, weight, and breed. If you are interested in calculating his daily caloric requirements, there are estimated formulas you can rely on based on your mutt’s current weight.
It is up to you whether you want to feed him dry, wet, raw, or homemade food, but it is better to ask the vet or animal nutritionist to help you with the calculation. If you give a shot to a commercial diet, you will find feeding recommendations based on dog weight on the packaging.
Keep in mind; these guidelines are universal; thus, you should consider your pup’s metabolism while determining how much to feed him. Also, closely observe his weight and growth.
Boxer Puppy Feeding Chart
Conclusion
Hopefully, after reading our guide on the “boxer puppy feeding chart,” you have answers to all your questions. A healthy nutrition and feeding routine is essential to ensure that your furry companion grows up strong and healthy and stays happy, active throughout his life. If you still have questions, feel free to contact us at our email address.
References:
https://www.americanboxerclub.org/
https://www.vmccny.com/gastric-dilatationvolvulus-bloat
https://dogcare.dailypuppy.com/fat-content-puppy-foods-4387.html
https://www.bil-jac.com/the-dog-blog/posts/the-dietary-needs-of-large-dog-breeds/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-3164.2008.00669.x