How Much Canned Food To Feed A Puppy?
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Before bringing your cute little pup home, you need to plan several things. At the top of the list is how much food to serve a puppy. His food size and servings depend on his age, weight, breed, and many other factors.
Regardless of whether he needs to gain or lose weight, feeding him the right balance of nutrients is critical for his overall health and growth. If you are a first-time dog parent, you might be confused about how much canned food to feed a puppy; either you should provide him wet food alone or combine it with dry kibble.
If you want to give him wet food alone, then feed him ¾ cup per 3 and 3 ½ pounds of body weight every day, split into two to three meals. You can adjust the proportion as required to help maintain the good health of your puppy. However, if you want to mix wet food with dry food, then combine ¾ cup of wet food and ¼ cup of dry food in your dog’s bowl.
What Are The Reasons To Feed Your Puppy Canned Food?
Here are some reasons why you should serve him canned food:
Easy To Chew
Many dog owners avoid feeding canned food to their pooches. They are concerned they are not providing them the right amount of nutrients they need to grow or that canned food will damage their teeth.
A premium quality canned food is packed with all the important nutrients that your dog needs to maintain his health throughout his life. Also, the vets say that wet food won’t damage their gums and teeth. In fact, if your canine is suffering from dental problems, it will be easy for him to chew wet food than dry kibble.
Keeps The Dog In Good Health
All the leading dog food brands include an adequate amount of vegetables and meat in their foods that offer all essential nutrients your mutt needs to stay healthy. Chicken, grains, beef, lamb, and many other healthy things offer him a rewarding mealtime through these important minerals and vitamins. On top of everything else, you can deposit the canned food for a long time than dry food. Also, they don’t need additives to keep their freshness.
A Healthier Option For Young Puppies
During puppyhood, puppies need a higher amount of protein in their food to help grow stronger and healthier. Typically, canned food has more protein and other nutrients than dry kibble. Kibble contains grains, including oats, corns, etc., that are useful for older pooches with a healthy digestive system.
Keeps Them Hydrated
If your dog doesn’t drink water, then it is a good idea to give him canned food because it will help keep them hydrated. These diets have more moisture content than dry kibble. Enhancing his water consumption will help put minimal pressure on his organs. Vets recommend a canned diet for diabetic puppies that have kidney problems. If your dog has health issues, never modify his diet without consulting with your vet.
Imperative Things To Consider Before Setting The Percentage Of Canned Food To Feed To Your Dog
Just like humans, dogs also over-eat and under-eat. Both underfeeding and overfeeding are not good for them. Underfeeding won’t let them grow properly, and overfeeding could lead them to obesity. Therefore, you need to set the right amount of canned food to feed your puppy. While setting the right percentage, these are the crucial factors that you need to consider.
Health Condition
It is compulsory to consider his health condition. If he is suffering from cancer, cardiac problems, or any other issues, then you will need to look for an ideal food that he can consume safely. Also, consider his dental health to shield his teeth from detrimental conditions.
Check What He Prefers To Eat
If he eats homemade or dry food, then it will be difficult for you to transition him to canned food. Besides, allow him to taste different dog foods until you find the company that suits his taste.
Set Your Budget
Becoming a pet parent may feel satisfying, but its maintenance is very difficult. You will need to determine how much amount you can easily spend on your puppy’s high-quality food.
Examine His Activity Level
Some canines are active, and some are inactive. If his activity level is high, you will need to feed him highly nutritious food. Moreover, if he is underweight, he will unquestionably need to eat nutrient-dense dog food.
Check His Age
Your puppy will have different nutritional needs during different stages of life. As a growing puppy, he will need a high amount of nutrients, while a senior dog will need a less amount of nutrients.
How Much Canned Food To Feed A Puppy?
Here is how you can measure the amount of canned food for your pet:
- If he is more than 10 pounds, you can feed him 1/3 to 1 cup of canned food.
- If he is 10 to 25 pounds, he needs to eat 1 to 2 ¼ cups of wet food.
- A 25 to 50 pounds dog should eat 2 ¼ cups to 3 ¾ cups of canned food.
- If he weighs 50 to 75 pounds, give him 3 ¾ cups to 5 cups a day.
- However, if he is more than 75 pounds, 5 to 8 cups are enough for him.
To prevent digestive problems, make sure to feed them at the same time every day. You can feed him twice or thrice a day and make sure he eats his whole food. Additionally, it is important to keep his bowl clean for further safety.
Useful Tips On How To Switch To Canned Food
If you are going to change food brand or flavor, then follow these tips while transitioning:
- On the first day, mix 80% of old dog food and 20% of new dog food.
- On the second day, combine 60% of old dog food and 40% of new food.
- On the third day, pour 40% of old dog food and 60% of new food in his bowl.
- On the fourth day, blend 20% of old dog food and 80% of the new one.
- On the fifth day, feed him 100% new dog food.
Conclusion
Your dog’s diet plays a massive role in his overall growth and health. It helps him prevent different types of serious diseases. We hope our extensive guide has helped you determine how much-canned food to feed a puppy. If you have any concerns about his nutrition, talk to your vet or an experienced vet nutritionist. Puppies lead a blissful and healthy life when they are fed well-balanced and nourishing food.
References:
- https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/how-much-and-how-often-to-feed-your-dog
- https://www.vettimes.co.uk/app/uploads/wp-post-to-pdf-enhanced-cache/1/wet-versus-dry-and-other-factors-when-choosing-an-optimum-diet.pdf
- https://www.pfma.org.uk/_assets/docs/fact-sheet/PFMA-fact-sheet-formats.pdf
- https://www.doghealth.com/care/nutrition/1909-wet-food-vs-dry-food-for-dogs