How Much Food Should I Feed My Pitbull Puppy?
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If we believe the recent news reports, pit bulls are considered “aggressive” and have a bad reputation because they are frequently seen frightening other pooches or attacking young kids. They are not aggressive by birth; actually, they are not appropriately mingled as pups. In maturity, they are often starved or abused. They are a powerful and large breed, so folks adopt them for dog fights and for sports like weight pulling.
But, when you take good care of them ad let them meet with people from puppyhood, they grow into very loyal, friendly, and active dogs. One way to guarantee they are active, fit, and sociable is to provide premium quality, highly nutritious food. If you are a first-time pit bull owner, you might be wondering how much food should I feed my pitbull puppy. In this post, you will learn about what types of foods to feed them, what is the ideal quantity of daily servings, and much more.
Pitbull Diet Plan
Puppy Pit Bulls
The adult doggies are fed based on their weight, while the growing ones are fed based on their age. Many dogs start weaning around the first month of their age. As they need less milk from their mother, they will need more puppy food.
You should feed four to six meals every day to a 12 weeks old mutt. Each meal should be ¼ or ½ cup of food. After six months, you can feed them thrice a day. Don’t leave the food bowl out for the whole day. If it is difficult for you to keep track of his meals, you can make a diet plan to help you stay organized.
Mature Pit Bulls
At the age of 18 months, all types of pit bulls have reached adulthood and are well-prepared to eat adult dog food. The quantity of food he needs will depend on his size. A large dog needs three cups of kibble every day, provided in the morning, afternoon, and evening. You should feed small puppies three times a day, but only 2/3 cup at each meal.
It is better to give them meat-based food. Read the ingredients on the food packaging and try to look for the ones that don’t have bonemeal or meat-by products. The food must contain 15 to 20% fat and 15 to 30% protein. At this stage of life, you can also give them treats and table scraps, but at a limit. The treats should be nutritious and do not contain empty ingredients such as grains.
Senior Pit Bulls
At the senior age of 8 or 9 years, your furry friend may still be playful and active, but his dietary requirements will modify. They have a slower metabolism, so it will be hard for them to digest proteins; therefore, you will have to increase the amount of protein in their food by 40%.
A low protein and high carbs diet could make them prone to urinary area problems and diabetes. Remember, all dogs are different, so the ones that are very active and perform physical activities should be fed the same amount of food they were given in their adulthood. But as they grow older, they need fewer calories and less fat. If he is gaining weight faster, reduce his food quantity and cut back on treats and table scraps.
How Much Food Should I Feed My Pitbull Puppy Based On His Age? Feeding Chart
1 To 2 Weeks Old Puppy
At the age of 1 to 2 weeks, she will start to open her eyes and move from one place to another. She will be mainly dependent on her mother’s milk. To help the mother produce enough milk, you should feed her a high amount of calories. During this period, keep an eye on her weight and size. If she seems smaller, you should take her to your vet.
3 To 5 Weeks Old Pitbull Dog
At 3 weeks, she will still stay closer to her mother and will need her milk. It is not the right age to wean her from her mother’s milk and feed puppy food. At 4 weeks, they will begin stretching their legs and exploring everything around them. She will still need her mother’s milk, but if you want, you can also start the weaning process. You can mix 25% food into 75% water. If she does not eat this mixture, don’t panic.
6 To 9 Weeks Old Pitbull Dog
Around 6 weeks, your puppy will start showing interest in solid food. Once they start consuming it, you can add 50% food and 50% water to their bowl. At 7 weeks, you can remove water from the food and feed them four times a day. In case if they don’t eat it, remove it after 20 minutes to help them adjust to the new timetable. While they are adjusting to the new feeding schedule, they gradually make changes to the food. You can mix uneaten food with fresh food to avoid disturbing your pit bull’s tummy.
2 To 4 Months Old Pitbull Dog
At this time, your puppy’s appetite will increase, so you can increase the food portions. At the age of 2 months, you can give them 2 cups of food, divided into equal parts throughout the day. Once they are 3 months old, they may eat 3 cups of food every day.
6 To 12 Months Old Pitbull Dog
In these months, he will grow faster; it means their appetite will also increase. At this stage, you can feed them 4 to 5 cups of food in a day. At the age of 8 to 12 months, their weight will be less than 50 pounds. So, you should only feed them puppy food based on their weight. Some of them may grow into large-size pooches and weigh around 50 to 100 pounds. However, they might not be adults until they are 16 months old.
Remember not to under or overfeed them until they approach adulthood because lack of calories could prevent them from growing properly, and excess calories could lead them to bone and joint-related issues. Make sure he does not consume his whole food at once. It is better to feed him in two meals or buy a slow-feeding dish.
pitbull puppy weight chart
Conclusion
So how much food should I feed my pitbull puppy? We have provided you a detailed diet plan. If you want your pup to grow appropriately, you will have to give him a highly nutritious diet based on his age and weight. With the growing age, he will experience appetite variations. Sometimes, he will consume his food happily, and other times, he will smell it and walk away without eating it. If he does not eat his food for one or two days, you must consult with your vet.
