How Much Food to Feed a Lab Puppy?
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Your precious Labrador retriever is the most prevalent breed of pooches in America. These high-spirited male dogs can range from 65 to 80 pounds, and the beautiful female dogs can range from 55 to 70 pounds. They can be 21.5 to 24.5 inches tall. With proper care, love, and affection, your darling mutt will be your buddy for at least ten to twelve years.
If you are lucky enough to have a lab puppy in your home, you might be thinking about how much food to feed a lab puppy. Feeding your four-legged little buddy can be extremely difficult. Common feeding options include store-bought or home-prepared doggie food, raw food, wet food, dry food, and kibble. Picking the correct method, plus the right quantity of food, is vital for your little boy’s growth, development, and even his behavior.
Newborns, adults, and older dogs have different nutritional needs. And they also love consuming human foods, so you must know what human foods are safe for them. They put on weight easily and are forever enthusiastic about eating food. Although they are very active, due to their love for food, they can easily fall into the category of overweight.
If you want to give him the best possible life, it is critical to watch out the dog food’s quality and amount from the puppy stage to increase their metabolism, energy, immune system and support their health for as long as possible during every developmental phase.
In this article, we will give you detailed information on How Much Food To Feed A Lab Puppy. You will also learn what they can and cannot eat, how many times a day you should feed them, and much more. So, keep reading.
How Much Food To Feed A Lab Puppy?
Just like a newborn baby, your mutt is growing faster, so you will have to provide her a steady flow of nutrition to help her grow better. In the first two months, they should be nursed by their moms. The weaning process starts around 42 days of age. At that time, you can introduce him to puppy food. If you give them commercially made dog food, it will fulfill their nutritional needs for normal development.
They need food at least three to four times in 24 hours, but depending on their growth cycle, they may need more or less. Between the ages of 6 to 12 weeks, you should feed them four times a day using 2 cups of pup food at one time. At the age of 3 to 6 months, you can feed them three times a day.
At the age of 6 to 12 months, you can feed twice a day. And after 12 months, you can give him adult pooch food in two portions every day. The majority of them will eat their meals promptly. It is necessary to feed them at the right time to prevent picky habits and don’t leave their food in the bowl for more than 20 minutes.
When he approaches the age of 7, then you can leave the food out for grazing for the whole day. Just make sure they don’t consume it all at once and make themselves ill. Overeating could also lead them to weight gain and bone-related problems.
Therefore, you should follow a Labrador canine feeding chart to confirm you are on the right path. It is mandatory to give them only high-quality dog food. Feed him three hours before bedtime so that he doesn’t feel the urge to go to the bathroom. If he often has soft stools or diarrhea, it is better to give him four to five smaller meals instead of two larger meals.
What To Feed A Lab Puppy?
There are numerous options of puppy foods available in the market, so what food to give to your dog may be a difficult decision to make. Let’s take a look at the options available along with their benefits and disadvantages, so you can make an informed decision.
Kibble
In many countries, you can purchase commercially manufactured dog food formulated into pellets and dried for easy storage. It is a complete and well-balanced diet containing all the nutrients your pup needs. While feeding kibble, don’t give them anything else as it will cause dietary imbalance and do more harm than good. Many pooch owners believe that kibble is the best puppy food as it is easy to buy, store, and feed and is packed with all essential nutrients.
Tinned Meat And Biscuit Mix
These diets are low in nutrition and are loaded with a high quantity of filler. You will have to mix tinned meat and biscuits to give them some matter and make them whole. As it is a low-quality food, so you will have to feed a large quantity of it. Remember, it can make him gaseous and stinky and leads to a lot of waste.
Complete Wet Foods
As the name refers, these foods are whole and well-balanced, meaning everything of your puppy’s need is added to it. They are available in separate pouches or tins. Fussy eaters love the meaty flavor of wet foods. However, you should know that they are relatively expensive than kibble. Also, they are bad for their dental health.
BARF, Raw, And Home-Made Food
Animal organs, raw meat, and edible bones are included in the raw feeding diet. Some people also mix vegetables, fruits, and other things in this diet. It is also called the BARF diet. In this type of diet, dogs are given all the foodstuffs they would eat naturally in the wild. Many dog owners like this diet.
What Are The Vital Components Of Puppies’ Diet?
Their diet consists of various essential components that are as follows:
- Protein
- Carbohydrates
- Fatty acids
- Water
- Minerals
- Vitamins
- Fats
What Human Food Can Puppies Eat?
- Bread
- Yogurt
- Grains
- Cashews
- Cheese
- Coconut
- Ham
- Peanuts
- Peanut butter
- Quinoa
- Pork
- Turkey
- Corn
- Eggs
- Honey
- Fish
What Human Foods Are Unsafe For Lab Puppies?
- Salted foods
- Grapes
- Ice cream
- Milk
- Pecans
- Walnuts
- Chocolate
- Garlic
- Cinnamon
Conclusion
So, our article on how much food to feed a lab puppy has come to an end. We hope that you have learned a lot about the best puppy foods and how much you should feed them as they grow into handsome adult dogs. Bear in mind that love and play are also crucial for your canine’s health as a well-balanced diet. So, don’t just feed him high-quality food, but spend quality time with him as well.
