Pedigree Puppy Food How Much to Feed?
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Getting a new cute and furry puppy is exhilarating, but taking care of him is a tough task, especially if you have adopted a pet for the first time. There are countless things that you need to be aware of before bringing your doggie home to guarantee you are fully ready and he/she will be happy and at ease.
The choices you make about his diet will have an immense impact on his development, growth, and actions. Feeding them a premium quality puppy food helps keep them healthy, just like a mature mutt. However, one of the biggest puzzles for first-time owners is pedigree puppy food; how much to feed and when? When should you move him from puppy food to adult dog food? After all, your pup won’t tell you what he likes to eat; he will most likely eat whatever you will put in his dish. To get answers to all these questions, continue reading our extensive guide below.
Do You Know Your Pooch’s Nutritional Requirements Change As They Age?
While buying pet food, you undoubtedly observe how many different formulas are obtainable in the market with different flavors and age groups. These formulations are made for the puppy, adult, senior, and pregnant dogs to address their specific dietary needs during each life phase.
Puppies
As puppies, their bodies grow faster and change every single day. That’s why; they need a high amount of nutrients in their food than dogs of other ages. They are more active than adult and senior canines, so their caloric requirements are also higher. Once he is weaned, you can feed him high-quality dog food to make sure he grows up healthy and strong. You will have to give them food thrice a day for 6 months.
Adults
At this stage, they must be given the specific formula designed for their age. If you feed them puppy food, they might gain weight due to consuming too many calories. On the other hand, if they eat senior dog food, they won’t get enough nutrients. Therefore, you must feed them adult dog food so that he obtains the right amount of calories.
Seniors
When they reach senior age, they perform limited activities, so their nutritional requirements change. The food designed for them has fewer calories but still provides them all the essential nutrients they need to live a healthy life. A two to three years old dog is considered a senior.
Pregnant Pups
Carrying and nursing a pup can be exhausting for a mother dog. Thus, she will need a higher amount of calories than other dogs. You can give them puppy food to ensure all their nutritional needs are fulfilled. Read the food’s packaging to know how much to feed.
Pedigree Puppy Food How Much To Feed?
6 To 12 Weeks
At this stage, you should give them puppy food that is exclusively designed to meet their nutritional needs. If you feed him adult food, he won’t be able to get vital nutrients. Four meals are enough to fulfill their dietary needs. Feed dry food to large dogs in the 9 and 10 weeks and small pups in the 12 and 13 weeks.
3 To 6 Months
During this life stage, you can feed them three meals a day. After 12 weeks, they start losing their potbelly and pudginess. If he/she still has a potbelly, continue to give them dog food four times a day until their body grows.
6 To 12 Months
At this age, it is adequate to give them food twice a day. Spaying decreases energy needs slightly, after the process, shift from puppy food to adult dog food. You can move large breeds at the age of 12 to 14 months and small breeds at the age of 7 to 9 months.
After One Year
You can feed him dog food two half-sections a day.
How Often Should You Feed Your Canine?
Just like human babies, they should be given puppy food three or four times a day. So, if you are currently feeding him 75% of puppy food twice a day, you should consider spacing it out by feeding 25% food thrice a day. Remember, small portions of food are easy to digest for small pups. Also, their energy levels don’t increase and decrease with frequent meals. Around 6 months, you can feed them two times a day, but if he is a large breed dog, you can continue to feed him three to four times a day.
What Type Of Food Is The Best For Puppies?
If the food is nutritious and specifically made for puppies, it will be enough to help them grow and develop properly. Different types of dog foods are available in the market, including grain-free, rice, vegetables, wet, dry, and many other foods.
Wet And Dry Food
If you have adopted a six to eight weeks old puppy, possibilities are that he has already been weaned off his mother’s milk. After this period, you can switch him to solid food gradually. If he has recently finished his weaning procedure, feed him wet or soft dry food with water. Wet foods will be easy to eat if he has soft teeth. Besides, dry kibble helps develop gums and teeth. After a few weeks, their teeth and gums will develop and strengthen, so you can feed him dry food only. If he doesn’t like dry food, mix it with some water or microwave it to make it softer.
Wheat And Grain-Free Food
Puppies should also eat grain, wheat, and grain-free foods because they are packed with essential nutrients. Modern mutts can digest grains easily, but some of them are intolerant to grains, so you should feed them a grain-free diet. Whatever you decide to feed him, make sure it is fresh. Also, ensure he has a constant supply of fresh water.
Conclusion
It is critical to feed your canine food that is specifically formulated for their nutritional needs, but it is fine to give them adult dog food, too, if they happily eat it. Bear in mind that sudden transition can upset their stomach, so feed them a small portion of dog food. We hope you have learned a lot from our article on pedigree puppy food how much to feed. If you have any other questions, contact us without any hesitation.
References:
- https://puppo.com/blogs/articles/how-your-dog-s-nutritional-needs-change-as-they-age-and-what-you-need-to-know
- https://www.vetinfo.com/dog-age-diet.html
- https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/puppy-food-types#2
- https://delicatecare.com.au/tag/how-much-to-feed-a-puppy-by-weight/
- https://www.justfoodfordogs.com/how-much-to-feed-a-puppy.html
