Should you feed a puppy 3 times a day
Your growing puppy
Your dogs diet plays a vital role in helping to give them a healthy body and mind, so what should they eat, how much should you give them and whats the best way to feed them?There are many different approaches you can take to ensure your dog has a balanced, healthy diet. However, with many different feeding regimes to choose from, all of varying quality, it can be a little baffling to know which way to go.Read some of our hints and tips in our guide to feeding your dog.
Best puppy diet: get help from the breeder
Healthy puppies can burn twice as many calories as an adult dog, so its important that their diet is balanced and meets their high energy needs. Your puppys food should be:
- High in calories
- Rich in protein
- Packed full of essential nutrients
- Easy to chew and swallow
Your puppys food should be specifically formulated to their needs and must be age-appropriate. There are lots of different diets to choose from and it can sometimes be confusing trying to find the right food for your dog. If youre overwhelmed by the choice, then always speak to your puppys breeder or your vet to find out what they recommend.
Feeding your puppy - frequently asked questions
How much should I feed my puppy?
The amount of food that a dog needs depends on their age, breed, how energetic they are and if they have any medical conditions. Feeding your puppy too much may cause excessive weight gain, an upset stomach, or, particularly in larger breeds, bone deformities, so it is very important to follow the feeding guidelines given on any packaging. Also, pay attention to whether the feeding guides on the pack are for the puppys current body weight or their estimated adult body weight. If based on estimated adult body weight, it may be helpful to speak to the breeder to find out how big mum and dad are.
How often should I feed my puppy?
Younger puppies should always be fed small amounts regularly, and this decreases in frequency as they get older. If youre not sure how often to feed your puppy then here is a rough guide:
- When you start to offer solid food or when weaning (usually at around two months old) four to six meals a day
- From two to three months four meals a day
- From four to six months two to three meals a day
- Over six months two meals a day (depending on the breed)
How can I check my puppy is gaining weight?
Regularly weighing your puppy can help you check that theyre growing at a healthy rate for their age, size and breed. Speak to your vet, breeder or breed club if youre not sure how to do this, or if you need any guidance on how much your dog should weigh or look. Puppy growth charts can also be very helpful to track your puppys growth. Speak to your vet to see if they can supply you with one of these.
What is the difference between dry and fresh meat ingredients?
Unless your dog is on a special veterinary recommended diet, choosing between wet or dry food is entirely up to you and your dog. Neither is better than the other, theyre just different options.When deciding, consider what your dog likes, and think about their level of enjoyment when trying different shapes and textures. Its possible that your dog will make the decision for you!When choosing between wet or dry food, think about where youll store the food and how easy it is to buy in bulk.Wet food can:
- increase fluid intake, as it contains more moisture
- be more appetising to fussy eaters, as it can be warmed, releasing delicious smells
- be easier to eat for dogs with dental or mouth problems
- help your dog feel full more quickly
Dry food can:
- be good for keeping teeth clean and encouraging chewing
- be more convenient to keep and store once opened and may have a longer shelf life
- be given in smaller quantities as a treat or for training
- last for longer and doesnt spoil as quickly.
How should I serve wet puppy food?
If you give your dog wet puppy food, then its best to serve it at room temperature. Warmer food is more appealing to dogs and will smell better, taste nicer and should be easier for them to digest. If you keep your food in the fridge, remember to take it out an hour before feeding. This will allow it to reach room temperature and be more enjoyable to eat. If youre not able to leave the food out, then you can warm it up in the microwave, but make sure its served at room temperature and is never hot.
How should I serve dry puppy food?
Most dogs love the crunchy texture of dry kibble, but others may prefer slightly moist food. If your puppy prefers moist foods, particularly when they are younger, then you can always add a small amount of water before serving it. Be careful to avoid adding milk. Dry food can help support dental health more than wet foods. However, whether dry or wet, it can be helpful to give them regular dental treats to keep their teeth healthy. Ideally, you should also introduce them to tooth brushing at a young age. Remember that if you are giving dental treats they need to be taken into consideration when working out the puppys daily calories, and the feeding guide should be reduced slightly.
What are the signs that I am feeding my dog the wrong diet?
We recommend that you check:
- For signs of an intolerance. These may include:
- Being sick
- An upset stomach
- Excessive wind
- Losing weight
- Itchy skin that can become red and irritated
- Regularly getting skin or ear infections
- Licking themselves a lot
- If they are finishing their food
- That their poo looks healthy
If you're concerned about your dog's health or their diet, then always speak to your vet.
Getting into good feeding habits
Its important that you get into good feeding habits while your dog is still young. When feeding your dog:
- Choose somewhere to put their bowl that can be easily cleaned, such as on a tiled or wipeable floor
- Give them their food in a quiet place where they wont be interrupted or distracted
- Avoid feeding your dog immediately before or after exercise, as it can cause a life-threatening condition known as bloat
- You should not feed your dog before travelling in the car as this might cause car-sickness.
- Dont feed your dog table scraps. Some foods may upset your dogs stomach, while others, such as chocolate, onions and grapes, can be poisonous to them
- Cooked bones can be dangerous and can break into small parts that can cause damage in your dogs mouth, throat or intestines, so never give them
What about treats?
Just because youre trying to keep your dog healthy doesnt mean that you need to stop giving them treats. However, it does mean that you should watch what you give them and how often.
- If you do want to give treats, make sure that they are not high in fat, salt or sugar
- When giving treats, make sure you include them in your dogs total daily calorie intake to balance things out
- Always ensure that any homemade snacks that you give your dog are cut up into small chunks. This can make them last longer and stop them from getting stuck in your dogs throat
- Try putting your dogs snacks in a food puzzle. These toys slowly release food when they are moved around or played with and are a great form of mental stimulation
- Some chew treats have been proven to help prevent dental diseases, but again, check the label to ensure you are getting a genuine product
Find out more about giving your dog health treats.
Next steps
When to Switch a Puppy to 2 Meals a Day from 3
As you will already know, puppies develop very quickly and need to take on a lot of food at regular intervals to grow healthy. You will have already been feeding your puppy 3 times or more daily, but at what point do you switch a puppy from 3 to 2 meals a day?
Heres what you need to know about daily feeding amounts, with the short answer you came for first. Theres more to get right though so please do read on further.
When to switch puppy to 2 meals a day? You can move to 2 meals a day from 3 with most puppies from 6 months onwards. Prior to this, puppies will need feeding 3 or even 4 times a day to help aid health development. Its also important to keep them on puppy food until theyre at least one year old.
Switching your puppy to 2 meals a day
Read on to find out why you should change to feed your puppy two meals a day, when the best time to do it and how much you should be feeding your puppy twice daily. Ill also talk about when is a good time to change your fur baby from puppy food to adult food.
Why you should feed your puppy twice a day
Once your puppy reaches six months old, you can start feeding them 2 meals a day. For the first six months of your puppys life, hes been burning up calories like mad.
I dont think I need to remind you how active your puppy can be! But, if youre still new to puppy raising, be warned!
With so much growing, walking and playing your little one is naturally using up all his reserves. Which is why puppies are fed more often throughout the day.
By the time they reach six months they generally start to calm down and can be switched to 2 meals a day instead of 3. Im still not convinced by this though after witnessing my own puppy being a ball of fire way beyond six months old.
Having said that, your six-month-old puppy is ready to eat two meals a day. Youll notice hes not growing as fast as he was in his first six months. So, to avoid him becoming a pot belly pup, you need to cut down on his food quantity.
Always follow the guidelines on your puppy food packet to ensure shes getting the right quantity for her age despite cutting down to two meals daily.
If your gut feeling tells you that its not the right time or age to switch your puppy to 2 meals a day, then dont but talk to your vet for an expert opinion.
When are the best times to feed your puppy?
Its a good idea to split the two meals up. Most dog owners choose to feed their puppy in the morning and in the afternoon.
Pet feeding experts recommend giving your puppy their first meal at 7 am in the morning, soon after waking up. You can then take them for their walk or play a game with them. The last meal of the day should be at 5 pm. This is about the maximum time recommended to let them go without eating.
By feeding your puppy at 5 pm you are giving her ample time to digest her food before going to sleep. You can also take her for an evening walk after her meal or play a game of ball.
Another advantage of feeding your puppy at 5 pm is less chances of your puppy making a mess in the middle of the night. Between 5 pm and 7 pm, your puppy will have more than enough opportunities to perform her bathroom routine.
Generally speaking, its not a good idea to feed a puppy late at night, and heres why.
How soon after feeding can I take my puppy walking?
Its essential you dont take your puppy walking directly after feeding them. Always give her at least an hour before walking or playing a game with her. Otherwise, you run the risk of your dog developing an abdominal bloat.
If you do choose to feed your puppy before walking, make sure you wait at least 15 minutes before feeding them on return from your walk.
If your puppy is hot and panting, she needs to calm down before taking in any food. Otherwise, shell gobble her food down and end up with bloat again.
Handy Hint: Heres my guide to feeding dogs before or after exercise, and what the consequences can be if you mess this up.
How much should puppies eat twice a day?
The amount of food you feed your puppy depends on their size and weight. Your dog breed plays a big role in how much your puppy should eat. Some dog breeds are more active than others.
It also depends on whether youre feeding your puppy wet or dry food. The following tips will help you gauge if youre overfeeding or underfeeding your pup:
- Your puppy starts to look a bit chubby. Weigh your puppy regularly. This is easy enough to do. Weigh yourself and then pick up your puppy and weigh both of you together. Find out what is the average weight for your dog breed at different ages and stick to that. Cut down on the quantities when your pup looks chubby or weights more than they should for their age and breed.
- Your puppys ribs are showing: This happens when youre underfeeding your pup. Its fine to feel the ribs but you dont want them sticking out. So, step up the quantities slightly until the ribs are not showing obviously.
- Read the feeding recommendations on the food package. This is the best way to ensure youre giving your dog the right quantity every day. Remember, if the package gives the total quantity per day to split it into two half-meal portions.
Dont let your puppy fool you into thinking shes still hungry after a meal. If your puppy loves to eat, shell try to get you to feed her more with puppy eyes.
This could lead to overfeeding your puppy. Another danger area is begging at the table. You may think your puppy is hungry but in fact, theyre simply hoping to join you in your tasty meal.
Switching from puppy to adult food twice a day
When is the right time to change your pooch from puppy kibble to adult food? Puppy food is full of extra nutrients and calories to meet your puppys growing needs. But as they mature, they need less of the rich stuff.
Handy Hint: Heres the age at which puppies will start to eat solid food and drink water instead of their mothers milk.
Its essential you dont switch your puppy too soon to adult food. Its also just as important you dont keep them on puppy food for too long. This could lead to obesity and other health issues.
Smaller dog breeds mature quicker than larger dog breeds. So, if your little Dachshund is 7 to 10 months old, you can start switching them to adult food.
Large breed dogs should reach 80 pounds before you start switching them to adult food. This can be anywhere between 12 and 16 months.
The switch over from puppy food to adult food should be done gradually. By introducing adult food to your puppys diet over one to two weeks, theyll adjust better and cope with the change with less stress. The gradual process might also help you deal with any problematic begging behavior. If it doesnt heres how to stop your dog begging and barking when you eat.
Once again, follow the feeding guidelines on the dog food package or can to ensure your puppy is getting the right quantities. You can also speak to your vet if youre still unsure about how much to feed your puppy when you move to adult formula.
Conclusion
Your puppy has become firmly part of the family ever since you brought them home at eight weeks old. Its been a joyride, chaotic at times especially when she discovered the pure ecstasy of chewing your favorite shoes.
One of the first items you purchased when you brought your puppy home was her special food bowl. Feeding your puppy correctly may have taken a lot of time researching (and reading articles like this one). You also spent a lot of time actually feeding the hungry pooch.
But there will come a time when you need to switch your puppy to 2 meals a day, and I hope that this guide has helped you make the decision on when that should be.
Other aspects of puppy development
Image in header via https://pixabay.com/photos/golden-retriever-puppy-2706672/
