how to know what to feed your puppy

How to Read a Dog Food Label

• Product Name. The product name alone tells you a lot about what’s inside the can or bag. The term “beef” means that beef...
• Ingredients. The ingredient list on a dog food label will not tell you the quality of the ingredients or where they came...
• “Complete and Balanced” Dog Foods. This isn’t just an advertising slogan. The Association of...

Full Answer

How much, and how often, should I Feed my Puppy?

What Factors Impact How Much to Feed a Dog?

• Weight: Maintaining an ideal body condition is important for your dog’s overall health. ...
• Activity Levels: The feeding recommendations on dog food packages are based on average adult dogs with normal activity levels. ...
• Age: As your dog grows, his nutritional needs change. ...

How many treats a day should I Feed my Puppy?

The biggest problem with giving a puppy food or a generic "all life stages" diet ... Therefore, they may need fewer calories per day than they did previously. Your puppy should be eating enough to grow and gain weight at a steady, healthy rate.

How much food should we feed our puppy?

What Human Foods are Safe to Eat?

• Bread. Plain bread has no nutritional value for your pup, but it’s safe to consume – except if your dog is overweight.
• Cashews. Unsalted cashews are fine – but only a few at a time. ...
• Cheese. Cheese is considered safe in moderate quantities, as long as your pup isn’t lactose intolerant.
• Coconut. ...
• Corn. ...
• Eggs. ...
• Fish. ...
• Ham. ...
• Honey. ...
• Peanuts and Peanut Butter. ...

More items...

What age should you start to feed your puppy?

When to Switch to Adult Dog Food: A Guide to Feeding Dog Food at Different Life Stages

• Puppies: So, how long should you feed puppy food to your dog? Puppies should be fed puppy food until they are done growing.
• Adults. Two of the most common questions puppy parents have are how long to feed puppy food, and when to switch to adult dog food.
• Pregnant or Nursing Dogs. ...
• Senior Dogs. ...

How do I know what to feed my puppy?

The best food to feed is a high quality commercial kibble designed for puppies. This ensures all the nutrients your puppy needs for growth and development are present. You can add cooked meats and vegetables or rice as you wish; however, the main diet needs to be the commercially balanced kibble.

What can I feed my 8 week old puppy?

Once your puppy has been weaned off of their mother's milk (around 8 weeks), you can start feeding them soft foods like canned or dehydrated dog foods (if you aren't sure what that is, read our complete guide here ). You won't want to start feeding your pup any hard foods until they are at least 9-10 weeks old.

What should a puppy feeding schedule look like?

The best time for your puppy's first meal is around 7 a.m., noontime for lunch, and 5 p.m. for dinner. The last meal should always be around 5 p.m. so that he will have ample time to digest his food and eliminate one last time before bedtime.

How much food should a puppy eat a day?

Puppies should be fed three to four times a day therefore if you are currently feeding ¾ a cup of puppy food twice a day you should consider spacing it out by feeding ½ cup three times a day.

HOW LONG CAN 8 week old puppy sleep at night?

But it's important that you are aware of his limitations. A few new puppies can last six or seven hours at night without a wee. But many cannot do this until they are around ten weeks old. If you crate your puppy at night, expect to get up in the middle night and take your puppy outside for a wee, for up to two weeks.

Should I wake my puppy up to pee at night?

Then the answer is YES. You should wake your puppy up to pee at night! Once a puppy reaches 4-6 months old, they will have almost a full-sized bladder and are able to hold in their urine for longer. With proper potty training, you and your dog might get through the night without wet incidents.

How long after a puppy eats do they poop?

Five to 30 minutesPuppy's Digestive Tract Five to 30 minutes after the puppy eats, she'll want to defecate. So with a consistent eating schedule, and your attention to the clock, your puppy can maintain regular trips outside.

What time should puppy go to bed?

Bedtime: A set bedtime makes his adjustment and house training easier for everyone. It doesn't matter if it's 8 p.m. or midnight, as long as it becomes a routine. Take him to his crate and help him settle down for the night.

Can a puppy go 8 hours without water?

The general rule of thumb is that your dog can survive approximately 72 hours without water, but after the first 24 the effects of dehydration will start to present.

How often should an 8 week old puppy eat?

Most puppies between 8 to 12 weeks of age should eat three times a day, spaced out somewhat evenly. This regularity in mealtime helps prevent blood sugar drops, especially in very small breeds.

Can a 2 month old puppy eat chicken?

Lean meat: Small amounts of turkey, chicken, and lean beef are good, but avoid ham as it may be too rich for a puppy's digestion. Be sure you do not give your dog any meat that contains cooked poultry bones or ham bones, which can splinter.

Can a 2 month old puppy eat rice?

But can dogs eat rice? The answer is yes. You may not even realize it, but rice is an ingredient sometimes found in commercial dog foods. In fact, if you ask many pet owners what they feed their dog when he's sick, they'll likely tell you that white rice is a part of their pup's diet.

Can 8 week old puppies eat wet food?

At 8 weeks old you can start feeding your pup wet dog food. Your puppy still has soft teeth, which can make wet food a better choice. Pups at this stage are finally transitioning from their mothers milk to solid food and wet dog food is perfect for this, as dogs often find it more palatable and easier to eat.

What human food can puppies eat?

Can My Dog Eat This? A List of Human Foods Dogs Can and Can't EatCarrots: Can Eat. Both raw and cooked carrots are safe for your dog to eat. ... Grapes and Raisins: Can't Eat. ... Salt: Limit. ... Peanut Butter: Can Eat. ... Eggs: Can Eat. ... Salmon: Can Eat. ... Chocolate: Can't Eat. ... Cheese: Limit.More items...•

Do puppies need milk after 8 weeks?

Puppies naturally wean off their mother's milk at around 8-12 weeks of age.

Can my 8 week old puppy eat dry food?

Most puppies aren't fully weaned until they're six to eight weeks old. For the first few weeks of your puppy's life, he won't be interested in dry food, but once he's three to four weeks of age, he'll start to nibble at solid foods. If your puppy is younger than that, he may be too young to eat regular dry food meals.

What is the best food for a dog?

A good dog food will contain meat, vegetables, grains, and fruits.

Do dogs have different nutritional needs?

The nutritional needs of dogs vary throughout their life. Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs, and senior dogs have their own nutritional considerations. Most dog food companies carry specially formulated puppy foods for each stage of a dog’s life, making it easier to narrow down your choices.

Can small breed dogs eat large kibble?

Small breed dogs, on the other hand, can choke on large-sized kibble and have their own nutritional requirements that can be accommodated with a small-breed dog food. Research your dog’s breed to find out if there are any additional nutritional requirements you should be aware of. Best Dog Food for Puppies.

Can I feed my puppy all life stages?

Dogs require a wide range of nutrients in different quanti ties over the course of their lives. The nutritional needs of a puppy are different from an adult dog, which is why it is a good idea to feed a puppy formula or an “all life stages” food to your young dog.

Is wet dog food better than dry dog food?

Wet dog food, or canned dog food, is a perfectly viable alternative to dry dog food.

Can dogs eat dry kibble?

Most people feed their dogs dry kibble or canned wet food. These processed foods might not be appealing to us, but they contain all of the nutrients dogs need to stay healthy. Quality commercial dog foods are highly regulated and have undergone rigorous testing by veterinary specialists.

Can you refrigerate canned dog food?

Canned dog food has a long shelf life, however it must be refrigerated once opened. The best wet food for your dog, just as with dry dog food, depends on your dog’s life stage, breed, and any special dietary needs or allergies. Talk to your vet about the wet dog food that he recommends for your pet.

Why is it important to know what to feed a puppy?

It is important to know what and how much food to feed your puppy in order to keep him happy and healthy. Puppies, just like human babies, need proper nutrition for normal healthy growth and development. Making the right choices about your new puppy's nutrition will help you to get him off to a good start. Steps.

How to make sure my puppy is fed the right food?

Talk to your veterinarian . If you want to make sure that you are feeding your puppy the right type and amount of food, talk to your veterinarian. The dog food bag may offer some guidelines, but it is impossible for the dog food manufacturer to be able to tailor their recommendations for each individual dog.

How to keep a puppy from eating?

Set aside a quiet area for your puppy to eat. Puppies need a quiet area to eat their food. Make sure that your puppy has a nice quiet space to eat and prevent other animals from getting to your puppy's food bowl. If your puppy feels threatened while eating, he may start guarding his food bowl.

Why do puppies lick new food?

The puppies will start licking and eating the new food as they become more familiar with the taste and new texture. The puppies will also walk through the food and make a mess. You will need to keep on top of keeping things clean. Make sure the new food is designed for puppies.

What is the correct ratio of calcium to phosphorus in puppy food?

The calcium to phosphorus ratio in puppy food needs to be within the range of 1:1 to 1:5 to help the puppy develop strong bones and teeth. Getting the ratio wrong at a young age means the puppy may have irreparable damage to their adult teeth, and may also have stunted bone growth. ...

How long does it take for a puppy to die from being overweight?

Puppies that are overweight in their first year of life may potentially die 2 - 3 years ahead of their lean littermates. Use the suggested feeding quantities on your puppy's food package as a starting point, but then assess your puppy's body score on a weekly basis.

What is the nutritional need of a puppy?

Learn about a puppy’s nutritional needs. Puppies have a lot of growing to do, so their bodies require more calcium, protein, and calories than an adult dog. Therefore, it is essential to feed your puppy food that is meant for puppies and identified on the label as food for "Growth".

The First Weeks

The first weeks of a puppy’s life are some of the most crucial in terms of developing good health. It is essential to get the pup the nutrients he needs when he needs them. In the first four weeks of life, puppies need their mother’s milk.

Portions, Portions

While what to feed a puppy is extremely important, knowing how much to feed him is just as vital to his well-being. Whichever puppy food you buy will have feeding guidelines on the bag, but ultimately it is your responsibility to pay attention to your pup’s condition and adjust portions accordingly.

What to Feed Fido

Now that we have established a sense of how much to feed our puppy and when to make feeding transitions, it is time to dive into the task of choosing a puppy food. When you pick up your new puppy from the shelter or breeder, he will have likely already been started on a puppy food.

Puppy Feeding Tidbits

Now that we have a strong outline of what to feed a puppy and when to transition their food, we can go over some of the more intimate details of puppy nutrition.

How to keep a puppy happy?

By Samantha Drake. From nutritional needs to training rewards, here’s how to keep your puppy happy and healthy. Growing puppies love to eat. These little bundles of energy, with their big, soulful eyes and furiously wagging tails, could easily convince you to let them eat anything they can get their paws on, including whatever you’re eating.

What to give a puppy to keep him entertained?

Giving your puppy part of his or her meal in a puzzle toy, such as a Kong or a feeding ball, will also help keep him or her mentally stimulated, not to mention occupied for a while. “They enjoy working for their food,” Berger adds.

Where is SF Puppy Prep located?

How and when you feed your puppy are also important steps to his or her development, notes Aishe Berger, owner of SF Puppy Prep in San Francisco, which specializes in training and socializing puppies.

Can dogs eat raisins?

What to Avoid. Puppies should never be given certain foods that are toxic to dogs including onions, grapes, raisins, and chocolate. Food waste like corncobs and peach pits can cause stomach or intestinal obstruction, so keep your garbage can behind a closed door or covered with a secure lid, Loenser recommends.