How much to feed a puppy?
Question:
I have a new retriever puppy – how much should I feed her? It seems like she’s a bottomless pit! I worry about her digestion she bolts her food so fast. If I fed her as much as she thinks she’s hungry she would be as big as a house.
ANSWER:
A new puppy is an exciting time for anyone. It is filled with all sorts of exciting moments as well as more then a few moments of pure stress. Feeding your pup should not be one of them.
I am guessing when you say retriever, you are meaning either Golden or Labrador as they are the most common. Flat-coated, Chesapeake or Curly coat are all around the same size; in fact, the only small retriever is the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Reason I am emphasizing size is that I do recommend feeding any large or giant sized breed to feed food specifically formulated to their unique needs. The slower a puppy grows, the more likely they are to grow up healthy and strong.
How much you are to feed him is dependent on the food. On the back of the bag should be a feeding guide and feed him the appropriate amount for his weight. Keep in mind a skinny puppy is a healthy puppy as extra weight can lead to structural irregularities.
Puppies normally eat as though they have not seen food in a week. It is part of the litter thing – survival of the fittest or in this case, the one that can stuff the most food down his gullet the fastest and then keep it down. He will naturally slow down in time but if you do not feel like waiting, try hand feeding him a few kibbles at a time with a pause in between. Or try putting an upside down bowl in the middle of his food dish – an obstacle makes them slow down substantially.
This puppiness you are dealing with right now will all be gone in too short of a time – enjoy it while it lasts.
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I would definitely recommend, if she is a puppy puppy, give her half a bottle of milk a day. If she’s old enough to eat dried food or dried food mixed with soft food, give her half a bowl a day. Keep her water bowl FULL at all times, so she is well hydrated. Now, if she’s a bare puppy that barely has both eyes open, give her canned soft food mixed with SOME dried food, but barely, Or, give her dried food mixed with water, let it become soggy and then give it to her.
Do not let her trick you into giving her half a bowl 20 minutes after. Do it every 2 hours, or whenever you believe what really is the correct time.
Puppies tend to be very hungry, since labs are a larger breed, i’d think they would be like that when puppies, but I have truthfully never had a Lab.
I had the same problem with the Leonberger pup we got just before Christmas — he was a bottomless pit and usually whining for food a few hours before dinner time. I switched from feeding him twice a day to three times a day without increasing the total daily intake and the problem was solved. He still wolfs it down in 45 seconds and I know he’d eat more if I gave it to him, but he seems to be very satisfied with the new feeding schedule.
your dog was just like as feed them if they hungry,give them food,do recommend feeding any large or giant sized breed to feed food specifically formulated to their unique needs. The slower a puppy grows, the more likely they are to grow up healthy and strong.