How long should a puppy be on Blue Buffalo puppy food

Blue Buffalo Puppy Feeding Chart

Are you concerned about when and how much blue buffalo puppy food to feed to your beloved pooch? If yes, then your apprehension is reasonable. The verdicts you make about your canines nutrition, and diet can have an immense effect on his overall health and growth. Serving him superior quality food will help set him up for long, healthy life.

As a first-time dog parent, you might be thinking about how much food your pup should eat? At the age of 1 to 3 months, a 5 lbs puppy should eat at least to 1 cup of food. At the age of 3 to 5 months, a 10 lbs dog should eat to 1 cup of food. However, at the age of 5 to 7 months, a 20 lbs canine should consume 1 to 1 cups of food every day.

To assist you in making correct decisions for your puppys dietary well-being, we have designed this complete guide on feeding your growing pup, along with a blue buffalo puppy feeding chart.

How Much Food Should A Puppy Eat?

The quantity he needs to eat in every serving depends on his age, weight, health, and various other factors. Typically, all commercially-made puppy foods have general feeding guidelines on the food packaging based on the expected adult weight of your canine. Blue Buffalo also provides recommended daily amounts to help you determine how much to feed your dog.

If you are aware of his parents weight, then it would be easier for you to predict his weight. Once you have judged the daily amount suitable for your pup, you should equally split that food into three meals per day. Here is the puppy feeding chart you can follow to decide how much food to give to your doggie.

Blue Buffalo Puppy Feeding Chart

How Many Times A Day Should I Give Food To My Canine?

They should eat 4 to 6 meals every day, while mature mutts should eat 2 meals a day. This is because growing pups have small tummies, so they cant consume a large quantity of food at once. But, they still feel frenzied at mealtimes, so they can end up eating a lot of food. Overeating can lead to gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, and bloating.

There is no ideal time to feed them, so we would recommend you to equally divide the food into three meals to keep their energy levels high. It is better to feed them three to four times a day. You should feed them early in the morning to give them the energy to start the day ahead. Give their last meal at least 2 hours before bedtime so that they have sufficient time to digest their food and go to the bathroom before sleeping.

Besides, you should purchase a puppy-sized meal dish for him. You should also weigh them regularly to ensure you are not overfeeding or under-feeding them. If he eats his food faster, to slow him down, give him a puzzle feeder. Once he is 6 months old, he may be reaching adulthood, depending on his breed and size. It means it is the right time to switch them to adult formula and larger meals. The transitioning should be done gradually to avoid digestive problems.

When Should I Move Puppy To Adult Dog Food?

As a puppy owner, you must know when to switch him from puppy food to dog food. Usually, small breed dogs mature between 6 to 12 months, while large and giant breed pooches mature between 12 to 18 months or even more. For guidance on his specific breed, check the food packaging or ask the vet.

If he loved the recipe you had been serving him as a pup, then you should stick to that recipe when switching to dog food. Begin gradually by feeding them 90 percent of their old food with 10 percent of their new food mixed in. Once you are sure he is consuming his food without any problems, you can slowly increase the quantity of dog food over the course of 7 to 14 days.

Conclusion

Blue buffalo puppy feeding chart may be helpful, but keep in mind that it is not applicable to every mutt. As a pet parent, you should closely observe your puppys weight and body condition. Both of these factors will help you figure out how much food to feed them. You may need to increase or decrease their daily food intake depending on their existing body condition. Also, consult with your vet to know if your canine has an ideal weight or not.

Refrancess:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4473150/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/nutrition-research-reviews/article/impact-of-nutrition-on-canine-behaviour-current-status-and-possible-mechanisms/5B21529115F05075B7292052016F11D4https://bluebuffalo.com/articles/dog/puppy-feeding-guidelines/

Puppy Feeding Fundamentals

Walk down the dog food aisle of any large pet-supply store, or peruse the shelves at a boutique pet-food shop, and you can quickly become overwhelmed. This is especially true for puppy owners, and probably even more so for first-time puppy owners. When did it get so complicated? Back in the day, dog food options were far more limited, and even responsible dog owners didnt worry too much about what went into their dogs dish.

The process may now be somewhat more involved, but thats a good thing. Higher quality ingredients with better sourcing and specialized diet formulas lead to overall better health for our puppies. And every bit as important as what to feed your puppy is having an understanding of his special nutritional needs.

All puppies are different, so if you have any concerns or questions about your puppys food, feeding schedule, or nutritional health, always consult your breeder or veterinarianthats what theyre there for.

Many puppy owners wonder, How long should I feed puppy food? Here is a general timeline for what your puppy needs at each stage of his first year of life.

Feeding YourPuppy: A First-Year Timeline

• 612 weeks: Growing pups should be fed puppy food, a diet specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs for normal development. Feeding adult food will rob your puppy of important nutrients. Four feedings a day are usually adequate to meet nutritional demands. Large breeds should be fed unmoistened dry food by 9 or 10 weeks; small dogs by 12 or 13 weeks.
• 36 months: Sometime during this period, decrease feedings from four to three a day. A pup should be losing her potbelly and pudginess by 12 weeks. If she is still roly-poly at this age, continue to feed puppy-size portions until body type matures.
• 612 months: Begin feeding twice daily. Spaying or neutering lowers energy requirements slightly; after the procedure, switch from nutrient-rich puppy food to adult maintenance food. Small breeds can make the switch at 7 to 9 months; bigger breeds at 12, 13, even 14 months. Err on the side of caution: Better to be on puppy food a little too long than not long enough.
• After age 1: Most owners feed adult dogs two half-portions a day.

How much food should I give my puppy?

Theres a saying in canine feeding: Watch the dog, not the dish. Body condition, not the amount eaten or left in the bowl, should determine portion sizes. Portion sizes depend on individual metabolism and body type, and nutritional requirements vary from dog to dog. If your puppy occasionally skips a meal or picks at food, dont worry. It could mean she is ready to eliminate a feeding or that you have given her too much, in which case simply reduce the quantity served.

Also, if you are doing treat-based training with your pup, adjust the amount you feed at mealtime accordingly. Whenever training with treats, keep the treat as small as possible.

How often should I feed my puppy?

Like human babies, puppies start out needing many small meals a day, of a food formulated for their special nutritional requirements. Most, but not all, dogs finish meals quickly. To discourage picky habits, feed at regular times in regular amounts and dont leave food down for more than 10 to 20 minutes.

Your breeder will be an excellent source of guidance for both of these questions, as will your vet.

Is it worth it to buy expensive puppy food?

Premium dog food has higher nutritional density, so you can feed your dog less to achieve the same results. Also, premium foods have stable ingredient profiles; the composition of bargain brands can vary from batch to batch.

The major dog-food companies invest heavily in product development and research, constantly upgrading formulas to keep up with their competitors. This means that feeding premium food puts you on the cutting edge of canine nutrition.

Dry food, wet food, or both?

Many pet-food companies have worked with canine-nutrition scientists to develop special formulas for both large- and small-breed puppies.

• Canned foodis the most expensive to feed, and dogs often find it most palatable. Be careful of all-meat claims, though. Your dog should have a complete, balanced diet to fulfill nutritional requirements. Meat alone may not do it.
• Semi-moist foodis available in one-serving packets. It is usually made to look like hamburger.
• Kibbleis the most economical, and the major makers offer a complete and balanced diet for dogs of all sizes and ages. Dry food can be fed exactly as it comes from the bag.

Some dog owners say there is an oral-hygiene advantage in hard kibble because the friction produced helps to keep the gums and teeth healthy. Kibble can be moistened, either with water or canned food. Although unnecessary, that addition may make food tastier.

Food for Big Puppies & Little Puppies

There are differences between the nutritional needs of small-breed and large-breed dogs, and that is especially true for puppies. Adult dogs who weigh less than 20 pounds are considered small-breed dogs. These puppies grow quickly and may reach adulthood by 9 months. Large-breed puppies (20 pounds and up), grow more slowlyit takes anywhere from 15 to 24 months to reach full size and maturity.

Chart Your Puppys Weight and Growth

• There are growth-and-weight charts available in print and online. Weigh the puppy weekly and record his progress, comparing him to breed-appropriate weight charts. Adjust his food intake to achieve an average rate of growth.
• Weighing a dog, even a squirming puppy, is easy. Just weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the puppy. Subtract the differencethats the puppys weight. Voila!
• Dont worry about an ounce or two either way; no two dogs, even within breeds, are built exactly alike.
• A young dog carrying too much weight has an increased risk of orthopedic problems, due to stress on immature joints. Obesity can also lead to diabetes, diseases of the heart and other organs, and general lethargy.

My puppy is begging! Should I feed him people food or table scraps?

One little French fry will invariably lead to another, and another. Before long, an obese dog will be crowding you off the love seat. Also, a steady diet of table scraps can create a nutritional imbalance, and certain ingredients and spices in your favorite dishes can cause upset stomach in dogs.

The pleading gaze of a begging dog can be irresistible. This is no accident. During his long partnership with man, the dog has perfected cunning methods of exploiting the human habit of associating food with affection. In prehistoric times semi-domesticated canines first cultivated human beings as a food provider. As the two species grew closer, dogs modified begging behaviors to maximize results: The more pathetic a dog seemed, the more scraps were tossed his way. Dogs have since refined this approach into a low-risk, high-reward hunting technique.

But dont be fooled: Begging is not an emotional crisis or a test of your love. Its what scientists might call an evolutionary survival strategy, or what the rest of us might call a scam. Allowing your dog to guilt you into overfeeding him, or serving him a steady diet of table scraps in a misguided show of affection, can have harmful or even fatal results.

Puppy Feeding Tidbits

• Feeding your pup the moment you get home may encourage puppy separation anxiety. Play or grooming is a more positive way to say hello.
• When medically necessary, you can purchase canned or dry prescription diets from veterinarians to feed dogs with kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, and other serious conditions. These foods should never be fed without a prescription.
• Some vitamin or mineral supplements, when utilized incorrectly (such as extra calcium given to a large-breed dog on a good diet), will do more harm than good.
• Before making a major change in your dogs diet, consult with your veterinarian and, when possible, the breeder. Once the formula is chosen, stick with it. Sudden changes in food may cause digestion problems.
• Small portions of carrot or apple chunks are healthful low-calorie snacks most dogs love.
• Fresh water should be available at all times. During the summer months, consider setting up multiple indoor/outdoor water stations. To avoid a buildup of bacteria, wash the water bowl daily.

How to Switch from Puppy Food to Adult Food

When switching from puppy food to adult food, you should make the switch gradually over a period of a few days. A sudden change in your dogs diet may cause stomach upset. Talk to your veterinarian about the best food for your puppy.

Puppy Feeding Advice

Make sure everyone gets with the program

Your entire household must be committed to your dogs feeding regimen. If theres a soft touch for a handout in your family, your dog will find it and exploit it, thus undoing the good you are trying to do. Keeping a dog trim takes a conscious effort from everyone on your team.

Give a dog a bone? Careful!

Our best advice here is caution. Poultry and pork bones, or cooked bones of any kind, are strictly forbidden. They splinter into shards that can cause choking and serious damage to the dogs mouth, throat, or intestines. Any bone, in fact, once chewed into small pieces, can block the intestines and lead to a nasty bout of constipation, can cause lacerations of the mouth and internal organs, or can lodge in the throat with fatal results. It is important to note that bones have little if any nutritional value.

There are other ways to satisfy a dogs craving to chew. Commercially available chew toys and simulated bones are made for dogs of all sizes.

As the famous food writer M.F.K. Fisher wrote, First we eat. Then we do everything else. This is true for our pups, too.

Need help with your adorable new puppy? Training your dog can be challenging without expert help. Thats why were here to help you virtually, through AKC GoodDog! Helpline. This live telephone service connects you with a professional trainer who will offer unlimited, individualized advice on everything from house-training to behavioral issues.