How often should 8 week old puppies eat solid food

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.

How much should newborn puppies eat? Follow this feeding chart

Having newborn puppies around can be such a gift, but theres also a lot of work involved. You need to keep their enclosure clean, make sure theyre fed, and stay on top of their health in a multitude of ways. Luckily, were here to help you navigate your newborn puppies feeding routine.

Whenever possible, newborn puppies should consume their mothers nutrient-rich milk, which helps protect them from illness while their immune systems develop. Its the perfect food for them! However, its not always possible for a mama dog to feed her litter all by herself.

Perhaps Mom doesnt produce enough milk, the milk is infected, or the puppies have unfortunately become orphaned. In these scenarios, pet parents have to step in to help feed the babies around the clock. To ensure your pups are getting adequate nutrition, its important to follow a puppy feeding chart or guide from a trusted veterinary resource.

How to tell if nursing puppies are getting enough to eat from Mom

Veterinary experts say that newborn puppies should gain 5% to 10% of their body weight daily doubling their body weight in their first week. Jerry Klein, the chief veterinary officer at the American Kennel Club (AKC), recommends using a baby scale to monitor the weight gain of each puppy over time. Puppies should first be weighed at birth and again at 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days. If everything is going well, all puppies should show a gradual weight gain.

When newborns cry during or after nursing, though, it may very well mean that they arent getting enough milk. Alternatively, moms milk could be infected, or it might indicate that they are sick. If this behavior is sudden or excessive, it requires an emergency vet visit for Mom, baby, and littermates.

How often do newborn puppies eat when nursed by Mom?

Newborn puppies typically nurse from their mom about every two hours. As they grow older, the time between nursing increases, and by four or five weeks or even as early as three Mom starts weaning her puppies. Youll have to step in to make up the difference and start introducing some puppy chow gruel mixtures to help them transition from milk to solid foods.

How often should you feed a newborn puppy? It depends on their age

When Moms milk supply isnt adequate to support the healthy growth of her puppies, VCA veterinary experts recommend supplemental feedings one to six times per day. Newborn orphaned puppies who are less than 2 weeks old should be fed every three to four hours, while 2- to 4-week-old puppies will do well being fed every six to eight hours. Dont forget feedings need to be equally spaced over the span of 24 hours.

What to feed newborn puppies without their moms support

Veterinarians say that the best replacement milk for puppies is commercial puppy milk formula. Best Friends Animal Society recommends the Esbliac puppy milk replacer when feeding orphaned puppies or those who need extra support. Experts say that any puppy milk replacer should contain optimal levels of omega-3 fatty acid and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), a nutrient that is important for the development of their brains and eyes. Containers will come with feeding instructions, so be sure to follow these carefully. Just as with newborn babies, the temperature of the milk can be tested on your forearm before feeding. You want it about the same temperature as your skin or only slightly warmer. Otherwise, theyll burn their little tongues trying to slurp it down.

As you nourish your newborn, be aware that overfeeding may put your puppy at risk of aspiration, vomiting, diarrhea, and gas build-up in the stomach and intestines. To ensure this doesnt happen, Maddies Fund provides a helpful newborn puppy feeding chart broken down by calorie requirements and formula measurements based on the puppys weight.

How to bottle-feed a newborn puppy

1. A puppy nursing bottle is the best way to feed your bundle of joy. The size of the hole in the nipple is crucial to successful bottle feeding, according to experts at Best Friends. To check this, turn the bottle upside down and gently squeeze: If the milk drips freely, the hole is too large. That means the puppy could take in too much and risk inhaling it into their lungs. If the hole is too small, the puppy has to work too hard to get nourishment and may refuse to nurse. Youll know that the hole is the proper size when the milk comes out one drop at a time.
2. Puppies shouldnt be fed on their backs because they dont have a well-developed gag reflex, and theres a danger that fluid may go down their windpipe and enter their lungs. Instead, place the puppy on their stomach with their head level as if they were nursing from their mom.
3. Open the puppys mouth gently with one finger and place the tip of the nipple on their tongue. If the puppy doesnt eat, try stroking the pup. Tilt the bottle up slightly to prevent your puppy from inhaling too much air. Do not force the puppy to nurse, or allow them to nurse too fast.
4. After each feeding, youll have to burp them by holding them against your shoulder and gently patting their back.

According to the AKC, some orphan puppies take a little time to get the knack for the sucking part of feeding. If a pup doesnt drink from the bottle, though, youll need to work with a veterinarian to tube feed and get him started.

In addition, for the first two weeks, orphan pups should be stimulated to urinate and defecate after each meal. This is done by rubbing the area between the back legs with a warm, wet cotton ball. This action mimics the licking mom does to make her puppies go potty.

When do puppies start transitioning to solid food?

When pups are with their mom, they may start the process of weaning or transitioning from milk to solid food as early as 3 to 4 weeks of age. Mom will start to refuse feedings around this time since this is the stage in development when puppies teeth start to grow in.

As Teresa Manucy, DVM, explains on PetMD, bottle-fed puppies can also start switching to solids around this time.By 8 to 10 weeks, however, the puppies should be fully weaned. At this time, theyll be eating puppy food instead of milk replacer.

What do puppies eat while weaning from milk or formula to solid food?

During the few weeks your puppies are weaning, youll be making changes to their diet as they adjust. This is crucial to their success, as puppies arent born knowing how to lap or eat right away.

You can begin by mixing puppy milk replacer and puppy food to create an easy-to-consume gruel. Youll want to offer this mixture to the pups while theyre separated from Mom to minimize any distraction or confusion. Still, you will need to dip a finger in the food and touch their noses with it at first to help them get used to the licking or lapping motion of their tongue. Theyll lick the food off of their face and ideally become interested in the gruel sitting in front of them. It may take a few days for pups to get the hang of this, but theyll be lapping up their meals before you know it!

After theyve mastered that stage, youll want to use less milk replacer in the puppy food over time. This way, their food will get slightly more solid with each meal, and theyll get the chance to practice chewing motions. By the 8 -10 week mark, puppies should be eating exclusively puppy food, though wet food or watered-down puppy kibble are always options for those who are still getting the hang of eating.

While caring for newborns is certainly a time-consuming job and a lot of work, its also incredibly rewarding for any dog owner. Nothing will bring you more joy and satisfaction than watching those fur babies thriving under your loving care. If Mom is in the picture, shell be so grateful, too!

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