Should a 10 week old puppy eat wet or dry food

When to start feeding puppies wet food: A vet weighs in on how to wean

When to start feeding puppies wet food is asked by many first-time dog owners. Getting a new puppy for the first time is an extremely exciting experience and a time when you and your pup will experience a lot of firsts together - one being moving your puppy onto wet food.

Up until 3-4 weeks old most puppies should still be getting all the necessary nutrients from their mothers milk or a milk replacement. Once a pup comes off the milk, theyll move onto a solid food diet but as their teeth are still growing this might look like a gruel (a mixture of dry puppy food and water to soften it). The reason they dont graduate straight onto the best wet dog food from milk is that wet food doesnt have the right amount of calories that a puppy needs to develop and thrive during this stage of growth.

If youre in need of a full run-down on weaning your puppy from the very early stages right through to starting them on wet food, carry on reading. Vet Elizabeth Racine has included everything you should know below

Small animal general practice veterinarian, Dr. Elizabeth Racine, is a specialist in pet health and wellness. She covers everything from veterinary behavior, internal medicine and nutrition. Away from her surgery, Dr. Racine writes for major companies in the industry from the American Kennel Club to Elanco and CareCredit to Bayer PetBasics.

How to wean a puppy

Weaning puppies begins around 3 weeks of age. Weaning should always be a gradual process and puppies should never be abruptly taken away from the mother. Instead puppies should be offered a semi-solid food.

Feeding wet food to puppies at this stage is not recommended, because wet food does not contain enough calories to support a young puppys rapid rate of growth. Wet food is also very rich and may cause stomach upset in young puppies during weaning.

Create a mush

During the weaning stage, puppies should be fed mush. This can be made by mixing an appropriate dry puppy food with water and allowing it to sit overnight in the refrigerator, forming a soft mush. This mush can then be heated in a microwave (mix thoroughly and check carefully for hot spots!) and offered to the puppies.

Most puppies will start eating the mush right away, but some may need a day or two to get used to the idea. Its also important to let the puppies see mom eating solid food during this time, because puppies will often mimic their mothers behavior.

Provide fresh water

Be sure to also provide a shallow tray of fresh water for the puppies to drink from and possibly play in! Once the puppies are eating the mush well, you can gradually decrease the water content to make the mush more solid. During this time, the mother should be naturally weaning the puppies by decreasing their access to her milk supply. This, combined with their newfound interest in solid foods, will naturally wean the puppies off of milk and onto puppy food.

When to start feeding puppies wet food

When the puppies are eating solid dry food consistently and are no longer nursing from their mother, wet food can be introduced into their diet. For most puppies, wet food can safely be introduced at around 6-8 weeks of age. Wet food may be too rich for some puppies, so introduce only small amounts at first and ensure there is no gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, or bloating before you increase the amount of wet food you are offering to the puppies.

Because wet food has a high moisture content, you may notice that the puppies drink slightly less water than they did when they were eating a solely dry food diet. This is normal and is not cause for alarm as long as the puppies remain well-hydrated.

Is wet or dry food better for puppies?

For neonatal puppies, dry food soften with water is better than wet food. This is because wet food has a very high moisture content and a lower calorie content, so the puppies feel full before theyre able to consume enough calories to meet their bodies needs.

Because dry food has a higher calorie content than wet food, it is a better choice for puppies during the weaning process. Once the puppies have been weaned and are eating solid food consistently, the choice to feed wet food or dry food is just a matter of preference. As long as the diet you choose is complete and balanced and age-appropriate for your puppy, theres no significant difference in health benefits between wet food and dry food.

Choosing a wet food for your puppy

If you do decide to feed your puppy wet food, it is important to make sure you choose a product that is healthy and balanced to support your puppys growth and development. Check the back of the can for the AAFCO Statement (US) or the Statutory Statement (UK) which should say something like formulated for growth or for growing puppies. If your puppy is a large or giant breed, choose a wet food specifically formulated for large breed puppies. The statement on the back of the can should say for the growth of large breed puppies or similar.

Youll also want to ensure that the wet food you choose is from a reputable company, which you can do by utilizing the World Small Animal Veterinary Associations guidelines on selecting pet food or by asking your veterinarian for a product recommendation.

For more information on how to select a pet food, you can learn how to read a pet food label or check out the recommendations from board certified veterinary nutritionists

How much to feed your puppy

Pet parents always ask How much should I feed my puppy? This is a difficult question to answer, because the right amount to feed your puppy depends on many individual factors such as your puppys age, breed, current weight, and body condition, as well as the calorie content of the food you are currently feeding and the number of meals per day your puppy gets.

As you can see, with so many factors involved theres no answer that works for all puppies! Instead, your veterinarian is your best resource to help you determine how much to feed your puppy to ensure he or she is getting the right amount of calories to support healthy growth and development.

As long as your puppy is fully weaned and eating solid food, its okay to introduce some wet food into his or her diet. Just start out with small amounts and watch out for any digestive upset, which can occur with diet changes. If your puppy enjoys wet food and tolerates it well, its okay to make this type of food part or all of his or her meal wet food is just as healthy for dogs and dry food!

Got more questions? Puppy not eating? Noticing puppy aggression? We've got all the answers here for you.

How Much To Feed A Puppy By Weight And Puppy Feeding Chart

There are many elements to keeping your dog healthy. These include giving your dog enough exercise, playtime, and, of course, food. But do you know how much to feed a puppy? Are you wondering, How much food should I feed my puppy?

Lets discuss what a puppys diet should consist of, how much a puppy should eat, and how often a puppy should be fed. We hope our puppy feeding guide will help you provide the proper diet for your pup.

Puppy Feeding Chart: How Much To Feed A Puppy By Weight

Curious to know, How much should I feed my puppy? How much food to feed a puppy depends on age and weight. Most dog and puppy food packages have a feeding chart on the label, similar to our chart below. Be sure to check your puppys specific food bag for the label so you know how much to feed him. While this chart is a good baseline, we recommend double-checking with your vet, as all dogs dietary needs are unique.

How Much Food Should I Feed My Puppy?

These amounts are for every 24 hours.

How Often To Feed A Puppy

So now that you know how much to feed your puppy, you might be wondering, How many times a day should a puppy eat? Setting a routine for your puppys feeding schedule is critical so he can learn when to expect his food.

• 4-12 Weeks: Young puppies need three or more feedings per day to adequately meet their nutritional needs. So, according to the feeding guide that comes with their food or the chart above, divide that by three or more and give the food to them throughout the day.
• 3-12 Months: As your puppygets older, you can reduce the number of feedings to twice daily. Their energy level should be reduced; thus, they dont need as much food throughout the day.
• 12+ Months: Most adult dogs eat two meals per day. Youll want to divide their food requirement by two.

Puppy Feeding Schedule

A typical feeding schedule for puppies is 7 am, noon, and 5 pm. If you decide to do more than three feedings, you can adjust your schedule for puppy eating times as needed. Make sure to keep that last feeding around the 5 oclock mark. That way, your pup has ample time to digest the food and eliminate it one last time before bedtime.

Keep To The Feeding Schedule To Avoid Overeating

We know that it can be tempting to leave food out all day for your puppy to munch on, especially if you have a busy schedule. However, free-choice feeding encourages overeating, which can cause your pup to gain too much weight. Portion control is key to making sure your puppy eats the proper amount for his size and age. Learning how much to feed a puppy and choosing the best food and nutrition helps avoid overeating, which leads to obesity and ensures proper development.

Dog Feeding Schedule By Age

Heres a quick timeline of a puppys nutrition in the first few months of his life. You will find more details just below our how much to feed a puppy chart.

• 0-3 Weeks: Puppies should be with their mother and nurse as they please. The mothers milk has the nutrients necessary to provide proper nutrition and protect puppies from diseases. During this time, you dont need to worry about how much to feed puppies because their mother providesthem with nutrition.
• 3-4 Weeks: Puppies will begin developing teeth and will begin weaning off their mothers milk.The puppy caregiver can blend a 50:50 portion of canned wet puppy food with a milk replacer in a flat saucer, gradually reducing the amount of milk replacer until youre only giving them puppy food. One should not be concerned if the puppies dont like the new food right away. It may take a few days to adjust to the new formula. Rubbing fingers in the mixture and then gently on the puppys nose and mouth can make the transition smoother.
• 4-6 Weeks: By this time, puppies should be fully transitioned to puppy food.
• 6 Weeks-6 Months: Puppy food based on their size and breed.
• 6-12 Months: Gradually begin to switch your puppy to adult food. Small breeds can switch between 7-9 months, and larger breeds can switch around the 12-month mark. It doesnt hurt to keep him on puppy food longer than needed to make sure hes getting all the nutrients he needs as a developing dog but since puppy food has higher calories, be sure to watch for unnecessary weight gain. A balanced diet that also maintains a healthy body weight is important for an adult dog.

What Can Puppies Eat?

A dogs food needs differ as they age, and you uncover different dietary needs. Here is a guide to our top recommended items for several different canines.

Can Puppies Eat Adult Dog Food?

Puppies and adult dogs have different nutrient needs. To help puppies grow into adult dogs, they require more protein, micronutrients, and carbs. Protein provides them with amino acids and energy. Puppies need more fat as they use a significant amount of energy, and fats help them absorb fat-soluble vitamins. Puppy formulas always have more fat than adult foods.

Calcium is vital to developing healthy bones and teeth. Puppies need more calcium than adults. However, larger breeds need than smaller breeds due to their rapid rate of growth. It is healthier to feed your puppy food that is formulated for their specific breed size to ensure they get the right amounts of essential nutrients like calcium.

DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, is vital to puppy growth and is very important to brain and vision development. t is found in their mothers milk but is added to puppy food in the form of fish protein or fish oils.

Puppies also require a high amount of calories to help them grow, so its essential to purchase a high-quality food brand for your puppy. You want them to have a balanced diet to ensure healthy growth and development, and adult dog food will not meet their needs.

A puppys mouth is smaller than an adult dogs mouth, which helps explain why their food is not as big as adult kibble. Feeding puppies adult dog food can be dangerous because the kibble is larger, and the texture is harder to chew. Giving a puppy adult dog food can cause damage to their teeth, jaws, and overall health.

The same can be said for puppy treats. Treats made for adult dogs are often larger and harder to chew. Puppy treats ingredients also tend to be more suitable for them than those made for adult dogs. If you can, stick to treats that specifically say they are safe for puppies.

If youre looking for high-quality food for your little friend, perhaps you could try The Farmers Dog, one of our top picks for fresh dog food. Its a healthy solution for dogs of all ages. Learn more in our The Farmers Dog review.

How Long Do Puppies Eat Puppy Food?

For many breeds, puppies will need to eat a puppy-specific recipe until they reach a year or 12 months old. Smaller breeds may make the transition between 7 and 9 months old. Larger breeds, like the Great Dane, stay on puppy formulas for longer, some even until 18 months old.

How long your pup needs to stay on puppy food will depend on breed, health, and size. It is always better to stay on puppy food a little too long than to switch too early. Switching too soon can deprive them of vital nutrients needed to reach full development and can lead to health issues later in life. Discuss this change with your vet before making the switch.

Dont overlook the importance of planning and allowing for a transitional process when changing dog food. Imagine eating the same meals every day. Then, suddenly, you switch to something completely different. Youll probably experience a tummy ache orother gastrointestinal problems.

The same thing goes for your puppy. Remember that its a process that should take a minimum of six days and sometimes longer (up to several weeks).Do not try out too many different new foods at a time, as this can lead to digestive upset and stomach pain. It can also lead to body weight issues if your pup isnt eating enough. You want to keep your dog on a consistent feeding schedule and feed the appropriate amount for their age.

Puppyhood Is The Best Time To Consider Pet Insurance

As a puppy, your dog has probably not shown any significant health concerns at a young age. Since pet insurance companies dont cover pre-existing conditions, the younger your dog is when you sign up, the better coverage you will likely receive throughout his lifetime.

Pet insurance can help support you financially during the unpredictable puppy years when dogs are more likely to chew on things they shouldnt and run into dangerous situations. Check out our pet insurance guide to learn more and to determine whether pet insurance is worth it for your puppy. You can also use our free tool below to get instant pet insurance quotes.

Your Best Puppy And Dog Food Options (And Other Tips)

Remember, having a dog who has his dietary needs met will be happier and healthier as a result. Not eating enough can lead to malnutrition, and overeating makes your pup obese (read our tips to help your dog lose weight). You do not want your puppy to become a picky eater, or develop a sensitive stomach, so stick to puppy formulas. If you have any concerns about how much to feed a puppy, are worried your puppy is not eating enough, or need help ensuring they are on the right diet, reach out to your vet. This is a perfect topic to bring up at a puppy checkup.

Are you looking for more dog food articles? Weve got plenty of resources on various dog diets and nutrition, including our recommended foods for any age, diet type, and health concern, the best dog food delivery services for puppies and adult dogs, and homemade dog food recipes.