If you recently became the proud owner of a puppy, you know how confusing it can be. That little adorable being is now depending on you to make the right decisions concerning his health, lifestyle and food choices. Food can be an especially tricky. You have to monitor if your puppy develops any kind of food allergies. You have to plan healthy meals in advance. And lastly, you have to make sure that they eat enough. But how much is enough? Right after getting your puppy you will probably feed him up to three times a day. But when to switch your puppy from 3 to 2 meals a day?
In this article we will go over everything you have to know about the daily feeding habits of your adorable pup.
When to switch puppy to 2 meals a day?
Switching your puppy from 3 to 2 meals a day should be fine from 6 months onwards. Prior to this, puppies will need their 3 to 4 meals to help them develop in a healthy way. Also, make sure to keep your dog on their puppy food until they are at least one year old.
For the first six months of his life, your puppy was burning calories like crazy. He was growing, developing, and very active. That’s why those three to four meals a day were more than needed.
Also read: How many cups in a pound of dog food
However, at around six months old everything starts to slow down a bit and you can slowly start to switch to 2 meals a day. That way your dog won’t be taking in an excessive amount of calories and you don’t have to worry about weight gain. However, you do have to do it the right way.
Even if you think that your six months old puppy is as active as ever, he still isn’t growing as much as he used to, which results in him needing less calories.
However, you should still make sure to always follow the guidelines that were provided on the dog food that you are feeding him with. Different dog foods have a different amount of calories and nutrients.
But if you feel deep down in your gut that two meals a day won’t be enough for your pup just yet, keep feeding him the three meals for some more time.
When is the best time to feed my puppy?
In most cases dow owners choose to feed their puppies in the morning and in the afternoon.
You should give your pup the first meal not long after he wakes up in the morning. After that you can go on with your day and take him for a walk in the dog park. The second meal can then be somewhere in the afternoon. For example, if the first meal is at 7 am, the second shouldn’t be any later than 5 pm.
You shouldn’t give the second meal too late. Giving it in the afternoon will make sure that your dog has enough time do properly digest his meal before going to bed. You can also take him for an evening walk after to help his digestive system additionally.
Feeding your dog in the afternoon instead of evening will also lower the risks of your pup making a mess during the night.
How much should puppies eat twice a day?
When it comes to the amount of food, it will largely depend on your dog’s size and weight. The breed also plays a huge part, as some breeds are more active than others.
It also depends on the type of food you are feeding your dog. Follow the guidelines that are provided on the back of the packaging to avoid overfeeding or underfeeding your pup.
While all dog owners want for their dogs to get enough food and nutrients, over feeding is actually a huge issue. It leads to weight gain and even obesity. So if you do notice that your pup put on a lot of weight, take it as a sign. However, we wouldn’t recommend cutting down on the amount of dog food before asking your vet first.