When puppies are small they are growing quickly so should be given small amounts of food frequently throughout the day while adult and senior dogs have slightly different needs in that they should receive some food from time to time, however they are generally fed balanced portions so they maintain a healthy body weight and energy level.
Basics of Dog Feeding according to Age and Weight
Feeding a dog is more than just putting contact with a bowl of food; when you feed a dog, you need to know the age, weight and, ultimately, the metabolism of your dog to properly feed him. Puppies will require more meals at shorter intervals than will adult and senior dogs because of their increased rate of growth and higher levels of energy.
Each dog goes through its different phases in life. During the puppy stage, the dog requires high protein to support the rapid growth and developing bones while the adult dog needs a more balanced nutrient profile for the maintenance phase.
Feeding Needs Across Life Stages
The senior dog requires fed less calories but should have more joint- supportive nutrients. With Growth and Development as an adult dog progresses, the feeding frequency will also decrease through time.
The young/puppy dog may be fed up to four times each day and as he or she matures they will have a decreased frequency of feeding until they reach approximately two times a day. Following your dog’s growth and development in regards to the change in feeding frequency will result in a digestion that is appropriate and a long-lasting, healthy dog.
Importance of Feeding by Weight
- Reduces the potential for overfeeding or obesity
- Provides appropriate nourishment to a puppy for continued growth
- Maintains the body condition of an adult dog and long-term
- Reduces the potential for having long-term health-related
With this balance of proper feeding (Quality, Quantity, and Consistency) to your dog, it will be met in this schedule of puppies (0-12mo.).
Puppy Feeding Schedule
A puppy from 0-3 months should be fed four times a day in small amounts to prevent overeating. As the puppy grows into a puppy that is 3-6 months old, the puppy should eat three times a day, with the portion sizes slowly increasing through this gradual process of change to help to reduce the likelihood of the puppy developing digestive issues.
By 6-12 months of age, most breeds will be able to shift over to eating two times a day.
Feeding schedule for Adult Dogs
An adult dog needs to eat a routine feeding schedule to maintain good health and energy levels; adult dogs do not need to eat as many times a day as puppies do, but they do need to be controlled in their portion sizes when they do eat as overfeeding will result in being overweight, and underfeeding will result in being weak and not getting the proper amount of nutrients to maintain a healthy life.
Most adult dogs do very well eating two times a day about 12 hours apart because it will help to keep their energy levels throughout the day relatively steady and not have excessive hunger between feedings. An active dog may need more than an inactive dog to maintain the appropriate feeding schedule.
A Feeding Schedule Establishes Routine
- Nutritionally Providing For Joint
- Monitoring Food Intake/Consumption
- Smaller Frequent Meals (If Appropriate)
Regular Veterinary Checkups With Your Veterinarian Should Be Done To Effectively Make Necessary Changes To Your Senior Dog’s Diet Based On His/Her Health Status.
What An Impact Does Weight Have With Daily Feeding Amounts
Food requirements for dogs are primarily dictated by their weight. Just Feeding A Dog Based On Age And Not Weight Does Have A Negative Impact (Can Result In Serious Health Problems) Such As Obesity Or Malnourishment.
Dogs Who Are Of The Same Breed May Share Similar Physical Characteristics But Are Different With Respect To Metabolism; Therefore, Dogs Within The Same Breed Group Consume Different Portion Sizes Based On Activity Level.
Maintaining The Right Weight For Your Dog Is Critical To Your Dog Having A Good Quality Of Life And For His/Her Overall Health; Excess Weight Causes Joint Problems, Heart Problems, And Shortened Life Span.
The Average Dog Should Receive Regular Feeding Adjustments Based On Weight Changes From Pet Nutritionists And Companies Such As Purina.
Portion Control By Weight
Due To Swiftness Of Metabolism, Small Dogs Require A Higher Calorie Density Content But A Lower Gram Amount (Compared To Larger Breeds). The heavier the dog, the larger the portion they need, but measuring out those portions is crucial to avoid overfeeding.
A dog that has a defined waistline and easily felt rib cage is at a healthy weight when compared to one that has excessive lumps of fat throughout.
- Your dog has no energy
- Your dog has difficulty moving around
Innovative Feeding Schedule and Service
While it is just as important to have a regular feeding schedule as it is to choose quality food for your dog, dogs thrive on routine – feeding your dog at the same times each day will help him digest and behave properly.
Establishing a regular feeding schedule will also help your dog to avoid anxiety and overeating by being on a regular routine.
Feeding your dog at breakfast time will provide him with energy throughout the day; whereas, feeding him at dinner time helps provide balance to his daily food intake, and helps prevent hunger overnight.
Feeding mistakes can harm your dog
Many times, dog owners create feeding mistakes by accident and these issues can greatly affect the health of their pet. One of the most common feeding mistakes is overfeeding, which can result in being overweight or having an obese dog that suffers from health complications related to being overweight.
Even giving extra treats to a dog may quickly add a substantial number of calories. This is a mistake that many dog owners make routinely due to the dog’s desire for treats.
Dangerous Feeding Habits
Another common feeding mistake is giving a dog human foods that may have food items dangerous to dogs. Foods such as chocolate, onions, and certain types of spices will either cause negative affects to a dog’s health or potentially be deadly.
Always feed your dog only specially formulated dog food. Many other mistakes affect a dog’s health.
If you skip meals or feed a dog unequally or not in schedule, this will cause issues with their digestion and lead to behavioral issues. Routine is important to dogs, and depend upon a routine.
A dog can become anxious when their feeding schedule is disrupted or result in eating too much (or too little) food when available.
Food Transition Guidelines
If a dog is required to have a new food immediately or suddenly change the dog’s food to another brand, it may result in digestive upset. Therefore, new foods must be introduced to a dog’s food in a gradual, slow manner over a period of days from the time of the change; this will lessen the chance that the dog will suffer from any digestive issues.
Feeding habits to discontinue immediately
- Ignoring portion recommendations
Advice for Your New Best Friend – Choosing the Right Food
Founded brands such as Royal Canin and Hill’s Science Diet manufacture a variety of foods specifically formulated for different ages and breeds of dogs as well as for dogs with specific health conditions.
The foods produced by these companies are designed to meet the specific requirements of each of their customers and to provide them with a good balance of nutrients.
