Food Food Everywhere

[luzangela428]

Hey guys......I have a quick questions how much do you guys feed your dogs? Maximus is 12 weeks and I give him 4 to 5 tsp. of dog food a meal 3x a day or I substitue a meal with a slice of natural balance lamb roll. Plus he also gets treats for pottyig and being a good boy. Does this sound about right?

[chachi]

It sounds right to me. Thats about how much I used to feed. Now I just leave their hard kibble food out all the time.

[Sydney'sMom]

I don't know what is considered "right"...but when I brought Syd home I was sooooooo cocerned about hypoglycemia that I didn't want to risk under-feeding her. I just filled her bowl up (she eats Iams Puppy) and let her eat her fill. When she was done I would put the bowl away...that way she couldn't munch all day long. And I did this 3 times a day. After about 2 weeks she just stopped eating her "lunch" meal...so now we are down to 2 meals a day.

I figure as long as she doesn't get overweight...I will just let her eat until she is full.

[luzangela428]

See I used to just pour the food in the bowl and leave it for about 30-35 minutes but the doctor said Maximus is a little "fat"???? 2.4 lbs???? so I should start measuring that's why I was thinking maybe I was doing wrong.

[chachi]

I would do whatever your vet says to do but 2lbs doesn't sound fat to me how old is he??? I just free feed now but when my dogs were younger I gave thme canned and I measured it out.

[Sydney'sMom]

Can you feel his ribs without pressing hard? If you can then he isn't fat. I can't imagine how he could be fat at 2.4 lbs.

If he starts scavenging for food and eating random things like dust bunnies and dead bugs...then you know that he is hungry. He is still in a growing stage and I would be hesitant to limit his nutrient intake.

[Biddy's Mom]

I thought Tucker was getting fat - he's only 2.5 pounds but he's really short & small framed, so he's actually pretty pudgy! I asked the vet if we were over feeding him & she said definitly not. She said at his age (around 5 months) she'd rather him be a little fat than too thin & to feed away. So now I have a little porker, but hey - there's more to love!

[chachi]

My oldest is 5 months and he had the rolly polly belly when he was younger. When he grew lengthwise he completely thinned out.

[luzangela428]

He is 12 weeks..I didn't think fat either ...he just get s belly sometimes because he gets gas from eating fast but he is pretty little to me...I would never think to call him a "big" dog

[luzangela428]

Originally Posted by chachi

My oldest is 5 months and he had the rolly polly belly when he was younger. When he grew lengthwise he completely thinned out.

my bf calls him santa...lol...I feel bad, like they are teasing my baby

[luzangela428]

Originally Posted by Biddy's Mom

I thought Tucker was getting fat - he's only 2.5 pounds but he's really short & small framed, so he's actually pretty pudgy! I asked the vet if we were over feeding him & she said definitly not. She said at his age (around 5 months) she'd rather him be a little fat than too thin & to feed away. So now I have a little porker, but hey - there's more to love!

I think that is probaly what he meant...because he is little framed he probaly looks chubbier....I think he looks fine and he doesn't run to get the food when it's time to eat.. (takes him a few minutes) so I know he's not hungry..thought maybe I was over feeding....so I figured I would ask

[chachi]

I would be careful about limiting his food. If doubling the weight is correct hes only gonna be about 4 lbs as an adult. Hes small, I have one thats 2lbs 4oz and shes about 14 weeks and I never limit her food. His belly will get smaller when he grows length wise.

[luzangela428]

Thanks...it makes me feel better to know if he's hungry he can take the food...but I got yelled at so I figured I was making a mistake----first puppy, I will just free feed then until he gets old enough to have set meals. Thanks for the help you guys