am i overfeeding my 4 month old? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

maizysmom · 09-13-2008, 09:26 AM

i know this may sound like a stupid question, but the package isn't clear..

we feed our 4 month old yorkie pro plan puppy for small breeds, and it says on the packaging that we should feed her half a cup. does this mean half a cup each time we feed her, which is 2-3 times a day? or does this mean half a cup a day ONLY. if so, we've been overfeeding and she'd been overeating because she scarfs down about a half a cup 2-3 times a day! and she always seems hungry for more!!!

we just asked ourselves this last night as we noticed she is looking a little like a porkie. please help! thanks.

mblab · 09-13-2008, 09:55 AM

Without seeing the bag itself I can't tell you with any certainty. Each food is different, depending on its individual make-up each food will have a different recommended amount, as it's nutritional composition is different than others. The amount they recommend is a general guideline, to which they feel is enough to support your dog's needs. (It's my understanding that a puppy food should take in to account the individual nutritional make up of the food, your dog's age and weight when determining the correct amount to feed.)

That said, a 4 month old eating 1.5 cups of food PER DAY seems to be a normal'ish amount, it could go either way. In comparison, our 15 week old eats Eukanuba Small Breed Puppy kibble and it recommends 3/4 TOTAL, per day for her right now.

I'd go back and look at the bag carefully, does it say something to the effect of daily consumption? If so the amount it gives is over the course of the entire day, and you would divide that amount by the times you feed your puppy. So for example, it recommends 1 cup per day and you feed your dog 3 times a day, that'd be 1/3 cup 3 times a day every day. Edited to add that I just went to the website and for the Chicken and Rice Formula of that food it recommends 1/2 cup to 1 cup (I assume per day) for a puppy that's 4 months old and will reach an adult weight of 3-12 pounds.

If you're really concerned then I'd also consult your vet. All dogs are different and will grow differently, I'm not an expert but your vet is! If you vet feels your dog's overweight (which is a serious issue, even more so at such a young age!) then I'd do something about it immediately. But if your vet thinks your puppy is right on track then you're good to go!

Hope I haven't scared you, I know how frustrating this food thing can be, best of luck!

Missiemiss · 09-13-2008, 09:57 AM

All that I have seen it means that is the daily amount - if she's eating 2 or 3 times a day then you need to divide it up.

means143 · 09-13-2008, 01:38 PM

Usually, it means 1/2 cup per day, so you have to divide half a cup to 3 meals

Btw, it's good to hear she loves to eat

alishasmom · 09-13-2008, 01:43 PM

The vet will get sarcastic on you if you have an overwaigh pupp, but he means well. this is what I do : the packaging in trixie's food label seis 1/3 cup for a 3 pound dog a day. Trixie is only 2.10 so out of one third, she alway has left overs at night. That is ok. A lot of her nutrition comes from her treats. I give her milkbone chicken tenders, which has 15 different vitamines.

Tcarnagie · 09-13-2008, 01:53 PM

We had a problem similar to yours when I first got my Maltese. Jasper was 1.65 lbs at 10 weeks and the bag said to feed him 1/2 cup a day. Within a month he had doubled his weight and was getting fat...his belly was bigger than the rest of him. I went to the vet and he determined he was a little on the chunky side so we switched him to Wellness Healthy Weight where he could still eat the same amount but it had less fat and more filler in it. This allowed him to still feel full without all the calories that was making him large. Over 1 month period he managed to not gain very much weight but grew into the weight he had and now he is on half weight food and half regular puppy food and doing great.

I would check with your vet first, but if you can't feel the ribs easily then I was told they are over weight. Jasper now has ribs and is doing great. He loves to eat so we only feed him during meal time and not free feeding...he would eat all of his daily portion in 1 setting if I would let him. He is eating a total of 1/2 cup per day and he is now 4.5 lbs at almost 6 months old.

mscat · 09-13-2008, 02:24 PM

A little Yorkie can only eat so much. They have very small stomachs. I would not worry about that. My Suzi is freed fed and there are no problems. If your is scrafing down food each time and is still hungry then she is wanting more. It is reccomened to free feed when they are puppies.

maizysmom · 09-14-2008, 10:47 AM

thanks everyone for your responses! i actually measured out 1/2 cup of food and then put it in her dish to see what it would look like and it turns out i wasn't feeding her 1/2 cup 3 times a day. more like 1/3 cup 2-3 times a day so i just overguessed myself. my boyfriend calls me a hypocondriac when it comes to our little baby.

she just turned 4 months on the 9th and she was at the vet a few days prior and weighed in at 4 pounds 12 ounces. exactly a pound more than her first vet visit which was on her 3 month mark. so she gained a pound in a month - he didn't say she was overweight at all, and i don't think she is. i just get things in my head and freak out about them! i CAN feel her ribs so i guess that's a good sign.

thanks all!

09-13-2008, 09:26 AM	#1
maizysmom YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Waldorf, MD Posts: 5	am i overfeeding my 4 month old? i know this may sound like a stupid question, but the package isn't clear.. we feed our 4 month old yorkie pro plan puppy for small breeds, and it says on the packaging that we should feed her half a cup. does this mean half a cup each time we feed her, which is 2-3 times a day? or does this mean half a cup a day ONLY. if so, we've been overfeeding and she'd been overeating because she scarfs down about a half a cup 2-3 times a day! and she always seems hungry for more!!! we just asked ourselves this last night as we noticed she is looking a little like a porkie. please help! thanks.

09-13-2008, 09:55 AM	#2
mblab Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 723	Without seeing the bag itself I can't tell you with any certainty. Each food is different, depending on its individual make-up each food will have a different recommended amount, as it's nutritional composition is different than others. The amount they recommend is a general guideline, to which they feel is enough to support your dog's needs. (It's my understanding that a puppy food should take in to account the individual nutritional make up of the food, your dog's age and weight when determining the correct amount to feed.) That said, a 4 month old eating 1.5 cups of food PER DAY seems to be a normal'ish amount, it could go either way. In comparison, our 15 week old eats Eukanuba Small Breed Puppy kibble and it recommends 3/4 TOTAL, per day for her right now. I'd go back and look at the bag carefully, does it say something to the effect of daily consumption? If so the amount it gives is over the course of the entire day, and you would divide that amount by the times you feed your puppy. So for example, it recommends 1 cup per day and you feed your dog 3 times a day, that'd be 1/3 cup 3 times a day every day. Edited to add that I just went to the website and for the Chicken and Rice Formula of that food it recommends 1/2 cup to 1 cup (I assume per day) for a puppy that's 4 months old and will reach an adult weight of 3-12 pounds. If you're really concerned then I'd also consult your vet. All dogs are different and will grow differently, I'm not an expert but your vet is! If you vet feels your dog's overweight (which is a serious issue, even more so at such a young age!) then I'd do something about it immediately. But if your vet thinks your puppy is right on track then you're good to go! Hope I haven't scared you, I know how frustrating this food thing can be, best of luck! Last edited by mblab; 09-13-2008 at 09:59 AM. Reason: Didn't read the OP post right the first time

09-13-2008, 09:57 AM	#3
Missiemiss Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 651	All that I have seen it means that is the daily amount - if she's eating 2 or 3 times a day then you need to divide it up. __________________ Gracie Froto Blair and RIP Bear-Bear 12/31/08 & RIP Roscoe 06/12/08 Free Samples! All-Natural, High-quality Pet food for your Furbaby! http://www.trilogyonline.com/missiemiss

09-13-2008, 01:38 PM	#4
means143 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: My baby's heart Posts: 195	Usually, it means 1/2 cup per day, so you have to divide half a cup to 3 meals Btw, it's good to hear she loves to eat __________________

09-13-2008, 01:43 PM	#5
alishasmom YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Chinquapin NC Posts: 654	The vet will get sarcastic on you if you have an overwaigh pupp, but he means well. this is what I do : the packaging in trixie's food label seis 1/3 cup for a 3 pound dog a day. Trixie is only 2.10 so out of one third, she alway has left overs at night. That is ok. A lot of her nutrition comes from her treats. I give her milkbone chicken tenders, which has 15 different vitamines. __________________ Last edited by alishasmom; 09-13-2008 at 01:45 PM.

09-13-2008, 01:53 PM	#6
Tcarnagie Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 1,705	We had a problem similar to yours when I first got my Maltese. Jasper was 1.65 lbs at 10 weeks and the bag said to feed him 1/2 cup a day. Within a month he had doubled his weight and was getting fat...his belly was bigger than the rest of him. I went to the vet and he determined he was a little on the chunky side so we switched him to Wellness Healthy Weight where he could still eat the same amount but it had less fat and more filler in it. This allowed him to still feel full without all the calories that was making him large. Over 1 month period he managed to not gain very much weight but grew into the weight he had and now he is on half weight food and half regular puppy food and doing great. I would check with your vet first, but if you can't feel the ribs easily then I was told they are over weight. Jasper now has ribs and is doing great. He loves to eat so we only feed him during meal time and not free feeding...he would eat all of his daily portion in 1 setting if I would let him. He is eating a total of 1/2 cup per day and he is now 4.5 lbs at almost 6 months old.

09-13-2008, 02:24 PM	#7
mscat YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hanford, CA Posts: 4,895	A little Yorkie can only eat so much. They have very small stomachs. I would not worry about that. My Suzi is freed fed and there are no problems. If your is scrafing down food each time and is still hungry then she is wanting more. It is reccomened to free feed when they are puppies. __________________ "No matter how little money & how few possessions, you own, having a dog makes you rich."

09-14-2008, 10:47 AM	#8
maizysmom YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Waldorf, MD Posts: 5	thanks everyone for your responses! i actually measured out 1/2 cup of food and then put it in her dish to see what it would look like and it turns out i wasn't feeding her 1/2 cup 3 times a day. more like 1/3 cup 2-3 times a day so i just overguessed myself. my boyfriend calls me a hypocondriac when it comes to our little baby. she just turned 4 months on the 9th and she was at the vet a few days prior and weighed in at 4 pounds 12 ounces. exactly a pound more than her first vet visit which was on her 3 month mark. so she gained a pound in a month - he didn't say she was overweight at all, and i don't think she is. i just get things in my head and freak out about them! i CAN feel her ribs so i guess that's a good sign. thanks all!