Help with food amounts + pics of new baby
 

Hi all. I was wondering if some of you could help me out with food amounts for my puppy and my adult Yorkie? The vet wasn't much help in answering this question for me today, and I just want to make sure I am on track.

My little one was 12 weeks on on Sept. 1st and at that time weighed 3.2 lbs (I expect she will be about 9lbs when grown). I got her at 8 weeks. Anyway, I was feeding her 3 times a day and recently switched to 1/4 a cup twice a day. She eats it all up with nothing left over. I feed her dry puppy food by Blue Buffalo and it says 1/2 cup per day for up to 5 lbs. so based on that I am giving her a little too much, but she does eat it all up fast. Does she need more?

Then my 2nd one is for my adult Yorkie who is overweight (obviously I am not good at judging food amounts). She is 11 years old, 11 lbs and on a weightloss version of Blue Buffalo. I also give her 1/4 of a cup twice a day. I would like to get her down to 8 lbs. Is it too little or too much?

By the way, my little ones name is Zoey. Here are some pics of her. 1st at 8 weeks and then about 12 weeks when her ears came up. She is going for her first cut at the groomers next week.

Pics


P.S. Yes, she is as mischievous...stike that, as devious as she looks. I'll save that for another topic though. :D

She is really beautiful!

;) she is adorable :) such a sweet face , love jill n poppy xx :aimeeyork

My vet always tells me that puppies should eat 3 times a day, all they can eat. Don't put a specific quantity of food in her bowl. Fill it up, she will eat as much as she likes.
We all here have experienced puppies that have stopped eating for no apparent reason. A puppy that eats all she can will deal with many issues better than a puppy that doesn't eat. Save diets and measured food quantities for her adulthood

Maria

Amounts to feed are so individual to the dog, and their lifestyle. For amounts, the best place to start from is the instructions on the bag...keeping in mind those are just 'average guidelines'. From there, feed to body condition. In other words, feel your dogs' bodies...ribs should not be too prominent, nor should they be too covered by fat.

On your weightloss kiddo, definitely start w/ guidelines on the bag...and go from there. Don't take too much food away, too quickly. Also, if she seems too hungry - you can help her 'fullness' by giving some green beans as treats, btwn meals.

Here is a chart to view the ideal body condition of dogs:

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Also, note that higher quality food (which Blue Buffalo is) you need to feed less. I don't usually follow the guidelines on the bag, it always seems like too much. Jackson is a healthy atheltic 15lbs and eats 1/2 cup a day (1/4 in the morning, 1/4 in PM). Occasionally, if he is extra active, he gets 3/4 cup per day. He also gets wet food mixed in.

How much wet food to you mix in?

Probably a little less than a tablespoon.

Are you speaking of a measuring tablespoon or a tableware tablespoon? My Abby usually picks the kibble out and leaves it in favor of the wet food. And what kind of wet food do you use? Thanks for your assistance!

Well, like basically the size of just a regular spoon. A regular spoonful. He's 16lbs tho like I said, a smaller dog will require less. I use all kinds of different wet food ranging from Natures Variety to Wellness to Castor & Pollux, etc. I buy rotate new cans all the time. I also add a dab of water to the kibble, then mix the wet, the water makes it mix a little better.

I tried this again last night and they both ate the wet food and left the wet kibble. I've tried this before and it ends up being wasteful. The older one has been through this before and she eventually ends up eating her kibble but I worry about the younger one as she has had low sugar problems earlier on. She is doing fine now but it is difficult keeping homemade food for them at all times and of course, makes it difficult to get them to eat their kibble. Also, it is mean to give the little one the homemade food and not give it to the older one. What to do? :confused: