There’s enough to feel nervous about when you’re responsible for new puppy, after all - now they're at home with you, they're entirely dependent on you for survival. And since a puppy's nutrition is vital as they play, grow and developed, you’ll want to keep them as safe and nourished as possible.
Although food is super crucial for a growing pup, it's also important not to overfeed them. In this article, we’ll be focusing on how to know whether you’re overfeeding your puppy, ensuring their diet is doing nothing but good! With these tips, you can avoid overfeeding and they’ll grow up healthy, happy and strong under your care.
Signs your puppy is overfed
Unsure if your pup’s been eating too much? There are a few giveaway signs to look out for:
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The most obvious is they’ll be carrying excess weight, or have put a lot of weight on in a short space of time. A young puppy grows rapidly - gaining between 5-10% of their body weight each week - so of course, they’ll appear bigger over time. If they gain more than this, you’ll likely notice, as they may be carrying more weight than their miniature form can handle.
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They may have difficulty moving and getting around easily, as their weight means they struggle to carry themselves.
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They could appear sluggish and lethargic, and may also suffer from digestive issues such as diarrhoea or a bloated tummy.
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They’ll seem hungry often and whine for food. If they’ve been fed too often, they’ll get used to this routine and feel hungrier than necessary.
Why is overfeeding a concern?
You might want to give your puppy as much food as they’re willing to eat, but overfeeding has a range of negative effects. Excess weight is something to avoid as it causes a number of connected health concerns.
Here are some risks and health issues associated with overfeeding a puppy:
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Digestive problems. Excess food can overwhelm a puppy's still developing digestive system, causing discomfort, bloating, and inefficient nutrient absorption. They could also get puppy diarrhoea, which can lead to pain and dehydration.
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Bloating. Too much food can lead to a distended stomach and discomfort, as well as gas build-up.
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Risk of obesity. Overweight puppies often become overweight adults, and this can reduce quality of life and shorten lifespan significantly.
Why’s my puppy eating so much?
A puppy might want to eat more than they need for a lot of reasons; it could be an instinctual behaviour (e.g. they may rush to eat if they came from a big litter), their genetics or breed, or they might even have an undiagnosed medical condition, such as a worm burden.
If you’ve been feeding your puppy too much, they’ll get used to it and end up hungrier than what’s healthy for them. It’s just the same as when humans eat more than they need, and then end up craving and feeling hungry for that same large amount of food each day.
How much should my puppy weigh?
How much your puppy should weigh depends on a couple things, including their breed and size. Smaller breeds will stop growing at a younger age, and larger breeders will often be fully grown by 18 months old.
Tips for feeding a puppy the right amount
Here are some tips to keep you feeding your pup the right food in the right amounts…
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Focus on the amount of food required. A puppy shouldn’t eat more food than they can handle - the amount will start little and often and gradually increase as the number of feeds decrease. Do some research into how much food your pup should eat based on their puppy stage and breed, and be sure to not go over that amount. Speak to your vet if you aren’t sure. In the meantime
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Read the labels. Keep an eye on the labels of any puppy food you consider. Though food for puppies has to pass certain standards, there are some cheaper brands that contain filler ingredients, which won’t do much for your pup’s growing health.
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Choose puppy food that puts nutrition first. Picking healthy, high-quality puppy food that’s all about nutrition means your tiny pooch gets all the superpowers they need from their meals - without the ill effects of artificial additives or cheap, high fat food packed with empty calories.
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Consider your puppy's lifestyle. Does your puppy get enough movement? If their activity level is relatively low it could be worth challenging them a bit more in the walking and playing department. This depends on their developmental stage, but puppy's over 8 weeks old should naturally be little balls of energy! If they're anything different, be sure to contact your vet.
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Learn about the nutritional needs of a puppy. When getting a new puppy, you need to arm yourself with all the knowledge of their needs, just so you can give them the proper care. Raising a puppy is a big responsibility, so swot up on the nutritional needs of your particular puppy breed, and do what’s best for their growth, development and overall comfort and happiness.
FAQs
What happens if you overfeed a puppy?
Puppies need frequent feeding, but if you feed them more than they need, they could suffer an array of negative effects. An overfed puppy will gain excess weight (more than their usual growth-based development), seem sluggish and lethargic, and potentially suffer from stomach issues like diarrhoea and a bloated tum. Over time, a puppy could develop health issues due to weight gain too.
Will puppies stop eating when full?
A puppy should stop eating when they’re full. Not all of them do, however, so it’s up to you as the carer to feed them the correct portion size for their size, breed and developmental stage.
Do puppies still need milk after 8 weeks?
A newborn puppy starts off with milk or formula feeds, and from 4 weeks starts transitioning to a milk and puppy food mixture (called ‘puppy mush’). You can slowly increase the ratio of nutrient-rich puppy food to milk over time. By 8 weeks, a puppy should be fully weaned and eating just puppy food.
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