The amount you should feed your puppy depends on several factors including their age, current weight, expected adult weight, breed, and activity level.
General Guidelines on How Much to Feed a Puppy
- Percentage of adult body weight: A common rule of thumb is to feed your puppy about 5-6% of their expected adult body weight per day when they are young. As they grow, this amount gradually decreases to about 2-3% of their body weight
- Puppy feeding charts: These provide specific daily feeding amounts based on your puppy's current weight and age. For example, a puppy weighing 6-10 pounds may eat 1 to 1.5 cups of food per day at 1-3 months old, reducing slightly as they age
- Number of meals: Puppies typically need to be fed multiple small meals a day due to their small stomachs. The usual feeding frequency is:
- 4 to 6 meals per day when starting solid food (~2 months old)
- 3 to 4 meals per day up to ~4 months
- 2 to 3 meals per day from 4 to 6 months
- 2 meals per day after 6 months, depending on breed and size
Example Puppy Feeding Chart (Daily Amounts)
Puppy Weight| 1-3 Months| 3-5 Months| 5-7 Months| 7-12 Months
---|---|---|---|---
Up to 5 lbs| ½ – 1 cup| ½ – ¾ cup| ¼ – ½ cup| ¼ – ½ cup
6 – 10 lbs| 1 – 1½ cups| ¾ – 1 cup| ½ – 1 cup| ½ – ¾ cup
11 – 20 lbs| 1½ – 2½ cups| 1 – 1¾ cups| 1 – 1½ cups| ¾ – 1¼ cups
21 – 40 lbs| 2½ – 4¼ cups| 1¾ – 3 cups| 1½ – 2½ cups| 1¼ – 2¼ cups
(Amounts are approximate and depend on the specific food's calorie content)
Tips for Feeding Your Puppy
- Feed measured amounts to monitor intake and avoid overfeeding or underfeeding
- Adjust food quantity based on your puppy’s body condition; if they are gaining too much weight, reduce the amount slightly, or increase if they seem too thin
- Use high-quality, complete puppy food formulated to meet their nutritional needs.
- Divide the total daily amount into the recommended number of meals.
- Consult your veterinarian for personalized advice, especially if your puppy has special health or growth needs
In summary, feed your puppy multiple small meals daily, with the total amount based on their current weight, age, and expected adult size, typically starting at about 5-6% of their adult weight per day and adjusting as they grow
