How Much Food per. Day?

Bizzle3 · 10-20-2008, 11:41 AM

I have a 8 week old yellow lab. I have been feeding him about 1 cup of food in the morning, at lunch and at night. I dont know if this is to much food or not enough.

So i was just wondering how many cups of food i should be feeding him a day.

Thanks

pugmom · 10-20-2008, 12:02 PM

8 months or 8 weeks?

Bizzle3 · 10-20-2008, 12:48 PM

OOPS! sorry i meant 8 weeks!

pugmom · 10-20-2008, 12:51 PM

LOL, I figured since the puppy in your sig looks much younger then 8mo

what kind of food are you feeding?

jbray01 · 10-20-2008, 12:58 PM

the amount of food you feed depends on the dog food.

most foods usually tell you on the back of the bag.

Bizzle3 · 10-20-2008, 01:02 PM

I am currently feeding him purina puppy chow.....

I just fed him that because the breeder had him on that when he was a puppy.

But today we are going down to get California Natural

http://www.californianaturalpet.com/...lt.asp?id=1252

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbray01

the amount of food you feed depends on the dog food.

most foods usually tell you on the back of the bag.

Alrighty. I guess we will see when we get his new food

RawFedDogs · 10-20-2008, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bizzle3

Alrighty. I guess we will see when we get his new food

You judge the amount to feed by the dogs build. You should be able to see his last 2 or 3 ribs and a definate waist line behind the rib cage when viewed from above. You shouldn't be able to see his hip bone or spine.

If he is getting too skinny, feed more. Too fat? Feed less. it's as simple as that.

Spicy1_VV · 10-20-2008, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RawFedDogs

You judge the amount to feed by the dogs build. You should be able to see his last 2 or 3 ribs and a definate waist line behind the rib cage when viewed from above. You shouldn't be able to see his hip bone or spine.

If he is getting too skinny, feed more. Too fat? Feed less. it's as simple as that.

I think it really depends on the breed though. A lot of people don't want to see any rib on an 8 week old pup because they are still growing and feel it wouldn't be the best nutritionally. Although I think too many keep pups too fat. I'm not one who feels they should be kept fat, there should be a happy medium.

In other breeds it is fine to see spine and in some others it is fine to see spine/hips but none of this is for pups of course. Unless it is some slight visibility in a naturally leaner dog, it wouldn't be in best interest to try and fatten said pup up too much.

RawFedDogs · 10-21-2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spicy1_VV

I think it really depends on the breed though.

In this case the pup happens to be a lab.

Quote:

A lot of people don't want to see any rib on an 8 week old pup because they are still growing and feel it wouldn't be the best nutritionally.

They would be wrong.

Quote:

Although I think too many keep pups too fat. I'm not one who feels they should be kept fat, there should be a happy medium.

The happy medium is the description I gave in my previous post.

Spicy1_VV · 10-21-2008, 02:21 PM

I couldn't see your dogs ribs in the pics you posted and they are adults.

I know it happens to be a Lab

When I got my Cane Corso pup I could see ribs and a little spine/hip.

There are different opinions on how a pup should be kept. Some want real lean (like I don't mind, I post my pics with pups showing a little rib and sometimes spine) others want the middle ground not too much and not too little, and some think pups should be "fat and healthy".

I've never thought having little body fat is a problem but many people do when it comes to pups. I understand where they are coming from with pups as they say especially if said pup were to become ill, get parvo, ect. They don't have much on them that they can't afford loosing any which gives them less chances of survival. It is better for them to have some fat along with good muscle that can be lost. To many people organ damage and other body deterioration is a scary thought.

Without less body fat in cold temperature it is much harder for a dog to keep warm. If they are housed outdoors or going to be working outdoors for a good part of the day then they are going to be pretty cold. Freezing and illness would be a possibility if housed outside. Illness and lack of energy would be big issues if working outside. When a dog shivers it burns even more up so it will continue to lose what it does have (which will cause that dog to become underweight) and it also burns energy, which means fatigue, tiring quicker, less ability to do the job, ect. I'm show being uncomfortable doesn't help focus or concentration either.

I've been in more then enough arguments with people who think if you can see a dogs ribs they are starved and skinny. At the end of the day I know my dogs are healthy and correct for their breed.

RawFedDogs · 10-21-2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spicy1_VV

I couldn't see your dogs ribs in the pics you posted and they are adults.

Yes, Abby is a little overweight. I have cut way back on her food and had thyroid tested. So far, still overweight. Because of her age, she has cut back on her exercise. Thor is a little overweight also. Not as much as Abby.

Quote:

There are different opinions on how a pup should be kept. Some want real lean (like I don't mind, I post my pics with pups showing a little rib and sometimes spine) others want the middle ground not too much and not too little, and some think pups should be "fat and healthy".

"Fat and Healthy" is an oxymoron. Just because some what their dogs "chubby" doesn't mean it's healthy. On the thin side is healthy. It's not an opinion.

Quote:

I've never thought having little body fat is a problem but many people do when it comes to pups. I understand where they are coming from with pups as they say especially if said pup were to become ill, get parvo, ect.

A little body fat is not a problem as long as it's not so much as to hide the last couple of ribs. Keeping a dog heavy because "he might get sick" is not a reason.

Quote:

I've been in more then enough arguments with people who think if you can see a dogs ribs they are starved and skinny. At the end of the day I know my dogs are healthy and correct for their breed.

We don't disagree.

Spicy1_VV · 10-22-2008, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RawFedDogs

Yes, Abby is a little overweight. I have cut way back on her food and had thyroid tested. So far, still overweight. Because of her age, she has cut back on her exercise. Thor is a little overweight also. Not as much as Abby.

Well that is good that they will be cutting down. I think a lot of times thyroid goes undiagnosed as a reason for too much/too little weight. I don't remember which was which. After all you don't post many pics.

Quote:

"Fat and Healthy" is an oxymoron. Just because some what their dogs "chubby" doesn't mean it's healthy. On the thin side is healthy. It's not an opinion.

LOL I think so too. I've known people who overfed for all types of reasons, most come down to being selfish or sometimes guilt, feel bad, don't want their dog to feel hungry.

I think partially it is opinion. My opinion of healthy and optimal is lean and muscular. Not thin and not fat.

I know the desirable condition for breeds do vary (although many show dogs are fat so you can't really use them as a "standard" for weight IMO).

Quote:

A little body fat is not a problem as long as it's not so much as to hide the last couple of ribs. Keeping a dog heavy because "he might get sick" is not a reason.

I'm not saying to keep a dog heavy. Just because a pup isn't thin doesn't make them heavy either. Keeping more weight because they might get sick is what a couple people reasoned for their adult dogs. Believe me I didn't agree with this mentality, I think they are more likely to have problems related to their weight then to become ill. When do you think is the right age to lean a pup down?

Quote:

We don't disagree.

That is a plus. One less person out of 1000s of others.

Layladog · 10-23-2008, 12:01 AM

I was actually wondering the same thing. My bag of Orijen says to feed her something like 5 1/2 cups a day (for a dog who will be 60lb full grown)... she is on two cups a day plus some canned tripe, and I'm worried she's starting to pork up a bit too much.

Is this normal?

pugmom · 10-23-2008, 08:16 AM

For me learning how much to feed my dogs was trial and error.

I have 3 all different sizes and body structure....I started out with what was recommended on the bad but cut it back about 1/3)....then when I noticed my pug getting a little too pudgy I cut her back again ......When I fist go my APBT she was on royal Canine she was eating almost 4 cups a day....then I switched her over to wellness and she is eating about half that and doing really well....

IMO you just have to find what works for your dog

......you may want to try what is on the bag but I have been told by my vet to cut it back by about 1/3 and go from there