What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
LImom
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What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
Scooby wasn't that great an eater when I got him 4 weeks ago and now he's gotten worse the past week or so. He's on antibiotics for giardia (a parasite). I didn't think to ask the vet is this could be the cause of him being so fussy.
How much food should a four month old Maltese be eating at a time? The vet was a little vague - a handful of dry food and a spoonful of canned three times a day. I've tried two brands of dry (Eukanuba and another one that came with him) and 3 brands of soft - Iam's, Nutra Max and Cesar's from the supermarket. Cesar's is the only one he liked but the vet said it wasn't as good as the others.
How much do you give a puppy and what brands work for you? Did you have to change brands to find what your puppy liked?
This is really bothering me so I am looking forward to your responses. Thanks.
antoinette
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
we feed Reggie only dry food and its called health extension. Its only found in specialty pet stores which is a pain but it is the food that he was on from the begining, I heard that its not good to change a dogs food often and if you do you should do it slowly, and mix the old food and the new together, each day slowly decreasing the old food and increasing the new food. In the beggining to get Reggie to eat and like his food we put 2 spoonfuls of canned food and mixed it in with the dry food and remeber to wet the dry food, puppies like it better wet. hth
antoinette
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
also, we feed regge 1/4 cup of food 3x per day in the beg. and he was about 3 lbs when we got him. Now at 8 months and 15 lbs he is eating about 1/2 cup of food 2x per day.
Anniegrl
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
Bama is almost 4 months but he's 23 lbs. He eats 1 cup 3x a day of Science Diet. Science Diet isn't the best but for puppies it's ok for now. I have no clue what to tell you about what a Maltese should eat. Did you get him from a breeder? They're your best resource. Vets typically don't know that much about nutrition (just like your General Practitioner isn't a nutritionist). Or, try finding a forum online for Maltese owners. I'm a member of a Boxer forum and have gotten some great advice from the people there.
Also, if you go to Whole Dog Journal you'll find a lot of GREAT info. They do a survey of dog foods and tell you which ones are better than others (and which ones are bad). They also talk about things like training, dog anatomy and health, etc.
lolita4life
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
Innova and Wellness are supposed to be the very best. Nutro is pretty good too. Just stay away from Iams, and especially Science Diet and you'll be fine. Basically any food that doesnt have MEAT as a first ingrediant is no good. (ex: Lamb is good, Lamb meal, is no good)
LImom
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
Posted by Anniegrl
Also, if you go to Whole Dog Journal you'll find a lot of GREAT info. They do a survey of dog foods and tell you which ones are better than others (and which ones are bad). They also talk about things like training, dog anatomy and health, etc.
Thanks so much. I'm going to check this out right now. Yes there is a forum of Maltese owners and I'm finding it really helpful, except for the food issue. Many of them give their puppies home made food like chicken and rice. I really don't want to start that. He'll never go to dog food again and I know other pet owners who have warned me never to go that route. There's no turning back.
Sassyz75
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
do not give your dog anything from the supermarket- those dog foods are made with 'spare parts'- unhealthy portions of beef (brain, spinal cord, etc) that aren't fit for human consumption.
Molly (my Chihuahua) eats Wellness dry food and Wellness wet food. I feed her about 1/3 cup of dry food in the morning with 1/4 cup of wet food in the morning. She usually eats all the wet food and then has one or two kernels of the dry.
Throughout the afternoon she eats the dry food and I give her a few small Mother Hubbard doggie treats.
For dinner she gets another 1/4 cup of wet...
Your dog is going to LOVE the cesears dog food more than any other b/c it's more flavorful than the others- like McDonalds vx. a Salad.
HearzBellz
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
I give the Pug a cup of Iams mixed with Nutra Max twice a day. The wet food was making him poop all over he house uncontrolably, so instead we just put a tsp of 'Vita Gravy' on his evening meal. He eats a lot for a small dog. For my Mini Pin I give him a bag of little champions twice a day mixed with a 1/3 cup of Iams
both dogs were finicky as puppies, but try toresist the temptation to change foods often. It usually does more harm than good.
MrsTC
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
how much $ is Wellness food?
I have been giving Casey Puppy Chow and she is in love with it.
Sassyz75
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
JEN DO NOT FEED YOUR DOG PUPPY CHOW- IT'S LIKE GIVING A BABY A DIET OF MCDONALDS...
Wellness is $1.99 for a big can and $12-15 for a bag of kibble (dry)
MrsTC
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
LOL awww....Mickey D's for Casey
I have to check the brand that the pet store gave us when we brought her home. She didnt like it so we bought Puppy Chow!
Sassyz75
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
of course she likes puppy chow :) it's junk food. Who doesn't like junk food.
MrsTC
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
Posted by Sassyz75
of course she likes puppy chow :) it's junk food. Who doesn't like junk food.
just like her mom and dad
Sassyz75
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
and her aunt & uncle
Valentinegirl
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
Whats wrong w/ Science Diet? Thats what I give Chewie.
bridget&jimmy
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
I to use since diet and Pro plan, but I have been having trouble with alot of uncontroled bowl movements maybee I will change to Iams or Wellness with a little bit of wet food.
LImom
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
Your responses really informed me on what to look for when buying Scooby's food. I also decided it wouldn't hurt to call the breeder. She recommended wetting the dry kibbles with water and adding a little of Cesars to give him the taste he likes. She uses Purina for Puppies and my vet did name Purina Pro Plan as one that he likes. I'll do as recommended here and gradually decrease the amount of Cesars and add a better brand once he's finished with his antibiotics tomorrow. I'm hoping there will be an improvement in appetite once he's off the medicine.
Now that I know what to do, I have to get Scooby to go along with it. Thanks everyone.
Sassyz75
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
when he is hungry enough, he'll eat
lolita4life
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
Posted by Valentinegirl
Whats wrong w/ Science Diet? Thats what I give Chewie.
oh im sorry, switch now though! science diet is crap. i think its actually like the worst food out there.
LImom
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Re: What brands and how much food is adequate for a puppy?
Posted by Sassyz75
when he is hungry enough, he'll eat
The pediatrician used to say the same thing. LOL! I know you are right but it's not always easy to just give up and let them go without food.
