Are you overfeeding your puppy?
Now your puppy has made the change to adult food, it’s important to keep an eye on feeding amounts. Overfeeding your pup can lead to weight gain and poorly tums.
Overweight dogs face a shorter life expectancy and are at greater risk of long-term health conditions which can have a big impact on their quality of life, like diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.
Is your puppy a greedy guts?
Is your puppy a guzzler? Do they finish their meals in a matter of seconds?
Introducing an anti-guzzling bowl could help your pup to slow down and make the most out of mealtimes, so they are more satisfied at mealtimes and less likely to overeat or stuff themselves on treats.
If you feed your puppy treats for training, adjust the amount you feed at mealtime accordingly and keep the treat as small as possible.
Top tips from our nutrition team:
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Watch the dog, not the dish
“There’s a saying in canine feeding: watch the dog, not the dish.
Whilst feeding guides are really important, portion sizes ultimately depend on individual metabolism and body type of your pup, and can vary from dog to dog”.
Laura Crotch-Harvey, Nutrition Manager -
Don't worry if they skip meals!
“If your puppy occasionally skips a meal or picks at food leaving it in their bowl, don’t worry.
It could mean they are ready to eliminate feeding or that you have given them too much. In which case simply reduce the quantity served”.Helen Anslow, Nutritional Advisor
What to look out for:
Not all dogs that are overfed are overweight, and sometimes there are other side effects that can be seen. If your dog is suffering with any of the following issues, contact our nutrition team:
- Itchy skin
- Digestive upset
- Behaviour problems
- Fussy eater
- Tear staining
- Excess moulting
