Too Much Puppy Food?

Can I feed my puppy to much?

There is a false idea with large-breed puppies that since they have larger bones, they need more calcium and more calories to continue developing at the rapid growth rate puppies experience. This is not true. Many large-breed puppies that experience too rapid of growth in their first six months experience developmental bone problems. The best plan of attack to prevent these issues in your large breed puppy is to control the rate of growth by controlling their intake of calories, calcium, and phosphorous.

If you are overfeeding your puppy, their high weight makes them at even higher risk for bone problems. You should be able to feel the dog’s ribs, but not see them. If you can not feel your puppy’s ribs, this is an indicator that you are over-feeding or should switch to a lower calorie diet. Many puppy foods are rich in calories; which is why many kennels switch to adult dog food at around 12 weeks to safely promote growth. If you feel your puppy is ready to make the switch, make sure you are feeding an adult dog food appropriate for all life stages. Follow these guidelines and your puppy will experience normal skeletal development.

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