The amount a puppy should eat depends primarily on their expected adult weight, age, and breed size. As a general guideline, you should feed a puppy about 5 to 6 percent of their estimated adult body weight daily when they are young. As they grow older, this amount should be reduced to 2 to 3 percent of their body weight to match their nutritional needs
. Feeding frequency and amounts by age:
- Puppies typically start eating solid, complete puppy food around 5 to 8 weeks old.
- From 6 to 8 weeks, feeding 4 meals per day is common, possibly 5 meals for very small breeds.
- By 12 to 16 weeks, feeding can be reduced to 3 to 4 meals daily
Example feeding amounts by weight and age:
- Small puppies (under 5 pounds) may eat about ½ to 1 cup of food daily at 1-3 months, decreasing as they grow.
- Medium puppies (10-20 pounds) might need 1½ to 2½ cups daily at 1-3 months, tapering off with age.
- Larger puppies (20-50 pounds) eat roughly 2½ to 5 cups daily at 1-3 months, adjusted as they mature
Additional tips:
- Feed measured amounts at regular intervals to monitor appetite and prevent overfeeding.
- Adjust food quantity based on your puppy’s body condition-add more if too thin, reduce if gaining excess weight.
- Consult your veterinarian for tailored advice, especially since nutritional needs vary by breed and individual
In summary, start by feeding about 5-6% of your puppy's expected adult weight daily in multiple meals, then gradually reduce the amount as they grow, while monitoring their body condition and adjusting as needed.
