Navigation

Welcome Guest
( Log In | Register )


> 

Visit our Family Home section for articles and advice on pets and your family:
www.essentialbaby.com.au/life-style/family-home

2 Pages V   1 2 >  
Reply to this topicStart new topic

> Correct amount of food, For a small dog

V
enigma
post 16/11/2012, 06:04 PM
Post #1
**   Posts: 126   Joined: 30-August 02     
Member
I am upset to admit this but I think I may be turning my gorgeous puppy into a big round puppy ;( I think I am feeding him too much and making him just a little fat.
So without physically seeing him what would be the ideal amount of food for a small cav x poodle x Maltese. I had him weighed a yr ago and he was 4.5kilos then. He is 2yrs old. He gets walked for at least 1hr a day and runs around all the time when out, but during the day he is a lap dog and sits and sleeps unless you play with him.
At the moment I am putting his wet food into a bowl and covering the bottom. Roughly between 150-200gms once a day. He does have access to dry food all day which some days he eats a lot and other days he doesn't. As well as access to water all day. Now for the part were I will be chastised. We have been known on the odd occasion to give him some of our tea, 2 or three small bits of chicken or steak.
What would the ideal amount of food be for him?
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
VioletRose
post 16/11/2012, 06:10 PM
Post #2
**   Posts: 162   Joined: 2-March 11     
Member
The ideal amount of food is enough to keep him bright eyed and active so his weight is stable. You should be able to feel his ribs but they shouldn't stick out.
As to how much that will be, that really depends on your dog as an individual same as people.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
enigma
post 16/11/2012, 06:12 PM
Post #3
**   Posts: 126   Joined: 30-August 02     
Member
Thnks for that, I love my puppy and would hate to think I am killing him with kindness.
I will check him out when he comes back in. Had his haircut today and is not liking me at the moment lol
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Unatheowl
post 16/11/2012, 06:37 PM
Post #4
****   Posts: 4,339   Joined: 4-February 09     
Advanced Member
The exact amount depends upon the fact, carbohydrate and protein content of the food. Also then the growth stage, activity level and size of your dog when it becomes an adult. If you want to get technical there are feeding charts you could consult - probably could google them.

Like a pp said though, enough for him is what keeps him looking healthy within certain parameters. The best person to advise you would be your vet, particular as your dog is still growing and his requirements will change.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
FiveAus
post 16/11/2012, 06:46 PM
Post #5
****   Posts: 1,853   Joined: 6-October 12   From: Country Victoria  
Advanced Member
Take away the dry food, he doesn't need access to food all day, and some kibbles are very concentrated. Ditch the wet food, it's not that good for his teeth and just give him a small amount of kibble once a day, and something else (maybe a small piece of raw chicken) at another time of the day.

He will start to lose weight almost immediately and you can then adjust the amounts to keep his weight stable.

For reference, my Australian Shepherds who are around Border Collie size, get a raw chicken leg each morning.....this gives them a calcium and protein boost for the day, as well as cleans their teeth. Then they get 2/3 to 1 cup of high quality kibble in the evening, with a spoonful of natural yoghurt mixed in.
The two girls who tend to be a bit on the porky side get 2/3 cup, the others get 1 cup. And that's a metric measure, not a large coffee mug as my husband would like to give them.
My heaviest dog weighs around 25 kg, she is one of the ones who gets 2/3 cup, now put that in perspective with the size of your little dog.

Sometimes on the weekends, instead of kibble they get raw lamb bones for their evening meal. If they get treats through the day, they get less dinner at night.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
enigma
post 16/11/2012, 06:50 PM
Post #6
**   Posts: 126   Joined: 30-August 02     
Member
Thank you, I know it's a pretty stupid question, but I just want to make sure I am doing the right thing for him.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
kpingitquiet
post 16/11/2012, 07:41 PM
Post #7
*****   Posts: 8,911   Joined: 4-March 10     
+
Yeah, I'd say nixing the constant dry food access would probably help a LOT. Most dogs I've met don't self-regulate on dry food like a lot of cats do. I can't help on appropriate amounts of food for your little pup but our dogs get 350g wet food and 2 cups dry food, each, per day, and they weigh in at 28kg (the 4yo) and 30kg (the 6yo), perfect for their frames. We add a bit more when they start looking a touch thinner and subtract when they start to pudge.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
la di dah
post 17/11/2012, 09:40 AM
Post #8
******   Posts: 16,524   Joined: 3-January 11     
++
The odd occasional bit of chicken/steak isn't what's making him fat, its the all day kibble.

Honestly you could give him chicken everyday and it wouldn't make him fat if the portions were right.

200 grams of wet food plus kibble seems like a lot, to me. Is it really supposed to be all that? That sounds like what my big dogs ate, though they weren't really greedy guts like some cavvies can be. Can you feel his ribs? No cavvie is ever going to look like a lean mean machine, but they should still have bones inside and not feel like a beachball.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
enigma
post 17/11/2012, 09:45 AM
Post #9
**   Posts: 126   Joined: 30-August 02     
Member
Well I put him on the scales today and omg he is nearly 6kilos!!! I had a look at the can of food and it says he should have half a tin plus a half cup of dry food a day. The tin is 440gms (my dog) to me that is far too much. I think I will go see the vet next week and ask them like someone suggested. I love my puppy but don't wan to love him to death
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
enigma
post 17/11/2012, 09:49 AM
Post #10
**   Posts: 126   Joined: 30-August 02     
Member
I tried him on a chicken neck, after playing with it and carting it around ally at he then ate it but proceeded to vommit it up. I think they were too rich for him

QUOTE (la di dah @ 17/11/2012, 09:40 AM) *
The odd occasional bit of chicken/steak isn't what's making him fat, its the all day kibble.

Honestly you could give him chicken everyday and it wouldn't make him fat if the portions were right.

200 grams of wet food plus kibble seems like a lot, to me. Is it really supposed to be all that? That sounds like what my big dogs ate, though they weren't really greedy guts like some cavvies can be. Can you feel his ribs? No cavvie is ever going to look like a lean mean machine, but they should still have bones inside and not feel like a beachball.



I can feel his ribs but only of I push hard. I can't easily find them
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post

2 Pages V   1 2 >
Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

 

The accidental attachment parent

"Attachment parenting has set me up for ... well, I'm not going to say failure, but for a very difficult time," says one mum.

Baby love is worth the expense

Amidst all the arguing over which paid parental leave scheme is best for parents, is anyone talking about what's best for babies?

Immunisation, fever and pain relief

Find out the benefits and risks involved with protecting your child from harmful diseases.

Thank You Mum

Send your mum a personalised eCard this Mother?s Day to show her you are thankful and to help us remember the women who face motherhood in situations of great adversity.

Free: 'The First Year' ebook

Check out our new interactive ebook, part of the brand new SMH Shortbooks series, for free!

One mum's 'biggest mistake' offers lesson for all

A mother sparked conversations around the world when she declared, in a national newspaper, that she wished she'd never had her two children. But her story can teach us a valuable lesson on parenthood.

Ask an expert: My child is suddenly resisting toilet training

My child is resisting the toilet training process. We got off to a good start, but now she?s refusing to use the toilet. What can we do now?

Johnson's Baby 'how to' videos

We've learned a lot since we launched our first JOHNSON'S� baby powder way back in 1894, so we've put together this collection of 'how to' videos to get you started on your exciting journey.

New dads are sexy and they know it

While most women wouldn?t associate being a new parent with feeling more attractive, it seems men see it differently: they think they?re better looking than before they were dads.

 
Advertisement
 
Advertisement
 
 
 

Competitions

Win a Call the Midwife Series 2 DVD Prize Pack!

You could win one of 20 Call the Midwife Series 2 DVD prize packs.

Win Logitech gadgets for your home

Win the UE Boombox to listen to music wherever you go, or a TV Cam HD to Skype loved ones right from your TV!

Win a Mamas & Papas Baby Bud

You could win a gorgeous innovative Mamas & Papas Baby Bud!

Win a MiniMonkey prize pack

You could win a MiniMonkey prize pack including one of the new 4-in-1 MiniMonkey Baby Carrier, Baby Sling & Nursing Cover.

Win a double pass to see Amity Dry?s new musical

We're giving you the opportunity to win one of three double passes to see Amity Dry?s musical, Mother, Wife and the Complicated Life. (Sydney show)

 

Preschool activities

Free downloadable printables

Colouring sheets, educational activities and more.

Featured Promotions
 
 
Advertisement
 
 
RSS Lo-Fi Version
Skin by IPB Customize
Time is now: 19/05/2013

 
Essential Baby and Essential Kids is the place to find parenting information and parenting support relating to conception, pregnancy, birth, babies, toddlers, kids, maternity, family budgeting, family travel, nutrition and wellbeing, family entertainment, kids entertainment, tips for the family home, child-friendly recipes and parenting. Try our pregnancy due date calculator to determine your due date, or our ovulation calculator to predict ovulation and your fertile period. Our pregnancy week by week guide shows your baby's stages of development. Access our very active mum's discussion groups in the Essential Baby forums or the Essential Kids forums to talk to mums about conception, pregnancy, birth, babies, toddlers, kids and parenting lifestyle. Essential Baby also offers a baby names database of more than 22,000 baby names, popular baby names, boys' names, girls' names and baby names advice in our baby names forum. Essential Kids features a range of free printable worksheets for kids from preschool years through to primary school years. For the latest baby clothes, maternity clothes, maternity accessories, toddler products, kids toys and kids clothing, breastfeeding and other parenting resources, check out Essential Baby and Essential Kids.