How Much To Feed Golden Retriever Puppies

How Often Should You Feed Your Puppy

A golden retriever puppy is still growing and needs quality nutrition. Ideally, feed your puppy three times a day, including early in the morning, midday and early in the evening. Try not to feed your puppy or offer water after 7 p.m. as this will impact housetraining. When your puppy is about 11 or 12 weeks old, you can switch to twice-daily feedings.

When feeding your golden retriever puppy, try to keep a quiet environment with no distractions and allow about half an hour for your puppy to eat its meal. If it eats very fast, try placing an obstacle in the dishs center to slow the dog down.

Dangerous Foods For Golden Retriever Puppies

Golden retrievers are special dogs. Some foods that Golden Retrievers should stay away from are:

• Avocado They contain persin, which is an oil-soluble toxin, They can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes death for dogs who are highly sensitive.
• Chocolate Chocolate, has a substance called theobromine, which can have a detrimental effect on your dog.
• Grapes and raisins Grapes and raisins can cause serious complications like kidney failure and even death if your dog eats them.
• Xylitol This can be found in gum, candies, baked good,s or other sugar-substituted items.

Some other foods that you should look out for are Pips, seeds, and stones, Mushrooms, Nuts, Unripe tomatoes, Onions and garlic, Nutmeg, Broccoli, Rhubarb, Potatoes plants, Persimmon seeds.

Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy Food

Purina Pro Plan Large Breed is our top choice of puppy food for Golden Retrievers. It provides a complete, healthy, nutritious diet to your puppy. The number one ingredient is chicken which helps development of strong muscles and healthy body functions. Our staff veterinarians highly recommend this puppy food.

Below is Purina Pro Plans feeding chart for a Golden Retriever puppy.

Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy Feeding Chart

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Feeding Your Puppy A Homemade Diet

While they might sound very similar, the BARF diet is not the same as the homemade diet, which is typically a cooked human food diet.

Here, you simply must work closely with your veterinarian to ensure your puppy is receiving sufficient nutrients.

Including the right calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, which is critical for bone growth and skeletal development.

Why You Dont Want To Overfeed Your Golden Retriever Puppy

Golden retrievers are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia and they love eating.

Those two statements may sound random, but they are related.

According to the Banfield Pet Hospital, overfeeding your golden retriever can cause them to grow too fast and increase their risk of hip dysplasia.

To make sure you dont overfeed them, use a measuring cup when dishing out their food and never free-feed them.

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What To Feed A Golden Retriever

Tom Thorpe Blog

The Golden retriever is a popular breed in the US, according to statistics. This breed is known for its soft golden coat and gentle temperament. Owners rave that these dogs have goofy personalities as well. But do goldens require a special diet? You might be wondering what to feed a Golden retriever. Every dog is prone to develop certain illnesses, and Golden retrievers are no exemption. They can suffer from inherited joint problems, certain types of cancer, as well as allergies. Choosing high-quality nutrition for your Golden retriever may mitigate some of these health risks. However, many of these health issues cant be detected in growing puppies. Thus, every breeder must follow proper practices. Although golden retriever puppy food wont dramatically eliminate these risks, giving them the right nutrition from the start can be a protective factor against any health issues they may develop as an adult.

Golden Retriever Feeding Guide For Seniors

As your Goldie gets older he will become less active and will need fewer calories to stay on his ideal weight. Your pooch will be considered a senior when he is eight years old, so make sure to tweak his diet around this age.

An older Golden Retriever will need around 900 calories per day served in two equally spaced meals. However, if your senior dog needs to lose some weight, you will have to put him on a diet and lower his calorie intake.

You should talk with your vet and see if there is a need to transition your pooch to senior dog food at this point or not. Food for older dogs has fewer calories and is supplemented with glucosamine and vitamins that are beneficial for older dogs. However, many seniors continue to eat regular food without any side effects, but you should check just in case you need to change his diet.

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Maintaining A Healthy Puppy Weight Of Your Golden Retriever Puppy

A puppy grows faster, no doubt! But nobody loves an overweight or underweight puppy so make sure that your feeding schedule is proper and you have to monitor your poochs weight on a regular basis when your Golden Retriever is in the puppy phase!

Overweigh can develop health and orthopedic problems in your Golden!

Monitoring your pups weight is really important, and make sure you dont ignore that! Monitoring and adjusting the diet accordingly, you should be able to feel but not see your pups ribs!

If your puppy is obesethen make sure you check out this article which I wrote a month back! Best Weight Loss Dog Food For Golden Retrievers

Also, you can define your pup is overweight or not by letting your Golden Stand and you just need to observe the abdomen, if the abdomen is round and bulgy then your puppy isoverweight and if the back is all good no bulginess then its good.

Regular visits to your vet is recommended!

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain

Rating:

Wilderness Grain-Free Chicken is one of 18 dry recipes analyzed in our review of the Blue Buffalo Wilderness product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal , peas, pea protein, tapioca starch
• Type: Grain-free
• Profile: Maintenance
• Best for:Adult goldens

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Chicken obtains the majority of its meat protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 38% protein, 17% fat and 38% estimated carbs which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 44%.

This recipe also includes zinc amino acid complex and other chelated minerals, ingredients which deliver superior nutrition for larger breeds. Highly recommended.

Sample buyer reviewI get a few different flavors, but the dogs love it and they have no digestive issues and are very healthy. Their coats shine like they have been oiled. No dental issues. Blue Buffalo wilderness has been a favorite with us for a long time.

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Know How To Tell If A Golden Retriever Is At A Healthy Size

The greatest lesson we can teach you is to learn what a healthy SIZE looks and feels like for your Golden Retriever. Notice that I dont say Weight.Weight is deceiving. It can change. As a puppy grows it changes all the time. You must be able to feel a dogs side to determine if your dog is at a healthy size or not. You have to look THROUGH their coat and feel the actual fat that they have. Your dog could look great to you, but after further investigation could be too thin or too fat.

Heres the key.Feel the skin located on the rib cage/side of your Golden Retriever. How thick is that skin/fat? Your goal is for that skin to be as thick as a sweater. If it feels like a t-shirt then your Golden Retriever is too skinny. If it feels like 2 sweaters then your Golden Retriever is too fat. You may say, But my Golden Retriever only weighs 67 lbs! The actual weight means littlehow fat is your Golden Retriever? You do not want your Golden overweight because, as mentioned before, it leads to many problems like dysplasia, heart issues and even cancer. It also voids our warranty if a Golden Retriever is found to be overweight.

Review the picture to the right. Most people would say the Golden in the top photo is too skinny, but the truth is that the top Golden Retriever is at a healthy weight.

The Dangers Of Beg And Grain

We touched on this earlier, but in recent years, DCM has increased in golden retrievers, according to this study.

There seem to be two potential causes of this.

When they surveyed what these dogs were eating, more than 90 percent of products were grain-free, and 93 percent of reported products had peas and/or lentils.

So when choosing which food to feed your puppy, you may want to think twice before you decide to go grain free.

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How Much Should A Golden Retriever Puppy Eat

The amount of food that you will need to feed your golden retriever puppy will go up and down throughout their puppyhood.

In the beginning, your puppys stomach will be very small and will not be capable of taking in much food at a time.

But, he will grow quickly and need more food to accommodate his needs. A young puppy will only eat about 1.5 cups of food a day, but a larger puppy might need as much as 3 to 4 cups of food a day.

It depends on his caloric needs, where he is in the growth cycle and the size of the dog.

American Journey Large Breed Chicken And Sweet Potato

Rating:

Large Breed Chicken and Sweet Potato is one of 14 dry recipes evaluated in our review of the American Journey product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal , turkey meal, peas, chickpeas
• Type: Grain-free
• Profile: All life stages
• Best for:Golden retriever adults and puppies

American Journey Large Breed Chicken acquires the majority of its meat protein from poultry. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 13% fat and 45% estimated carbs which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 40%.

This large breed formula also contains a prebiotic. Prebiotics can help support the growth of healthy bacteria in the large intestine for better digestion. An exceptional, budget-friendly option. Easily recommended.

Sample buyer reviewI have four furry children from small to extra large, all picky in their own way : Treats, bones, & obviously food. All four of em absolutely loved this brand! Theyve been on it for only a week, & I can already tell how healthier their coats look, & a bit of needed weight loss.

Also Check: What Exactly Is An English Golden Retriever

Switch To Twice A Day Feeding

Eliminate the midday meal when your puppy reaches between 12 and 20 weeks old. Rebelcreek breeders say if your puppy regularly shows a disinterest in a meal, usually the midday feeding, take the same amount of food youve been feeding daily, divide it into two portions and serve in the morning and at night. Maintain two meals a day to promote a healthy gastrointestinal tract, unless otherwise advised by your veterinarian.

References

Writer Bio

Tina Boyle has been writing since 2000. Trained as a journalist, she has traveled to over 150 US cities. She specializes in travel, culture, pets, business and social networking and regularly publishes in newspapers, magazines and on Web sites. She received a Bachelor of Arts in writing from the College of Santa Fe.

What Food Can I Give My Golden Retriever Puppy

The dry food Purizon Puppy is recommended for Golden Retriever puppies.

• Balanced ratio of calcium and phosphorous for bone development.
• Ideally adapted to the individual needs of puppies and young dogs.
• Contains poultry and salmon as high-quality sources of protein.
• With high-quality fruit, vegetables and selected herbs.
• With pre- and probiotic ingredients that can encourage stable gut flora.

The feeding quantities for puppies should always be split into several portions per day. As well, fresh water should always be available to dogs.

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How Often Should You Feed A Golden Retriever Puppy

As mentioned, when they begin eating solid food at 8 weeks or 2 months, they should have meals thrice a day. However, as they grow older and bigger, mealtimes should be reduced while increasing the amount of food.

For example, once they reach 3 months, they should be fed more but reduce the number of meal times to twice a day.

The ideal times to feed your 2-month old puppy is around 6 to 7 AM, then again at noon, then lastly at around 5 or 6 PM. Its recommended to avoid feeding them later than 6 PM and giving them water beyond 7 PM to make house training them easier and more convenient.

Upon reaching 3 months, their feeding times should be reduced to twice a day only, once in the morning and once at night. Make sure that you dont feed them too late into the night as you might find yourself cleaning up a mess the next morning.

Feeding Length Of Your Golden Retriever Puppy

For Golden Retrievers you should monitor the amount of time they take to eat. In general, you should give them about 20 to 30 minutes to complete a meal.

If for some reason he is unable to finish in that amount of time, then remove the remaining food and give him the amount he was able to eat. It is not advised to use the leftover kibble from the last meal to the next meal you give him.

If hes completing all the kibble in less than a half-hour, you can increase the amount just a bit. It is a good practice to feed your puppy in the same place every day without distractions so that he can focus on his meal.

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How Much Water Should A Golden Retriever Puppy Drink

Golden Retrievers are known to be naturally, highly active dogs and because of this, they drink a lot of water. In general, Golden Retriever puppies require approximately one-half cup of water every two hours. You should observe your puppy to ensure that he is drinking the right amount of water.

It is a good thing if your Golden Retriever gets lots of exercise and if he likes to drink a lot of water after getting exercise. They are a breed that is expected to be engaged in physical activity daily, so this is not an issue.

How Much To Feed A Golden Retriever Senior

Golden Retriever seniors will need about 900 calories or about 20% less than adult dogs to stay at their ideal weight. Golden Retrievers are seniors at about 8 years old. When entering old age, they may benefit from eating a food with less fat and fewer calories.

During the senior years, Golden Retrievers will become more sedentary therefore not requiring as much food as before. They should still be eating two meals a day, but not as much. There are many senior dog foods out there that help them with maintaining a healthy weight.

As your Golden Retriever progresses from old dog to older dog, you may notice them losing weight and requiring more calories in this stage of life. The fat content in their diet may need increased. Talking with your veterinarian would be a good choice if you notice your Golden losing weight.

There are some senior dog foods that provide the right healthy eating habits for this stage of life. Below are our top choices for Golden Retriever seniors.

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What Type Of Food Should I Give My Golden Retriever

Nowadays, dog food selections are on the increase than ever before. While the variety of products offers food options for every pet breed, dog owners are spoilt for choice.

You may be wondering which type of food is right for your Golden retriever.

Let’s get this straight!

The best type of food depends on variables like your pet’s age, weight, and activity level. That’s not all your lifestyle and preferences may also be a major influence on your dog’s feeding choices.

To help you make smarter decisions, let’s shed light on the different types of food you can feed your pet.

Superfoods w/ Salmon

Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Adult Food

Purina Pro Plan Large Breed dog food is our first choice for Golden Retriever adults. This food is highly recommended by our staff veterinarians, and it contains ingredients that are highly nutritious with high protein for strengthening muscles.

Below is a feeding chart for Purina Pro Plan Large Breed.

Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Adult Feeding Chart

This chart does not give an exact amount based on gender, age, activity level, or health conditions. Be sure to consult your veterinarian to get the exact amount for your Golden.

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How Much Should I Feed My Puppy A Complete Puppy Feeding Guide With Chart

The decisions you make about your puppys nutrition will affect his growth, development and even his behavior.

Feeding your puppy a high-quality, complete and balanced puppy food helps set him up for a long and healthy life as an adult dog. This raises a lot of questions for first-time puppy owners, though.

How much should you feed your puppy and when? When should you stop feeding puppy food?

Get answers to these questions and more in our complete puppy feeding guide below. Our experts answer your questions and offer advice to help set you and your puppy up for success.