How often should dogs have wet food

When to start feeding puppies wet food: A vet weighs in on how to wean

When to start feeding puppies wet food is asked by many first-time dog owners. Getting a new puppy for the first time is an extremely exciting experience and a time when you and your pup will experience a lot of firsts together - one being moving your puppy onto wet food.

Up until 3-4 weeks old most puppies should still be getting all the necessary nutrients from their mothers milk or a milk replacement. Once a pup comes off the milk, theyll move onto a solid food diet but as their teeth are still growing this might look like a gruel (a mixture of dry puppy food and water to soften it). The reason they dont graduate straight onto the best wet dog food from milk is that wet food doesnt have the right amount of calories that a puppy needs to develop and thrive during this stage of growth.

If youre in need of a full run-down on weaning your puppy from the very early stages right through to starting them on wet food, carry on reading. Vet Elizabeth Racine has included everything you should know below

Small animal general practice veterinarian, Dr. Elizabeth Racine, is a specialist in pet health and wellness. She covers everything from veterinary behavior, internal medicine and nutrition. Away from her surgery, Dr. Racine writes for major companies in the industry from the American Kennel Club to Elanco and CareCredit to Bayer PetBasics.

How to wean a puppy

Weaning puppies begins around 3 weeks of age. Weaning should always be a gradual process and puppies should never be abruptly taken away from the mother. Instead puppies should be offered a semi-solid food.

Feeding wet food to puppies at this stage is not recommended, because wet food does not contain enough calories to support a young puppys rapid rate of growth. Wet food is also very rich and may cause stomach upset in young puppies during weaning.

Create a mush

During the weaning stage, puppies should be fed mush. This can be made by mixing an appropriate dry puppy food with water and allowing it to sit overnight in the refrigerator, forming a soft mush. This mush can then be heated in a microwave (mix thoroughly and check carefully for hot spots!) and offered to the puppies.

Most puppies will start eating the mush right away, but some may need a day or two to get used to the idea. Its also important to let the puppies see mom eating solid food during this time, because puppies will often mimic their mothers behavior.

Provide fresh water

Be sure to also provide a shallow tray of fresh water for the puppies to drink from and possibly play in! Once the puppies are eating the mush well, you can gradually decrease the water content to make the mush more solid. During this time, the mother should be naturally weaning the puppies by decreasing their access to her milk supply. This, combined with their newfound interest in solid foods, will naturally wean the puppies off of milk and onto puppy food.

When to start feeding puppies wet food

When the puppies are eating solid dry food consistently and are no longer nursing from their mother, wet food can be introduced into their diet. For most puppies, wet food can safely be introduced at around 6-8 weeks of age. Wet food may be too rich for some puppies, so introduce only small amounts at first and ensure there is no gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, or bloating before you increase the amount of wet food you are offering to the puppies.

Because wet food has a high moisture content, you may notice that the puppies drink slightly less water than they did when they were eating a solely dry food diet. This is normal and is not cause for alarm as long as the puppies remain well-hydrated.

Is wet or dry food better for puppies?

For neonatal puppies, dry food soften with water is better than wet food. This is because wet food has a very high moisture content and a lower calorie content, so the puppies feel full before theyre able to consume enough calories to meet their bodies needs.

Because dry food has a higher calorie content than wet food, it is a better choice for puppies during the weaning process. Once the puppies have been weaned and are eating solid food consistently, the choice to feed wet food or dry food is just a matter of preference. As long as the diet you choose is complete and balanced and age-appropriate for your puppy, theres no significant difference in health benefits between wet food and dry food.

Choosing a wet food for your puppy

If you do decide to feed your puppy wet food, it is important to make sure you choose a product that is healthy and balanced to support your puppys growth and development. Check the back of the can for the AAFCO Statement (US) or the Statutory Statement (UK) which should say something like formulated for growth or for growing puppies. If your puppy is a large or giant breed, choose a wet food specifically formulated for large breed puppies. The statement on the back of the can should say for the growth of large breed puppies or similar.

Youll also want to ensure that the wet food you choose is from a reputable company, which you can do by utilizing the World Small Animal Veterinary Associations guidelines on selecting pet food or by asking your veterinarian for a product recommendation.

For more information on how to select a pet food, you can learn how to read a pet food label or check out the recommendations from board certified veterinary nutritionists

How much to feed your puppy

Pet parents always ask How much should I feed my puppy? This is a difficult question to answer, because the right amount to feed your puppy depends on many individual factors such as your puppys age, breed, current weight, and body condition, as well as the calorie content of the food you are currently feeding and the number of meals per day your puppy gets.

As you can see, with so many factors involved theres no answer that works for all puppies! Instead, your veterinarian is your best resource to help you determine how much to feed your puppy to ensure he or she is getting the right amount of calories to support healthy growth and development.

As long as your puppy is fully weaned and eating solid food, its okay to introduce some wet food into his or her diet. Just start out with small amounts and watch out for any digestive upset, which can occur with diet changes. If your puppy enjoys wet food and tolerates it well, its okay to make this type of food part or all of his or her meal wet food is just as healthy for dogs and dry food!

Got more questions? Puppy not eating? Noticing puppy aggression? We've got all the answers here for you.

Diet Rotation for Dogs

Diet Rotation Helps Lower Risk

Diet rotation can be a safer way to feed your dog.

Thats because

Any dog food can contain hidden flaws and defects.

Too much of one nutrient. Too little of another. Or the food may contain hidden toxins or industrial contaminants.

Imperfections not yet discovered by the manufacturer. Or the FDA.

And youd never even know it.

Whats worse

The effect of consuming any defective food tends to be magnified whenever you feed the same food continuously.

Day-after-day. For a lifetime.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is diet rotation?

Unlike a conventional feeding plan where the same food is served at each meal, diet rotation involves intentionally switching your dogs food on a planned schedule.

Why should I consider diet rotation for my dog?

Since theres no such thing as a perfect dog food, its reasonable to assume every product you buy is deficient (or excessive) in some crucial way.

By periodically switching dog foods, the unhealthy consequences of serving the same imperfect products can be minimized.

Isnt changing my dogs diet dangerous?

Diet rotation is not for every dog. Thats because some animals cant tolerate diet changes as easily as others. While others are on special prescription diets that should not be switched without the advice of your dogs vet.

In any case

Weve never been able to find a single scientific study proving diet rotation to be unhealthy or detrimental to a dog.

Does diet rotation mean mixing 2 dog foods and serving them at the same meal?

No. The benefits of diet rotation are optimized only when cycling between different products on a periodic basis.

How often should dog foods be switched?

Theres no rotation feeding plan that works better than the others. It all depends on your own personal feeding preferences.

Some dog parents switch foods monthly. Others more frequently. Most prefer to empty one bag of kibble before beginning the next.

Is there a downside to diet rotation?

There are 2 potential problems with diet rotation

1. Digestive upset
2. Maintaining product freshness

Since some dogs have sensitive stomachs, the potential for GI upset can be an issue for certain pets.

And because alternating between two or more kibbles can make each bag take longer to use up, it can be difficult to maintain the freshness of each product.

How can I switch to a new food without getting my dog sick?

In the following short video

Dr. Gary Richter shares a simple feeding tip that can help lower your dogs risk of getting sick when you switch to a new food.

Its best to switch your dog to new food gradually.

Start by mixing 20% new with 80% old food. Then, slowly increase that amount to a full 100% over the next 8 to 9 days.

Be patient and dont rush the process. Take your time to minimize the chance of GI upset.

Recommended Brands

The following top picks were selected from our best dog food pages. None are known as repeat offenders when it comes to recalls or other matters of product safety.

Puppy Feeding Fundamentals

Walk down the dog food aisle of any large pet-supply store, or peruse the shelves at a boutique pet-food shop, and you can quickly become overwhelmed. This is especially true for puppy owners, and probably even more so for first-time puppy owners. When did it get so complicated? Back in the day, dog food options were far more limited, and even responsible dog owners didnt worry too much about what went into their dogs dish.

The process may now be somewhat more involved, but thats a good thing. Higher quality ingredients with better sourcing and specialized diet formulas lead to overall better health for our puppies. And every bit as important as what to feed your puppy is having an understanding of his special nutritional needs.

All puppies are different, so if you have any concerns or questions about your puppys food, feeding schedule, or nutritional health, always consult your breeder or veterinarianthats what theyre there for.

Many puppy owners wonder, How long should I feed puppy food? Here is a general timeline for what your puppy needs at each stage of his first year of life.

Feeding YourPuppy: A First-Year Timeline

• 612 weeks: Growing pups should be fed puppy food, a diet specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs for normal development. Feeding adult food will rob your puppy of important nutrients. Four feedings a day are usually adequate to meet nutritional demands. Large breeds should be fed unmoistened dry food by 9 or 10 weeks; small dogs by 12 or 13 weeks.
• 36 months: Sometime during this period, decrease feedings from four to three a day. A pup should be losing her potbelly and pudginess by 12 weeks. If she is still roly-poly at this age, continue to feed puppy-size portions until body type matures.
• 612 months: Begin feeding twice daily. Spaying or neutering lowers energy requirements slightly; after the procedure, switch from nutrient-rich puppy food to adult maintenance food. Small breeds can make the switch at 7 to 9 months; bigger breeds at 12, 13, even 14 months. Err on the side of caution: Better to be on puppy food a little too long than not long enough.
• After age 1: Most owners feed adult dogs two half-portions a day.

How much food should I give my puppy?

Theres a saying in canine feeding: Watch the dog, not the dish. Body condition, not the amount eaten or left in the bowl, should determine portion sizes. Portion sizes depend on individual metabolism and body type, and nutritional requirements vary from dog to dog. If your puppy occasionally skips a meal or picks at food, dont worry. It could mean she is ready to eliminate a feeding or that you have given her too much, in which case simply reduce the quantity served.

Also, if you are doing treat-based training with your pup, adjust the amount you feed at mealtime accordingly. Whenever training with treats, keep the treat as small as possible.

How often should I feed my puppy?

Like human babies, puppies start out needing many small meals a day, of a food formulated for their special nutritional requirements. Most, but not all, dogs finish meals quickly. To discourage picky habits, feed at regular times in regular amounts and dont leave food down for more than 10 to 20 minutes.

Your breeder will be an excellent source of guidance for both of these questions, as will your vet.

Is it worth it to buy expensive puppy food?

Premium dog food has higher nutritional density, so you can feed your dog less to achieve the same results. Also, premium foods have stable ingredient profiles; the composition of bargain brands can vary from batch to batch.

The major dog-food companies invest heavily in product development and research, constantly upgrading formulas to keep up with their competitors. This means that feeding premium food puts you on the cutting edge of canine nutrition.

Dry food, wet food, or both?

Many pet-food companies have worked with canine-nutrition scientists to develop special formulas for both large- and small-breed puppies.

• Canned foodis the most expensive to feed, and dogs often find it most palatable. Be careful of all-meat claims, though. Your dog should have a complete, balanced diet to fulfill nutritional requirements. Meat alone may not do it.
• Semi-moist foodis available in one-serving packets. It is usually made to look like hamburger.
• Kibbleis the most economical, and the major makers offer a complete and balanced diet for dogs of all sizes and ages. Dry food can be fed exactly as it comes from the bag.

Some dog owners say there is an oral-hygiene advantage in hard kibble because the friction produced helps to keep the gums and teeth healthy. Kibble can be moistened, either with water or canned food. Although unnecessary, that addition may make food tastier.

Food for Big Puppies & Little Puppies

There are differences between the nutritional needs of small-breed and large-breed dogs, and that is especially true for puppies. Adult dogs who weigh less than 20 pounds are considered small-breed dogs. These puppies grow quickly and may reach adulthood by 9 months. Large-breed puppies (20 pounds and up), grow more slowlyit takes anywhere from 15 to 24 months to reach full size and maturity.

Chart Your Puppys Weight and Growth

• There are growth-and-weight charts available in print and online. Weigh the puppy weekly and record his progress, comparing him to breed-appropriate weight charts. Adjust his food intake to achieve an average rate of growth.
• Weighing a dog, even a squirming puppy, is easy. Just weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the puppy. Subtract the differencethats the puppys weight. Voila!
• Dont worry about an ounce or two either way; no two dogs, even within breeds, are built exactly alike.
• A young dog carrying too much weight has an increased risk of orthopedic problems, due to stress on immature joints. Obesity can also lead to diabetes, diseases of the heart and other organs, and general lethargy.

My puppy is begging! Should I feed him people food or table scraps?

One little French fry will invariably lead to another, and another. Before long, an obese dog will be crowding you off the love seat. Also, a steady diet of table scraps can create a nutritional imbalance, and certain ingredients and spices in your favorite dishes can cause upset stomach in dogs.

The pleading gaze of a begging dog can be irresistible. This is no accident. During his long partnership with man, the dog has perfected cunning methods of exploiting the human habit of associating food with affection. In prehistoric times semi-domesticated canines first cultivated human beings as a food provider. As the two species grew closer, dogs modified begging behaviors to maximize results: The more pathetic a dog seemed, the more scraps were tossed his way. Dogs have since refined this approach into a low-risk, high-reward hunting technique.

But dont be fooled: Begging is not an emotional crisis or a test of your love. Its what scientists might call an evolutionary survival strategy, or what the rest of us might call a scam. Allowing your dog to guilt you into overfeeding him, or serving him a steady diet of table scraps in a misguided show of affection, can have harmful or even fatal results.

Puppy Feeding Tidbits

• Feeding your pup the moment you get home may encourage puppy separation anxiety. Play or grooming is a more positive way to say hello.
• When medically necessary, you can purchase canned or dry prescription diets from veterinarians to feed dogs with kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, and other serious conditions. These foods should never be fed without a prescription.
• Some vitamin or mineral supplements, when utilized incorrectly (such as extra calcium given to a large-breed dog on a good diet), will do more harm than good.
• Before making a major change in your dogs diet, consult with your veterinarian and, when possible, the breeder. Once the formula is chosen, stick with it. Sudden changes in food may cause digestion problems.
• Small portions of carrot or apple chunks are healthful low-calorie snacks most dogs love.
• Fresh water should be available at all times. During the summer months, consider setting up multiple indoor/outdoor water stations. To avoid a buildup of bacteria, wash the water bowl daily.

How to Switch from Puppy Food to Adult Food

When switching from puppy food to adult food, you should make the switch gradually over a period of a few days. A sudden change in your dogs diet may cause stomach upset. Talk to your veterinarian about the best food for your puppy.

Puppy Feeding Advice

Make sure everyone gets with the program

Your entire household must be committed to your dogs feeding regimen. If theres a soft touch for a handout in your family, your dog will find it and exploit it, thus undoing the good you are trying to do. Keeping a dog trim takes a conscious effort from everyone on your team.

Give a dog a bone? Careful!

Our best advice here is caution. Poultry and pork bones, or cooked bones of any kind, are strictly forbidden. They splinter into shards that can cause choking and serious damage to the dogs mouth, throat, or intestines. Any bone, in fact, once chewed into small pieces, can block the intestines and lead to a nasty bout of constipation, can cause lacerations of the mouth and internal organs, or can lodge in the throat with fatal results. It is important to note that bones have little if any nutritional value.

There are other ways to satisfy a dogs craving to chew. Commercially available chew toys and simulated bones are made for dogs of all sizes.

As the famous food writer M.F.K. Fisher wrote, First we eat. Then we do everything else. This is true for our pups, too.

Need help with your adorable new puppy? Training your dog can be challenging without expert help. Thats why were here to help you virtually, through AKC GoodDog! Helpline. This live telephone service connects you with a professional trainer who will offer unlimited, individualized advice on everything from house-training to behavioral issues.