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Feeding 2%-- how much weight gain do I allow on a puppy?

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caudex

Well-Known Member
Both dogs are getting the same amount right now, about 2.25% of their assumed ideal adult weight of 92 lbs. Mowgli's 3 and been consistent all that time, and the equation we developed to predict Scarlett's final weight from her growth rate sets her at between 88-92. Mowgli has lost 6 pounds on this plan-- burns a lot of calories for a lazy bulldog! He's gotten a bit ribby, but his coat is beautiful, and with a partially torn cruciate, keeping him a bit lean seems like a good thing. I plan to roll with it.

Miss Scarlett, 13 months, is a dainty 81 right now. HER coat is AMAZING-- used to be so wirey, now it's so soft. However, I can see no ribs. I can feel them, but especially compared to Mowgli, she's looking like she's enjoying her food.Husband and I are of two minds on this. It's possible we have her final weight set a bit high-- she's a brute, quite wide for her height, but she was half starved at a critical point in her growth. Maybe she won't achieve her full potential. However, he'd rather overfeed to fuel a potential growth spurt than not give enough.

I know she CAN grow for quite a while longer, but how MUCH? Do we drop off, or treat her like a puppy still?
 
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musicdeb

Well-Known Member
Expected weight is just that expected weight and it's a guesstimate. Mastiffs continue to grow until 2-3 years of age. A month before Titan turned 3 years of age, he gained 10 lbs.

Go by body condition to determine if you need to increase or decrease food intake.

body condition.jpg
 
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caudex

Well-Known Member
I know to use that chart... let me say it differently.

I am accustomed to a puppy alternating between chunking up and then looking half starved. I know they need that weight for the work their body is doing. At her age, do I allow Scarlett to have that bit of weight in anticipation of growing, or try to keep her at 5 like I will when she's an adult?
 
ruthcatrin

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
Yup, try to keep her at a 5. But don't make drastic changes in how much food you're feeding either, especially where she's a pup. If she's pushing into the realm of the 6, and has been there for AT LEAST a week, go ahead and reduce her by no more than 1/2lb a day (for a pup under 1yr I recommend no more than 1/4lb in change at a time, but she's just past that, so its your call). Then keep an eye on her for a week or two, and see what if any changes have been made, and then reduce a bit more if you need to, or increase back up if you need to.
 
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caudex

Well-Known Member
Thanks ruthcatrin. I'd do it by quarters, I entered a half in my spreadsheet and it seems like a lot.

I would call her a 5.5. Very feelable ribs, but not visible. I'm hyper aware of weight causing strain on her joints though. Man, she will be mad at reduced rations. Mowgli never cared about his food at all, and we we had JUST gotten her to relax and munch her kibble at a normal pace when we switched to raw. Now it's Shark Week all the time, lol.
 
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