How much feed litter of pups?

[huntinfool]

My litter of 6 pups will be 7 weeks old Sunday. I just can't seem to get their food right, one day they look like little butterballs, then the next they seem kind of skinny and when the food hits the dish they can't eat it quick enough. I've been feeding Ol Roy Gourmet Puppy, I just switched to Diamond Puppy and can see a difference already, but it still seem to be feast or famine. I've been feeding them twice per day, I know three times would be better, but that's not really possible considering work and all. I was feeding like 4 cups per feeding, they all had pot bellies, I reduced it a little, and they act like food has never hit their dish before. Can one of you guys help me out a little here?

[Alabama John]

I think they are wormy.

[huntinfool]

they aren't wormy, Nemex2 every two weeks, they just got a shot of it the other day. No sign of tapes either and mother had a negative fecal just a week ago. Should have put that in the post, would have been my first guess also, if I didn't already know better.

[Joeyman]

I had a litter of pups back in june and I free fed them. I kept two from the litter and they are still on free feed. I give them purina puppy chow. I let them eat as much as they want. They are not over weight at all and they are not skinny either. They look normal weight wise.

[yellow mt. kennels]

I AGREE WITH JOEYMAN. I PUT MY PUPS ON A SELF FEEDER AND LET THEM EAT TO THEIR LITTLE HEARTS DESIRE HAS BEEN FILLED. AND I USDE DIAMOND PUPPY ALSO. EVERY OTHER DAY OR TWO I'LL MIX UP SOME POWDERED MILK, WARM WATER, AND FEED, AND LET THEM HAVE IT AS A EXTRA TREAT--- MAN YOU TALKING ABOUT SLICK, FAT BUTTER BALLS.
I LEAVE MY PUPS ON SELF FEEDERS TIL I START THEM, AND THEN I SLOWLY WEAN THEM TO THE WAY I FEED THE OLDER DOGS.

JAMES DAVIS
YELLOW MT. KENNELS

NEMEX II ALSO--BUT ONCE A WEEK UNTIL ABOUT 12 WEEKS-THEN EVERY 2 WEEKS AFTER THAT

[hounddog]

I don't believe you can feed a puppy too much. In all the litters I've raised (probably close to 75), the fatter the better. At a young age puppies don't get the exersize that grown dogs get, so if they seem a little fat they will lose most of it as they get older. Just my experienes.

hounddog
Jim Umbarger

[CAINCUTTER]

I think it is posible to over feed pups. Here is a segment from my site that represents my stand on feeding pups.

By the end of week eight, they should be off the gruel and eating some canned puppy food and more kibble. They should now be down to eating two or three 15 minute feeding each day. Pups should not be over fed at this point. If they are allowed to eat all the time, they tend to get a little fat and will develop a surplus of fat cells that will stay with them throughout life.

Check out my site for all my thoughts on Hound and Puppy Nutrition:
http://www.geocities.com/pawpawskennels ... tml?200619

[BlueIceBeagles]

I don't believe you can feed a puppy too much. In all the litters I've raised (probably close to 75), the fatter the better. At a young age puppies don't get the exersize that grown dogs get, so if they seem a little fat they will lose most of it as they get older. Just my experienes.

hounddog
Jim Umbarger

The fatter the better if you want them to be predisposed to joint problems later in life. Fat pups are NOT healthy! They should have some more fat covering their ribs than adults, but not much.
This litter might need another worming. Strongid is a good wormer and pretty cheap.