How much do you feed an australian shepherd puppy?
Providing a healthy diet for your Australian Shepherd puppy is very important to his growth and development. Since Aussies are high-energy dogs, they require high-nutrient foods. Furparents of this breed of active dogs need to consider their activity level, age, and size when deciding how much to feed them.
When you get them from the breeder, feed him the same food he’s been having for about 2 weeks. Introduce new food gradually. Their digestive system is sensitive and abruptly changing their diet could irritate their tummies. If you do decide to feed your Aussie a different kind of food or brand, do this by mixing his new food with his old diet in increasing amounts over the next 7 days. Observe if your Aussie has gotten used to this new diet. If there are no episodes of vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, or loss of appetite then you can carry on with the transition.
The nutritional needs of Australian Shepherd puppies change as they grow. At this stage, they grow so fast and their bones are getting bigger and their muscles are getting stronger. Their immune systems are also developing. As much, they need more calories in their diet compared to adult dogs of the same size. They need nutrient-dense and high-quality puppy food which has been specifically formulated to support their rapid growth and development. Whole meat proteins such as beef, lamb, and chicken are among the main ingredients of their diet. The healthy fats that they can get from this diet will be their source of energy and the Omega-3 fatty acids make their skin and coat shiny and healthy. They also need DHA to promote strong brain development. It is the furparents’ decision what to feed their Aussies. Some stick to dog foods while some feed their pups human foods or a combination of both. What’s important is that their diet can provide all the nutrients and calories they need at this stage.
You should feed your Aussie pups 3 to 4 times a day. For the first 3 months, your Aussie pup’s food serving should reach 2 cups for the whole day. From 4 to 5 months, you can increase their food up to 3 cups per day. From 6 to 8 months, you can feed them up to 3 ¼ cups of food. Then increase it again up to 4 cups when they reach 9 to 11 months. Between the ages 1 to 2 years old, they can eat up to 5 ¼ cups a day. These are only recommended food servings according to their age group. In terms of exactly how much you need to feed your puppy, it is still best to consult with your vet as it usually varies from one puppy to another.
Furparents of Australian Shepherd puppies should always take into consideration their pet’s overall physical condition to ensure that they are getting the right amount of food and proper nutrients for their bodies. This way, you can be sure that your Aussie is on his way to becoming a healthy adult dog.
