Changes in Appetite in Growing Dogs
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Our puppy ate twice a day regularly for the first five to six weeks after she came home with us. Now she won't eat until late in the day and only about half the amount. She’s active and exercises regularly. What can we do about her appetite?
- Nadine
I would recommend a trip to the veterinarian to have your puppy examined, Nadine. Your vet will be able to either diagnose or rule out any medical causes for your puppy’s change in appetite. If a medical cause is ruled out and your dog is healthy and growing at a good rate, her change in eating habits may simply be a result of adjusting and settling in to your home. Having a meal once a day may be her preferred eating habit and may be perfectly fine as long as she continues to grow and develop at an appropriate rate. It is also very possible that your puppy's growth rate has slowed considerably in the past few weeks, so her caloric needs are lower. In order to help her grow into a healthy adult dog, we would recommend providing her with a high-quality, nutritionally complete puppy food. Because puppies have different needs than adult dogs, it’s important to feed them a diet intended specifically for them.
For more information, please take a look at our Top 10 Tips for Feeding Your Puppy and Top 10 Tips for Feeding Your Adult Dog.