Dog Community

Growth spurts?

Posted : 6/14/2006 4:34:46 PM

Do dogs get growth spurts and need to eat more, the way humans do?

For those of you who read my other post, the weather has now cooled off and Ben's meals are more "even" again. However, a little while ago I fed him his last meal of the day and when he was finished eating all of it, he came and got me and whined. I thought he needed to go potty, so I took him outside, and he did his business. After we came back in, he went straight to his food bowl (now empty) and whined again. I brought him back into the living room, but he went right back to his food bowl and started whining. After a little while of this, I took him outside again to distract him while SO gave him another little bit of kibble. (I didn't want Ben to start thinking that whining gets him food.) We came back in and he inhaled the rest of the kibble as well, but he seems happier now and hasn't whined at his food bowl since.

I don't know if this is a result of me giving him larger meals in the evening while the weather was hot and he wouldn't eat much during the day, or if he is having some kind of growth spurt, or what. On the kibble I give him there are instructions about amounts depending on current age and adult size, but they are given in ranges. I don't remember the numbers exactly, but as an example, a 9 week old large breed puppy should get between 75 and 125 grams of food 4 times daily. I give Ben an amount in the middle, so theoretically I could up the amount he gets and not be overfeeding him, but is this a good idea? I am very concious of the damage that growing too fast can do to him, particularly in a breed susceptible to hip dysplasia and joint problems.

TIA for any advice.

Kate

Xerxes

Posted : 6/15/2006 8:58:03 AM

The instructions on the label are just a guideline. The real amount varies depending upon the dog. There are some that need more food and some that need less. If your dog is going through a growth spurt he might need a bit more kibble. If your dog is an active sort, he might also need more.

I always free-fed my pup. He was never the sort to dive in and polish off everything all at once. Even now he'll come get me 1/2way through his meal just to make sure it's ok for him to keep eating.

Benedict

Posted : 6/15/2006 9:03:37 AM

Thanks, Xerxes.

I gave him a bit more than usual at breakfast and he ate it all, same with lunch, and he has been very active the past few days, so I am just going to give him a little more at each feeding for the time being. If he stops polishing it off every time we'll adjust again.

By the way, I think you have such a cool-looking dog. I had never seen one before.

Kate

loveukaykay

Posted : 6/15/2006 10:37:31 AM

They do have growth spurts.

Bailey does the same, always looking for food. I feed her Innova which says 3/4 cup 2x day... well I made that up according to the guidelines of amount, BUT thats nothing to a hungry growing puppy...? I mean, its a high quality food so you need to eat less because of it, but even still does that mean they are not getting satisfied with the actual amount in their bellies?

tiffy

Posted : 6/15/2006 10:59:56 AM

Labs are notorious for always acting hungry.

Xerxes

Posted : 6/15/2006 1:11:52 PM

Thanks Benedict!

I'm glad it's working out for you...just watch to make sure that he's not getting heavy. It's easier to keep the weight off than it is to take it back down.

BTW your pup looks like a cuddly little bear!

Seth Ruffer

Posted : 6/15/2006 4:11:46 PM

You know, whenever I run into people who have great-looking, in-shape elderly dogs (you know what I mean--the times you'll stop to talk with a dog owner you've met on a hike and you ask them how old their dog is and they say "13" and you thought the dog was like 8 or 9....) I always ask what their secret is.

And like 9 out of ten times, the answer is the same: under feed.

Mojo gets three cups of dry kibble every evening, and Emma gets two-and-a-quarter cups. They each get a milkone in the morning, and an evening snack of either cheese or a raw vegetable or--believe it or not--a grape. THAT'S IT.

And they're both highly athletic, enthusiastic, absolutely healthy dogs with great breath and super-shiney white teeth. (Their teeth have never been brushed.)

Benedict

Posted : 6/15/2006 5:00:20 PM

The labs tendency to act hungry and overeat is exactly why I have been underfeeding him, last night was the first night he ever tried to drag me back to his food bowl, I was just sort of intrigued as to why. When I say I am feeding him a bit more I am talking like 5-6 more pieces of kibble at each meal today, so still nowhere near the maximum recommended amount. I really don't want to be fighting a weight battle with him later, lol. He's being weighed at the vet's again on Monday so I'll check with her that he is growing at a steady enough rate.

He is a really active little pup so I am sure at least some of it is being burned off.

Thanks everyone - I love this place, a wealth of knowledge at my fingertips.

Kate

loveukaykay

Posted : 6/15/2006 5:22:35 PM

I agree its better to under do it than over do it... I say just keeping them lean is the best way.

I would watch the grapes... dogs are not supposed to have those. I know you said one, and I have no idea how many would be bad, if its 1 or 10... but I know they shouldnt eat them[

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