My young puppy looks bloated. What should I feed him and how often?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! My first comment is that if Mocca has not been dewormed yet, I would do so because worms can cause a bloated abdomen and abdominal discomfort. If that’s already been taken care of, then yes, I agree she looks a bit full. Some puppies will eat everything you give them, even if it’s more than they really need. Beagles are a breed that are known for this. As such, I’d say just decrease your amount. Aim for the middle of that recommendation- about 145gm per day or about 45-50 gm per feeding. If that is still too much for her, drop to about 35 Gm per feeding. If she is not gaining weight or is looking too thin on these smaller amounts, your vet will likely just recommend feeding the small amount 4 times daily instead of 3 times daily. I hope this helps and best wishes to you and Mocca!

It's difficult to judge body condition at two months, so I wouldn't be too concerned; but it's advised not to let them get too fat as a puppy, because he will eventually be a fat adult. You can avoid him getting too fat and growing too quickly (another concern for problems later on) by ensuring he's fed the correct amount of large breed puppy food. A quality dog food brand will be formulated for puppies and have specific feeding instructions to ensure they get adequate nutrients and not too much. Below is a link to more information about how to look for a good food. https://mobile.petcoach.co/amp/article/what-to-look-for-when-choosing-your-pet-s-food I hope that helps and all is well with Invictus.

Congratulations on your new puppy! Fergus is adorable! In the photos, he does not look particularly thin, but you can monitor his weight to make sure. He should be eating food formulated for puppies - the back of most bags of food has directions on feeding. You can definitely feed him a food specific for large breed dogs, but this is not necessary. He should be eating about 3-4 meals per day, which can be decreased to 2 meals per day once he turns about 6 months.

I recommend you have him rechecked by a vet as soon as possible - although you do not mention his age or breed a 5ml feed of liquids should not cause bloating in a 5week old pup and it is vital he receive nutrition immediately in order to grow and develop. Contact the bluecross centre also to see if they have had any similar issues with his siblings

I would recommend a really good deworming since he is young. However it would be best to take a fecal to the vet to determine if he has parasites and if so what kind. If he does not have any parasites I would recommend a food change. I would try a basic diet like purina, royal canine, or science diet puppy food.

I would recommend a vet check to determine if there are nay underlying medical causes but the fact she eats well is a good sign. Monitor for regular stools and no pain or vomiting and ensure she is dewormed regularly with an appropriate puppy wormer (every 2-4 weeks depending on the product). Keep her isolated from other dogs (especially dog parks etc) until she is fully up to date with her vaccines

The most common signs of bloat are retching without bringing up any material and restlessness. Bloat is a broad term for both a simple gas or food distension of the stomach or a GDV (gastric dilation volvulus) where the stomach gets filled with air and twists on itself so that the stomach contents cannot be emptied. I highly doubt that your 6 week old puppy is experiencing a bloat at such a young age. More common causes of a round and more firm abdomen include a parasite infestation or simply a full stomach after eating. Drinking excessive amounts of water can indicate urinary tract diseases (infection, crystals, etc.), or could be a variation of normal as she is growing. If she also begins urinating large volumes frequently or you observe any blood in her urine, take her to the vet for an exam and urinalysis. If your puppy is lethargic or trying to vomit or retch, certainly speak with her vet immediately. Otherwise, determine how much food she should be eating by examining the chart on her bag of dog food and divide this quantity into 4 smaller meals throughout the day so she is less likely to overeat at any point. Speak with your vet about having a stool sample analyzed for the presence of parasites. Make sure she has been dewormed several times. Products, such as Panacur, are available over the counter from most pet stores and provide broad spectrum deworming, even in puppies as young as 2 weeks old.