My 6-month-old puppy is eating less. Is this normal puppy behavior?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

• Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on November 20th, 2017

  Yes this is absolutely normal. He is 6 months old now and his caloric intake is decreased by about 1/8-1/4. So a slight decrease in his food intake is no cause for alarm. Best wishes with your puppy. Take care!

  

  1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

• Answered By Dr Stafford, BVetMed, MRCVS

  Veterinarian

  Published on August 16th, 2017

  Forcsome reason a lot of puppies go through a phase where tgey lose interest in their food, it does tend to happen between 6 months and a year. It is likely to do with the major debelopment cycles. As long as Fiddle is bright and energetic, and not losing weight I would not worry overly. If you notice weight loss or change in his faeces I would have him checked by the vet in case there is an underlying issue. In the mean time you can either persevere with the same food or try somethibg different. Bear in mind that if you coax him with lots of tasty things he may become a little spoilt. Dog food does tend to be very high in energy so he is likely getting enough. Usually after a month or so they start eating properly again.

  

  1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

• Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on April 29th, 2018

  Instead of feeding her twice a day, feed her 4-5 times a day and smaller amounts. You may also want to try another puppy food which may be more palatable to her and might have a higher concentration of nutrients per cup, so that you can feed less than your present feed, but still give her the right amount of nutrition. Since she is 6 months old, and it is spring time, it is also possible that she is preparing for heat and may not be as hungry as usual due to hormonal changes. Sometimes teething also can hurt and make her want to eat less. Check her mouth for sores.

  

  1Pet Parents found this answer helpful