Can my puppy go 12 hours between meals or only eat twice daily?

Many vets recommend to feed puppies more frequently to avoid issues with low blood sugar. Some puppies are not able to regulate their blood sugar very well until they are four months old. After four months old almost all dogs can regulate their blood sugar and so feeding twice a day is fine. Many dogs eat twice a day even as puppies and do fine. It’s all individual. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions!

I would recommend feeding3-4 times a day at this age, if his appetite is poor then he will not be able to consume enough nutrition in two large meals. I do not recommend home preparing diets, especially in large and giant breed puppies with a risk of joint and bone disorders developing as they mature due to nutrient deficiencies and or excesses. It is practically impossible to mix some added protein and supplements to a high quality pupy food and expect the diet to become balanced. Consult a specialist nutritionist for specific tailored large breed puppy diets if you wish to cook for Dante

Puppies have limited glucose reserves. This is why they need to be fed frequently. It is normal and not a reason for euthanasia. Have him examined by your veterinarian to rule out any medical causes. Feed a good quality puppy food and supplement with NutriCal, a calorie dense paste that is used for quick energy. As he gets older, you won't need to feed him as often and by one year of age, he should be eating twice daily.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I would recommend not switching to once daily feedings until George and Louise are at least 1 year old. Smaller breed dogs are at a higher risk of hypoglycemia, as are puppies. Also, smaller breed dogs tend to get 'bilious vomiting', meaning that they are more likely to vomit when their stomach has been empty for a while. The diet you are feeding is good, so no supplements are required, but I would recommend doing 2x feedings until 1 year old, and then every few months transfer 10% of the evening feed to the morning, and always give a small snack before bedtime to try to prevent bilious vomiting. Best of luck with George and Louise!

A puppy’s meal schedule must include three measured meals a day, preferably at the same time every day. The best time for your puppy’s first meal is around 7 a.m., noontime for lunch, and 5 p.m. for dinner. The last meal should always be around 5 p.m. so that he will have ample time to digest his food and eliminate one last time before bedtime. Stick to this basic puppy feeding schedule until the puppy reaches 14 to 18 weeks old, at which point the meal schedule should change to two meals a day (unless your veterinarian suggests otherwise). That is an example of a feeding schedule: 6:30 a.m. wake up, quick exercise 7:00 a.m. morning meal, outdoor walking, playtime then back to crate 10:00 a.m. outdoor walking, bonding time with owner then back to crate 12:00 (noon) midday meal 1:00 p.m. outdoor walking, playtime then back to crate 5:00 p.m. evening meal, outdoor walking, playtime 7:00 p.m. short outdoor walk, playtime, then back to crate 9:00 p.m. bedtime (in his crate or in your bedroom)

Congrats on your new dog, Paps is very handsome! He should be fed twice a day, and I would feed him according to the instructions on the food package. Divide the recommended daily allotment into two equal servings, and feed him morning and evening. Now if that's what you are doing and he seems very hungry, then divide the daily allotment into three portions and feed him morning, noon, and evening. Be sure to feed him a high quality dog food brand, as those will have the best ingredients to help keep him full and satisfied. Brands I recommend include Royal Canin, Hill's Science diet, Purina ProPlan, and Iams. I hope this helps, enjoy your handsome boy :-)

Congratulations on adding Snoopy to your family! I would recommend to feed him 3 times a day and I would not recommend to feed him milk. He is weaned at this age so it will only upset his tummy. When he is 16 weeks old, you can switch him to twice daily feedings. Feed him a high quality puppy food such as Royal Canin or Purina ProPlan. Please post again with any further questions!