How much food should puppy be eating at a time?

[mss]

We just brought our baby girl home -- name is Frida. Poor thing is being mauled at the moment by my three children!! Anyway, the breeder said to give her about 30 grams of her dry food at each meal, that's like the bottom third of a small plastic cup. We gave her some midday and she scarfed it down like she had not eaten in days. It didn't seem like enough! Or is it just that pugs would always eat more...???

[MrsGreene]

Our pug Izabella acts as if she is starving ALL THE TIME. She bolts her food down, the goes and bugs the boys for theirs. I have taken to feeding her in a muffin tin to slow her down, and then lock her in the laundry room until the boys are done so that they can eat in peace. I was worried perhaps she was really just that hungry, but she is in very good condition and weight.

Once, when we first got her, we did not think about leaving the new bag of dog food on the floor whilst we ran to the store. We came home, and she had chewed through the bag and her belly was distended and tight. She'd eaten until she physically could not eat any more. She was very uncomfortable and could not sit still for the pain. I called the vet, who told me what to watch for, and gave her simethecone (gas-x is one brand name) to help with the gas--I could hear it in her tummy. The next day, she had major loose stool and made a bunch of messes.

We now keep the food in 5 gallon buckets in a small space between the freezer and the wall, with big buckets of laundry soap in front of them. In order to reach the food now, she'd have to remove the laundry soap buckets, somehow get to the bucket of food, and pry the lid off. Until she grows opposable thumbs, I think we are safe!

So yes, pugs will act as if they are staaaaarrrving all the time. Don't be drawn in by those pleading little eyes, trying to convince you of this.

That being said, since she is a growing puppy, I would feed as the breeder states, but keep an eye on her condition. If she is thin, or she shows other signs of malnutrition like a dull coat or lethargy, then increase the food. We feed our adult dog 1 cup of high quality food each day. She is a bit over 20 lbs.

Regards,

Linette and the gang in Montana

[sugarskullz]

I feed Lola (7 months old) 1/2 cup - twice a day, of high quality dry kibble. Up until she was 6 months old i fed her 1/3 cup - 3 times a day of same kibble. She gets a few natural treats during the day and we will give her 1 small denta-stix, only when we go out and she is put in her crate.

[CSollers]

Welcome to Pug-dome. Try try mixing her dry food with warm water, it will slow her down a little and helps her fluid intake.