Adult Food Amount Question

[Mjwalters17]

Hello All! Bear is doing great, weighing in at 141 lbs at one year and almost 2 months old. He has started to really lose the rest of any of the puppy look and his head is started to get even fuller and bigger along with the rest of him. I just wanted to make sure we are on the right track as far as amounts of food as I think it's easier to keep it off then to have to lose it once he has gained. His mom weighed in at around 142 lbs and his dad weighs 162 lbs.

Currently he is getting Purina Pro Plan Large Breed adult food, 6 cups a day (2 in morning, 2 at lunch and 2 in evening) along with his glucosamine/chondroitin, MSM and fish oil supplements. In the evening he also gets some extras added such as some veggies and chicken or beef but just a very small amount.

Is this accurate, what does everyone think? I am so in love with this dog, I don't want to do anything to mess him up!! Thanks!

 

[Angela]

Owain is 16 months old and on Proplan Turkey and Barley adult. He weighs approx 130 lb and eats 3 cups in the morning and 2 cups at night. We stopped the mid day meal when he was about 6 months. He doesn't get any people food but does have a tbsp pumpkin in both meals? This is because he has a tendency to loose poop but try changing his food to any other and he gets diarrhoea and vomiting!
He gets Glucosamine and fish oil and one garlic pill daily (to prevent fleas as I don't give them flea medications).

 

[lmfoltyn]

Jake is 2.5 and eats three meals a day. 2 cups at each feeding. He also gets yogurt in the am and a fruit treat a day. He weighs in at 138.

 

[blaue_augen]

Suki eat the Orijen fish one, so the calories are not the same. But she gets 3 cups per day. She's 2 1/2, 105 lbs & on the inactive side ... I mean calm side! I'm not going to tell her how much food other pups get or she will be super jealous!!

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

He probably does not need the lunch meal anymore. Can you feel his ribs easily? That is the best gauge to use when accessing weight.

 

[Mjwalters17]

Oh yes, I can feel his ribs and he def has a waist. Since posting this I have cut his food back to 5 cups a day and we are going to check his weight tomorrow. I guess it is harder since he is still growing until he's closer to 2 and we see where he ends up.

 

[ajcooksey]

Turner just turned 2 and is eating 5 cups per day. Because of his allergies he doesn't get any additives and it used to be 4 but he is skinny weighing only 115 lbs and you can easily feel his ribs and count his vertebrae in his spine so we upped him a bit and aren't too concerned because whenever we get him neutered he will most likely gain some weight. Willow however gets three cups of food a day and one cup of frozen green beans because she is much smaller than Turner and weighs 113lbs and her ribs are not as easily felt as we would like them to be. I honestly think it depends on the dog, my two are litter mates and they have turned out very differently in their food requirements. They are on natural balance limited ingredient grain free diet because of his allergies.

 

[NewfieMama]

Feeling his ribs and spine is the best way to determine. Cooper came to us at 110 lbs at 2 years old (he was admittedly too thin and had food/tummy issues that kept him from gaining) but he actually grew and filled out until he was almost 4; it was a very slow morphing to see his head mature, his chest get a bit deeper and wider, he built out more muscle - he's now 140 and while that looked good on him a year ago I'm thinking that age 7 (in January) he will be better at 130-135, as his waist is less defined and he's less prone to the crazies when we go outside.

I guess I'm saying this so you don't necessarily expect him to have his full adult size, breadth and weight by the time he's 2. Some lines mature and develop more slowly.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

I think it's easier to keep it off then to have to lose it once he has gained.

You are ever so right....It's honestly a tough battle.