The max on all things dog feed , from puppyhood to the golden geezerhood .

We bonk feeding your puppy can seem like the most confusing option you ’ll make as a best-loved parent . Then once you at last find the arrant food , figuring out how much and how often to feed your dog is just one more opus of the puzzle . Then one twenty-four hour period , your dog turns his olfactory organ up at his dinner he used to wolf down . What gives ?

From nutritional needs to food types , ingredient , costs , and considerations to help your hot dog preserve a healthy weight unit through each life stage , we ’ll walk you through all the info and inspiration you ask to make every mealtime matter .

mixed breed dog sitting next to a vet at check up

FatCamera / Getty Images

What Is a Veterinary Nutritionist, and When Should You See One?

FatCamera / Getty Images

Before we even get into the ins and outs of feeding your dog , we have to talk about who to trust when it come to dog nutrition advice and navigate the overwhelming pet intellectual nourishment aisle . Your veterinary ? A dietician ? Someone you follow on Instagram ? expert say your vet is your best first option for nutrition advice and question , but if you are attempting a home - fake dieting or are trying to deal chronic wellness term through nutrition , a panel - licence veterinary nutritionist is the best soul to help you with all your feeding questions and business concern .

We verbalize with a board - certified veterinary nutritionist for the grievous bodily harm on the grandness of their job , what they do , and how they help the fair preferred parent needs to see one .

Close-Up Of Puppy Eating Food At Home

Levi Black / EyeEm / Getty Images

Everything You Need To Know About Puppy Feeding

Not much eclipses the joy of bringing home a new puppy and watch them acclimate to their new home and family line . You desire to give your fresh friend the effective scratch for many happy years to come in , and when it comes tochoosing the best solid food , it can be incredibly overwhelming . It ’s always best to consult with your veterinary about the best feeding schedule for your individual dog . Factors such as breed , size of it , and weight anticipation can influence your puppy ’s food alternative and flow schedule .

Before you ’re able to get to that appointment , we ’ve put together a sampling puppy eating schedule base on your pup ’s size , including how many alimentation per day your puppy motivation as well as tips on what to search for when research for the perfect food for thought .

Is Your Puppy Not Eating? Here’s What You Can Do To Help

Life with your unexampled puppy is busy but going expectant — you’re enroll inpuppy kindergarten , you ’re crushingpotty grooming , andcrate trainingis tardily but certainly happening . Then all of a sudden your puppy Michigan eating . fortunately , it ’s not always a case for concern — they might just be too well-worn from all that puppy playing — but it can be a signaling of illness . Here are some potential ground your pup has stopped eating , when to be touch on , and how to get them eating again .

How Often Should I Feed My Dog? Here’s a Vet’s Advice

Prostock - Studio / Getty Images

Once dogs are out of the puppy microscope stage and do n’t need frequent feedings to defend their rapidly grow bodies , most pet parent opt to feed their pup doubly a day — breakfast and dinner . However , there are some whelp who might need to eat more frequently to help foreclose nausea andvomiting . Whatever feeding oftenness you land on , keep the schedule the same each day for your dog ; they flourish on docket and feel safe with routine . If you’re able to , trade out free feeding and grazing with a fixed feeding agenda to help preventobesityand other health problems .

Weight Management

Is Your Dog Not Eating? Here’s What To Do To Get Their Appetite Back

If your dog suddenly barricade eating , unfortunately the reason is n’t always clear . It could be because he ’s disturbed , medicationhas convert his appetite , or he just does n’t like his food . Here ’s how to figure out if you need to get to the vet or if your heel is just flim-flam you into adding some tasty tidbits to his bowl .

10 Dog-Gone Easy Ways to Save Money on Dog Food

ti - ja / Getty Images

Does spending more mean my dog is baffle better nutrient ? Do I need to finger bad about not spend enough ? As long as the food you are feeding your hotdog is AAFCO - certified and tell “ utter and balanced ” on the label , there ’s no motive to interest . Kibble will be the most cost - effective way to feed your dog , and you could expect to drop about $ 35 a month for small dog and around $ 60 per month for larger wienerwurst .

Here are some of our good baksheesh to economize some money on nutrient , include buying in majority and use subscription services .

Golden retriever puppy standing next to his food bowl

tan4ikk / Adobe Stock

Wet vs. Dry Dog Food: Which Should You Feed Your Dog?

NickyLloyd / Getty Images

The heel - food aisles at the memory are filled with a dizzying array of bags and lavatory of food , and it can seem impossible to seek to settle if you should feed your detent wet or dry intellectual nourishment — or even both . Wet and dry food for thought are process differently , so they have different textures , moisture , and even nutritionary subject .

Because of wet nutrient ’s high wet content , veterinary surgeon often recommend it for dogs withkidneyorbladder stones , modest breeds , and picky eaters . However , it is messier , spoils quicker , and is less convenient than teetotal intellectual nourishment . We talked with a vet to wear down the pros and cons of soused and dry food for frankfurter to facilitate make your feeding decisions easier .

woman kneeling down giving dog bowl of food in kitchen

Prostock-Studio / Getty Images

When Should You Switch to Senior Dog Food? Experts Say Age Isn’t the Only Factor

Chalabala / Getty Images

While it ’s something most pet parents do n’t wish to talk about , eventually our dogs will enter theirsenior years , which can fetch an solely new set of challenge in term of nutrient selection . Many stain offer senior versions of their foods , but when should you trade your dog to that food , and what ’s so particular about senior food ? And are they actually beneficial or just a marketing stratagem ?

We speak with a vet who suppose that aged dog food is not just a marketing effort , and these food provide dissimilar formulations for older dogs who incline to require fewer calories as their activity and metabolismslow down with age . elderly dog solid food can also have a slightly dissimilar potassium , sodium , and protein dislocation to facilitate age kidneys , extra fatty dot to help with inflammation or aching juncture , and more roughage to support GI wellness . Here ’s how to tell when your hound is ready for older food ( it ’s not just an long time - related decision ) .

dog eating out of overflowing bowl

dachshund on leash; how to determine your dog’s healthy weight

dog eating from human’s hand while sitting in the grass

couple feeding their dog treats at the kitchen counter

Caucasian girl sitting on kitchen floor feeding dog

Terry Vine / Getty Images

Malltipoo dog eats from silver food bowls

ti-ja / Getty Images

two dogs eating from food bowls on the ground

NickyLloyd / Getty Images

senior yellow Lab lays by food bowl

Chalabala / Getty Images