food-type, amount, additives??
Submitted by trouble on April 2, 2011 - 10:59amHi I just purchased a new Eng. Bulldog puppy from breeder-It should be small- both parent are reg. and small- I would like to keep small- I am not sure about food. She is 3months and the breeder gave me-NUTRI-SOURCE PUPPY to feed her. She is a pig!!! I feed 3 times a day- 1 cup total for all day. 1. HOW MUCH SHOULD I FEED HER EACH TIME. 2. WHEN SHOULD I START TO CHANGE FOOD OVER TO ADULT (I bought Taste of the Wild, fowl) 3. Should I add any additives to food?? I need help??? I din;t want to over feed or under feed her????? The vet said 3/4cup a day, she is 11lbs now. Thanks
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Trouble & Izzy
Hi, can you post a picture of your puppy
I usually feed puppies that age 1 cup, 3 times a day. Most bulldog puppies eat as if they are starving but, I don't think you are feeding your puppy enough.
feeding
Thank you- so do you mean 1cup at each feeding - I will try to send piucture.I'm not sure how to do it
Trouble & Izzy
Jacinda, I emailed you a pic of her pup.
I am also going to post it though. Just wanted to cover bases in case you weren't on again today!
Amy and Sophia
Here is the puppy picture....
Amy and Sophia
Oh, I see a huge problem with this pup
and that is, she is not mine. What a cutie pie.
Lynn King CPDT-KA
what do you mean by
"you would like to keep small?"
And only 1 cup total, all day, seems like it's not enough food for a growing puppy.
My adult girl is small, she's 38-40 pounds. She ate 2-3 cups a day when she was growing......
Cathy and Audrey
feeding
I thought so also, about the amount, but what do I know. I will increase the amount of food and I am looking at a new bulldog person vet. i was hoping she would not get to be a real big bulldog, maybe on the small size. Is the puppy food still good to give her or should i start to add some of the adult stuff.
Trouble & Izzy
Taste of the Wild is a great food but...
I think the fowl is a little too much protein. Bulldog pups need 20 to 25%, otherwise they can develop joint and bone pains. I would go with the fish or lamb versions. You can change to adult food as soon as you want, our guys don''t need puppy food for long. A good quality food like TOTW and a daily Pet Tab or multi vitamin should do it. We also supplement with glucosomine to prevent any joint pains.
feeding
Thank you- How much do you think I should feed her??
Trouble & Izzy
Not sure what you mean by "small"
Are you referring to the Bulldog Standard or according to your opinion? You aren't going to have much influence in her adult size, that was determined before she was born. Just because her parents are small in stature does not guarantee she will follow.
One cup a day is not nearly enough for a pup. I think your vet might have meant 3/4 cup per meal, 3 meals a day. I would leave her on the same food the breeder was feeding her for a while. Puppies are stressed enough being taken from their known environments/away from their littermates etc., no need to add to it.
Lynn King CPDT-KA
I agree with Lynn and the others. 1 cup a day is not nearly
Enough food for a puppy. Feed at least 3 cups a day.....1 cup each meal, 3 times daily. Your puppy needs the nutrition now to grow and be strong as an adult later. Nothing you can do about size, if the parents were both small, more than likely your pup won't be real big. Be careful with protein levels. 25% is more than enough for a bulldog. The brand you have chosen is fine, but go with one of their varieties with less protein than the one you have chosen.
Amy and Sophia
Yes, definitely needs more food whatever you decide to feed...
Three meals a day around one cup EACH meal. You can cut her down later on if she starts to get too pudgy, but puppies need food for bones, etc.
Feeding
Thank you all very much -I am new to the bulldogs, I had cattle dogs (Blue Heelers) I feel like a bad mom!!!! I went by the vet- (am looking for a bulldog vet now) he said she was fine and to feed her 3/4 cup a day. I asked him twice if he meant per feeding and he said no a whole day because her tummy is small. I will increase her food, as it was I fed a little more than vet said- about 1 1/2 cup a day. No wonder she ate like a pig. I know her size is already determined, I just didn't want her to be obesite and have alot of problems, but I don't want to stunt her growth either. Both parents were small do you thing she may be small, not like a 60 or 70 lb. one???Thank you are again and I will do better now I know--
Trouble & Izzy
Genetics goes much further back then the parents
for anyone to make an educated guess on what her size may be as an adult, you would have to know both her lines.
Obesity is up to you. Every dog is different, different energy levels, different metabolisms, you will just have to keep an eye on her.
You obviously have a strong preference for a smaller Bulldog but so what if she does grow to be 60 lbs. Stature is only one factor in having a great pet, temperament, health, social skills are far more important.
Enjoy her, Bulldogs are terrific companions.
Lynn King CPDT-KA
This is what I do with new puppies
I leave them on the same food the breeder was giving them for about 3-4 weeks. Then I slowly switch them over to a good all stages food like TOTW Salmon. I feed them 1 cup, 3 time's a day until they are about 6 months old. You can adjust the amount as you feel necessary based on how the pup looks.
Weight is really just a number with bulldogs. Bulldogs come in all shapes and sizes and bone structure. So we go more so by how the dog looks and not how much they weigh.
Also, if I were you, I would have your puppies ears glued. If the picture you sent is a recent one, it appears that the ears are not rosed. It's really just cosmetic but a bulldog should have "rosed" ears otherwise it just throws off the look of the bulldog head in my opinion.
Where do you live? We can probably help you find a good bulldog Vet. It's very reassuring to know you can trust your Vet.
Don't worry, we all had to start somewhere with our first bulldogs. We've all picked up tips from our fellow bulldog lovers through the years. BTW, your baby is very cute.
feeding
Thank you- i think she is cute too!!! What do you mean glue ears??? I'm in VA, Fauquier County.
Trouble & Izzy
Ears
From your picture, it looks as if her left ear is trying to go back, or rose and the right ear flops down or is what we call a button ear. Sometimes the ears need a little help in achieving their proper shape so, we glue them to train the ears.
I have a friend who is temporarily living in VA. I don't know if she is near you but I will send her a message and see if she can recommend a good Vet.
Vet
My friend recommends Dr. Morse at the Occoquan Animal Clinic.