How is your 8-month-old puppy’s growth? Does it seem much slower than usual? Maybe it’s time to feed it more! While there is no single answer to this question, adjusting the puppy’s diet can help it grow normally.
Here are some of the best foods and amounts to feed a eight-month-old puppy.
How much to feed:
8-month-old puppies require approximately 1/2 to 2 cups of food per day. Their daily caloric intake should not exceed 35% of their TOTAL daily intake. Depending on the pup’s size and activity level, you may need to feed him or her more or less. Throughout the day, provide plenty of fresh water.
Table of Contents
Providing puppies with a high-quality, nutritionally balanced diet that contains protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants is important. Typically, puppies are fed 1/2 cup of puppy food mixed with 2 cups of water in a small bowl.
Once the pup is full, it should be allowed to eat from the bowl. During the day, smaller meals can be given depending on hunger levels.
The growing body and mind of puppies over 8 months will require an increased amount of nutrients. Due to this, you may want to increase their feeding frequency or give them a larger portion at each meal.
Some puppies eat every two hours. Others may only eat once per day or not at all in the morning and evening. Change your puppy’s feeding schedule if it doesn’t seem to be eating enough food.
How to determine and calculate how much to feed:
The amount of food your eight-month-old puppy needs will be determined by its caloric needs. What you need to do is listed below.
Measure the puppy’s weight:
Calculate the number of calories your pup should be consuming by dividing the weight of your puppy (in pounds) by 2.35. Based on that, you can estimate how many calories your pup should consume each day.
Calculate the pup’s activity level:
The next step is to calculate how much energy your puppy needs each day. It depends on your pup’s physical activity and whether it spends most of its time indoors or outdoors. When it was bred and if it was raised in a high-energy environment (like ranching).
Calculate your pup’s daily calorie requirements by multiplying his or her weight in pounds by 0.8191 or 1.1 if he is very active, such as a schnauzer or Welsh corgi.
Determine the puppy’s gender and breed:
Last but not least, you’ll need to determine your puppy’s gender (male or female) and breed (such as Labradors or Golden Retrievers). Your puppy’s license or registration will contain this information.
Example:
To determine a daily feeding guideline, multiply these numbers by the appropriate amount of kibble. If your eight-month-old puppy weighs 20 pounds and has an activity level of 2.5 (sitting quietly indoors all day).
To maintain its weight and energy level, it would require 22.2 calories per day from its puppy food bowl.
Nutrition requirement:
The daily protein intake of a 8-month-old puppy should be about 60 grams, while the fat intake should be between 10-15%. They consume between 2.5 and 5% of daily calories as carbohydrates (depending on the size of the dog), and between 0.25% and 0.5% as calcium.
As puppies grow rapidly, they require a lot of nutrients to sustain their growth. Approximately 12-15 calories per pound are recommended by the American Kennel Club for puppies. In total, they would consume around 288-352 milligrams (mg) of protein daily.
A child should also consume 10-12 ounces (284-330 grams) of food a day, divided into three to four small meals.
How much to feed a 8 month old puppy by weight:
| 8 month old dog weight (KG) | 8 month old dog weight (lbs.) | The recommended amount of food (Cups) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-4 | 3-10 | ⅔ – 1 ⅓ |
| 5-9 | 11-20 | 1- 1 ½ |
| 10-13 | 21-30 | 1- 2 |
| 14-18 | 31-40 | 1 ½ – 2 ½ |
| 19-22 | 41-50 | 2- 2 ⅔ |
| 23-27 | 51-60 | 2 – 3 |
| 28-31 | 61-70 | 2- 3 ½ |
| 33+ | 70+ | 3-4 |
How often to feed a 8 month old puppy:
Depending on the breed and weight of the dog, some puppy experts recommend feeding a 8-month-old puppy two meals per day. For puppies to maintain their energy levels and optimize their health, they should eat three times a day – morning, noon, and night.
Give your pup only a small amount of food at a time. To ensure they adjust to new foods without experiencing digestive distress, gradually introduce them to new foods one at a time over several days or weeks.
You should always provide plenty of fresh water so that they can drink whenever they are thirsty.
What food is best for a 8 month old puppy:
Some of the best food for a 8-month-old puppy may include meat, veggies, and fruits. Strong and healthy bones require plenty of protein and complex carbohydrates in babies. The following are the best foods for puppies aged 8 months and older.
Meat:
Protein and essential nutrients like Vitamin A, B12, zinc, and iron can be found in meat. The main meal your puppy needs each day should be small chunks of meat or small cuts.
Vegetables:
Another great option for puppies aged 8 months and older is vegetables. Several vegetables contain important antioxidants and vitamins that are beneficial to puppies as they grow.
Spinach, broccoli, peas, carrots, and peas are some examples. At every meal, give them a variety of vegetables so they can get as many nutrients as possible.
Fruits:
8-month-old puppies can also benefit from fruits as a source of nutrients. Grapes, for instance, are a favorite snack for them. Apples, oranges, bananas, and other fruits are great for your pup. Sugar can cause tooth decay over time, so make sure to feed them in moderation.
Kibble designed for puppies:
A healthy diet that includes kibble will be suitable for most puppies at 8 months of age. All the nutrition puppies need for growth and development is contained in Kibble, which is specially formulated for young puppies.
Small portions of kibble can be given to your puppy every day as their main meal, or you can mix it with other food options.
Puppy food:
Buy high-quality puppy food if you’re buying food specially designed for dogs. There are several good brands to choose from, including Pro Plan and Wellness. You should read the ingredients list carefully as some foods may contain harmful chemicals.
Feeding schedule and best times to feed a 8 month old puppy:
It is not different from feeding any other dog to feeding a eight-month-old puppy. You should give them small meals throughout the day, along with plenty of water to quench their thirst. Fresh food is best for your pup, and junk food should be avoided at all costs.
It is recommended to feed puppies under 8 months of age 2-3 times a day. Morning, noon, and evening are included in this time frame.
Your pup should be fed its first meal of the day around 7 am. It will help them get a good start to the day and fulfill their nutritional requirements.
Around 1 pm, feed them their afternoon meal. For the rest of the day, this will provide them with more energy and nutrients.
The last meal of the day should be given to your puppy at around 6 pm or 7 pm. Before going to bed, this will help them get all the nutrients they need.
What foods to avoid:
Many foods are safe to feed a 8-month-old puppy but avoid junk food and anything that contains sugar. In the long run, these types of foods can lead to tooth decay. The following foods should be avoided.
In the first place, avoid foods made with ingredients such as corn, soy, wheat, and sugar. You should avoid giving your pup any of these common junk foods.
Soups and stews are also foods you should avoid. Over time, these types of dishes may cause tooth decay because they are high in carbohydrates. Consider serving them a bland diet instead, such as boiled chicken or beef.
Snacks like chips, candy bars, and cake should also be avoided. Your puppy’s teeth can be damaged by these because they are high in sugar. If you want to serve them something other than potatoes, try baby carrots or a small piece of meat.
Make sure your pup does not consume caffeinated beverages such as soda or energy drinks. Tooth decay can be caused by these foods over time.
Final thoughts
In summary, a 8-month-old puppy requires 1/2 to 2 cups of food daily. Make sure they receive fresh and healthy meals three times a day, which should include meat, fruits, and vegetables. Avoid feeding them processed foods, junk food, and sugary beverages. Eventually, it may damage their teeth.