Puppy feeding - how much, how often

[suzi-q]

My puppy is a jack russell yorkshire terrier cross 14 weeks old. I started out feeding her 3 times daily and now feed her twice a day although usually with something extra during the day, either a few biscuits or a small extra meal.

I have a couple of concerns however. She wolfs her food down and then runs around and if allowed would eat the other dogs food and the cats food too becoming totally bloated. I have to shut the cats away and supervise her because my older jack russell will allow her to eat his food.

Also she seems to be drinking lots of water and then weeing lots. Almost like shes filling up on water.

I give her quite large meals - for her size - she has been wormed regularly since I've had her.

I thought this was just the litter mentality coming out and her feeling that she must bolt her food or lose out. I'm just wondering if I should feed her more often or on something different. At the moment she is on a tinned puppy food. I normally give her about 1/4 to 1/3 of a tin each time.

Any advice gratefully received.

[woofgang]

dogs will eat until they vomit...its a dog thing! In the wild the food isn't guaranteed so you scoff it when you can get it.
Can you see her ribs and hip bones? If she has thick fur over ribs and hips, can you feel them easily?
That's the best way to judge how much to feed...if the ribs/hip bones can be seen or feel sharp under the fur then increase the feed. If the ribs and hip bones are not visible or feel chubby then reduce. Its hard to say how much food to give as dogs vary a lot. I have two pups who are litter brothers. One is always a bit ribby, the other slightly chubby, they are both fit and active and the vet is happy with both of them and yet the ribby one gets 100g of food more a day than the chubby one. The chubby one gets the recommended amount for the food.
if you switch her to dry food, she may find it more satisfying, you could also offer her a raw carrot to chew which is filling without fattening or rawhide chews.
My boys are now nine months old and only now am I moving them to two meals a day but they are a big breed....maybe going back to three meals might help.

I only mention this last because it is a fact, I don't want to scare you but the drink a lot wee a lot thing can be symptomatic of diabetes especially if pup eats loads and stays thin. Diabetes is controllable in dogs but you need to catch it early

[suzi-q]

Thanks for that. I think I will go back to three feeds a day and perhaps get a good quality dry puppy food. She has chews quite often because otherwise she will chew my fingers!!! (or anything else in the way)

I will bear in mind the diabetic thing but don't think its anything like that. (Hope not anyway) However I will keep an eye. Are there any other symptoms I should be looking for?

Shes extremely active, healthy looking and bouncy in all other ways. I have a feeling she may have been one of the stronger pups in the litter as she seems unfazed by anything she has come across to date.

[woofgang]

the main one in dogs seems to be the drinking thing...later on there is huge weightloss with huge appetite and muscle weakness. My experience in our dog was atypical as she had always been a big drinker so I missed the initial symptoms and she wasn't diagnosed until permanent damage had been done which is why I m sensitive to it now....but she was an older dog (13) when it happened.
I seriously doubt that your pup has it but I thought it worth mentioning as a possiblity and as you got her IIRR from a dodgy breeder

[suzi-q]

Thanks I will watch the drinking. It was not really a dodgy breeder just not a professional one. she was from a family of travellers - I think thats what they would call themselves. However their dogs were all healthy, lively and their adult dogs all friendly and available to be seen. Its just that we didnt get the extras such as first innoculations, information sheets, free supply of food etc. Also she still has her dew claws which I guess we will have to have dealt with at some point. So, no frills but the puppy is gorgeous lively and cute as a button.

[woofgang]

All the dogs we have ever had have had their front dew claws intact. (not born with back dew claws) They do need trimming occasionally but its no big deal. In my experience, Weimaraners tend to use them like a thumb to hold onto things eg chews....not sure about other breeds.

Unless you little girl damages one,or you have a real problem I would think that you would decide to keep them as removal is a general anaesthetic deal...it really makes my blood run cold to think of them just being chopped off newborns.
I am glad you are so pleased with her!

[888sally888]

All my dogs over the years have had their dew claws intact - I dont think they need to be removed.

[suzi-q]

Our jack russell didnt have dew claws. They must have been removed at birth. Pebble's ones are tiny floppy little pink things. The vet said that if they became a problem and she started catching them they could be removed when she is spayed and have her microchip done all at the same time. I think we will wait and see nearer the time. She is 3 and a half months and they haven't seemed to bother her as yet. Toilet training is progressing sloooowly. She will go every time we take her out. She manages to get one wee on the kitchen floor every day without us seeing a thing!! Crafty little monkey.