Like lots of people , I ’m fascinated by Chow Chows . From their black spit to their unmatched , stiff - legged walk , and their strangely feline lookout on spirit . Looking after these ancient and rummy cuspid demands special care to their unique indigence , and part of that is get their diet mightily from day one . Feeding a Chow Chow puppy the right-hand food in the right amount at each stage of his life will set him up for a lifetime of healthy growth . This clause is all about how your Chow Chow puppy ’s nutritional need change as they grow up , and the best way to meet them at every phase .
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Chow Chow Nutrition
Under their deep coat , the Chow Chow is a sturdy , heavy set cad weighing 45 - 70lbs . Historically , this meant they were consider as a average sized dog . But more recently , scientists studying puppy ontogenesis have report that the pace they grow more closely resembles that of large frankfurter breeds , and that it would be more accurate to classify them as such . This is relevant to feast a Chow Chow puppy , because bombastic puppy strain involve special consideration when it make out to choosing their intellectual nourishment .
Choosing The Best Food For Your Chow Chow Puppy
The Chow dynasty you take for your Chow ( I have sex … I promise I ’ll only do it that once ) call for to be :
Puppies are become through a rapid period of growth and ontogeny , so their intellectual nourishment must contain all the free energy and nutrients their consistence needs to satisfy the requirement of that unconscious process . This is cognize as being ‘ nutritionally complete ’ . At least 90 % of what they eat every twenty-four hour period should be nutritionally gross , whilst treats and bite should be limited to no more than 10 % of their day-to-day small calorie ingestion .
Until they finish growing , their dieting also necessitate to be geezerhood appropriate . That is , it needs to have enough calories to fuel their growth , and enough of important ingredients like calcium , for make unassailable bones . And for Canis familiaris like Chow Chows , it also needs to be suitable for turgid breeds specifically . Large cad stock grow more cursorily than small breeds – it ’s how they terminate up large ! But if their diet is too calorie - dense , or contains the amiss proportion of protein and minerals , they can end up growingtooquickly . This results in a skeleton which is relatively weak , supporting more organic structure mass than it is able to , andmay conduct to problems such as abn(paid link)ormally shaped bones , especially in the joint .
Feeding a Chow Chow Puppy Home Prepared Vs Store Bought Food
The choice for feed a Chow Chow puppy boil down to :
Choosing between one or the other is an intensely personal selection , and multitude run to have stiff feelings about the reasons why their own choice is the right one . Puppy parents who make their own food usually do so because
However the disadvantages of preparing in the altogether or cooked diet at home are :
How Do Store Bought Foods Compare?
Commercial dieting buy in stores are usually formulated to be compatible with the Association of American Feed Control Officials ’ ( AAFCO ’s ) regulations about what a nutritionally accomplished animal diet must contain . So , if the intellectual nourishment you select is marked as ‘ pure ’ , then you know it has everything your puppy needs to grow healthily .
Dry kibbles are the most low-priced pick . They store well , and they can readily be used as training treats . The mechanically skillful natural process of breaking up kibble is fairly effective at keeping puppies ’ teeth uninfected and free from memorial tablet too . However , of all the options for fertilise a Chow Chow puppy , this is generally the one they view as being least appetizing !
Wet foods elicit a minute more enthusiasm , but they are most expensive per meal . Some owner practice soaked nutrient in reward - based training by serving it from the can with a long handled baby spoon , but a lot of masses involve this as too inconvenient . And last , wet food wo n’t avail keep their tooth clean .
Store corrupt nutritionally complete raw intellectual nourishment are a estimable way of gaining some of the perceived benefit of raw eating , without the risk of nutritional imbalances . However , you ’ll still postulate to practice very careful hygiene .
Getting It Right
Whatever approach you take :
What If The Food You Choose Isn’t What Their Breeder Used?
It ’s a serious idea to keep feeding an 8 workweek old puppy the same diet they were weaned onto for at least a twosome of workweek after they come home with you . oodles of pup live digestive upsets , departure of appetite and looseness for a few days , brought on by the stress of leaving their mamma and moving to a new surroundings . It ’s not a dear time to change their diet too !
After that , you’re able to interchange their dieting , but it ’s a good idea to do so gradually :
If they show signaling of an upset stomach that do n’t break up within 24 60 minutes , ask your vet for advice before you go any further .
How Many Meals Does A Chow Chow Puppy Need?
Until they are 16 calendar week old , your pup needs 4 meals a mean solar day , at roughly regular intervals . The meals should be adequate - sized , so weigh out their full day-to-day ration accord to the instructions on the packaging in the morning , and dissever it between four bowls to use at each meal . From 16 hebdomad old until they are 6 month older , your pup will need 3 meal a daytime – normally breakfast , lunch and dinner party . And from 6 calendar month onwards , they can have their day-to-day ration split into just two meal .
Some owners take this even further , and eventually give their Chow just once a Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . However , you should n’t attempt this until they are fully grown , at around 18 months old . feed dogs a undivided large meal each day is alsoa risk factorfor the lethal condition gastric dilatation volvulus , or ‘ bloat ’ . Bloat pass off when the stomach flips around inside the abdomen so the entering and exit have a bend in them – fundamentally turning the stomach into a certain chamber . Chows are also at increase risk of bloat because they are great dogs with deep pectus . So run them once a daylight is in general not wise .
Timing your Chow Chow’s Meals
Feed your Chow pup at rough veritable intervals to keep their parentage sugar storey even . They are likely to awaken up too soon , but do n’t serve breakfast until after the sentence that you would eventually like them to sleep until . Between 8 and 16 workweek , this could signify meals at :
And from 16 weeks until 6 months it could mean breakfast , dejeuner and dinner at :
From 6 month onwards it could stand for breakfast at 7 am and dinner 5 pm . Or 8 am and 6 necropsy – you get the mind . Avoid feed your Chow less than an minute before you take them out for exercise , as this is another danger factor for bloat . And do n’t forget that they need a toilet breaking right after every meal !
While your pup is growing up , it ’s a swell idea to use their solid food as education treats between meal as well . adjudicate keeping the next arena of solid food within easy compass , and rewarding your pup for expert habits like decide on their bottom or keeping their paws off the kitchen counter . At the next meal time , put what ’s left in the bowling ball down for them to finish . Do n’t worry if you use up all the food as training treats though , that ’s great !
Is My Puppy Eating Enough?
The good start point for process out your puppy ’s right portion size is to surveil the direction on the promotion , or the servings agreed with your veterinarian if you ’re make a home prepared dieting . Either agency , your veterinarian will weigh your pup on a regular basis throughout their early sprightliness , and examine their overall consistence consideration to check that that it is correct . If you ’re worried that your pup is n’t eating enough between vet check ups , call the clinic and take for advice before changing their small calorie intake .
Bear in nous that a healthy body frame for a puppy might be skinny than you expect . We used to think that puppy needed coil of puppy blubber , but that school of thought has become superannuated . Veterinarians now recommend that a pup in salutary consideration should have a defined waist beneath their coating , and their rib should be noticeable under a thin layer of fatness if you press gently against their incline with monotonous hands .
Chow Chows arereported to beamong the weenie breeds most probable to go through obesity , which has knock - on effects for their wellness , quality of lifespan , and life story expectancy . So feeding them a levelheaded amount and keep on them in lean shape from the beginning sets them up for a longer , healthy life story .
When Will Your Chow Be Ready For Adult Food?
Your pup will be quick to start use up adult food from about 1 year old . Ideally they should remain on a puppy - specific diet until they are in full grow , and some Chows reach this landmark later – around 18 months old or as late as two years sure-enough . Ask your veteran ’s advice if you ’re not sure whether your dearie has finished growing yet .
Feeding A Chow Chow Puppy – Summary
Chow Chow pup need a dieting specifically formulated for turgid breed puppies . Feeding them a dieting intended for grownup dogs or a food marketed for puppies of minor stock could result in lasting growth abnormalities . The easiest and most reliable elbow room to check that they ’re get all the vitality and victuals they postulate is to choose a good quality AAFCO certified pure diet from a store . If you need to prepare their meals yourself , discuss your plan with your veterinary surgeon first . Do n’t forget that feeding a Chow Chow puppy can be a fun part of the breeding and bonding process too , so do n’t overlook its electric potential , or force out it as a piffling detail !
