How Often Do I Feed My Pug Puppy?

When you bring your pug puppy home, set up a schedule for his meals. He should eat four times a day. The approximate amount he should eat is 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of puppy food, depending upon the quality of the food. High-quality dry foods and wet foods are nutrient-dense, so your little guy will not need as much of it as he would lower-quality foods. You can find high-quality puppy foods in pet stores and at your veterinary clinic. Avoid semi-moist puppy foods because they contain high amounts of sugar.

At 3 months of age,begin to feed your pug three times per day. Adjust the amount so he is still getting his daily requirement. If he was eating 1/4 cup at each meal, now adjust it to 1/3 cup at each meal so he is still ingesting 1 cup of food each day. He may want more; but as long as he is at a healthy weight, don't start giving him extra food. Pugs gain weight easily. Obesity in pugs can lead to muscle and joint problems, diabetes and heart disease.

At 6 months of age, feed your pug two times per day. If he was eating 1/3 cup at each feeding, he is now ready to eat 1/2 cup of food at each meal. It is doubtful that you will need to increase the amount of food per day even though your pug is growing. Your vet may suggest that you decrease the amount of food if your pug is starting to gain weight.

At 12 months, you may decide to feed your pug once a day or continue to feed him twice a day. Some owners prefer to continue the twice-a-day feedings because pugs have a smaller stomach than larger dogs. It's hard for them to digest a large amount in one feeding. It is now time to consider adult food. Introduce the new food slowly so he doesn't have difficulty digesting it.

If you are concerned that your pug is not getting enough to eat, look at his shape. He should be broad at the shoulders and narrower beyond the shoulders, with a slight widening in the rump area. If his shape is square, he is getting too much food.