I am trying to figure out how much to feed an 18 pound puppy. I am mixing up a homemade mix because he I'd dealing with different types of runs. Sometimes great, sometimes pudding, sometimes a little runnier. He is being treated for hookworms and a staph infection so that is contributing. Plus a sudden change of food.

I am mixing him up cooked chicken, half thighs and half breast so it is not too greasy, brown rice, watered down low salt chicken broth, pumpkin and a little but of Origen kibble mixed in.

How in the world do I figure how much to feed him?

First, how are you providing calcium?

Well I am only going to feed this for a few days to be easier on his belly than kibble alone.

Do I need calcium if this is not long term?

He probably needs about 5% of his body weight, if we assume that he is about one-fourth grown. Of course, body condition will be the determining factor is checking on this percentage.

With poop issues, I would probably fast him for half a day, encouraging fluids with baited water, and then feed him very small meals (more like snacks) over the course of the day. Diarrhea is exacerbated by a lot of food at one sitting. (If he was an adult, I'd fast him for a day, but a growing puppy is easily dehydrated and also needs balanced meals.)

One way to go is with one of the THK puppy-appropriate foods plus add-ins.

But it's certainly possible to feed a balanced cooked diet ... it's just that a growing puppy needs careful attention to the diet. His calcium and phosphorus needs are a little different, and, even more important, he doesn't yet have the mechanism for excreting excess minerals (like calcium), so there isn't nearly the wiggle room there is for adult dogs.

I can link you to trustworthy balanced cooked diet directions.



eta
I typed this before I realized it was a short-term diarrhea diet.

Edited by Connie Sutherland (08/27/2013 04:23 PM)
Edit reason: eta

 Quote: Julie Sloan

Do I need calcium if this is not long term?

Oh, sorry!

How short-term? Just a diarrhea diet? (BTW, calcium is a poop-firmer. )

If you meant just a short-term diarrhea diet, I'd make it mainly extremely overcooked rice (start with double the usual water and cook until the grain ends splay ... you want gruel, rather than fluffy rice, and don't drain it). Stir in a little pumpkin.

And snack-size meals ... no large amounts .... after a half-day of fluids to give his gut a break.

I wouldn't add kibble or thighs. A diarrhea diet for the very short term will work faster and better if it's all binding and bland.

Sounds great. And yes I don't want to try to cook for him. I barely have time for puppy and home search let alone special diet. But I figured if I could soothe his belly is would be less time consuming than poop cleaning in his crate.,ugh. He tries but I can't sit there beside him all the time.

I may be jinxing myself, but serious success!!!! That has to make him feel better.

I had consistently pudding stool from my perfectly healthy pup until I figured out that the portion size was too big for her to tolerate. You may want to consider portion size if you're having issues and have ruled out the other possible causes like parasites.