Puppy eating like crazy! Help!

[Shannon Querry]

Hi everyone! I haven't posted for some time but I need some suggestions please:) Our labradoodle Fleury is 19 weeks old and eats like crazy! I know Labs are pretty food driven so while I'm not totally surprised by her eating habits, it's getting out of control! We are currently feeding her Fromms and she eats 3 times daily, 1 cup at each feeding. At her lunchtime feeding she gets some plain yogurt and dried cranberries mixed in as well. This also doesn't include the kong filled with peanut butter and various other treats during the day.

Should we consider a different food? Or add something to her diet? And before anyone asks, yes she acts like she's STARVING when we feed her lol. Thanks a bunch!

[Adina P]

How is her weight? And when you say she's eating like crazy...do you mean she just eats fast, voraciously?

[fergie11]

How much does she weigh? The recommended amount of Fromm is 3 cups for a 50# dog so she's probably not to far off. My Lucy is the same way. She eats whatever anyone gives her. I did use a bowl with big bumps in to slow her down a little. Some dogs will just eat and eat. My Fergie could care less if she ever eats. She does like the homemade liver treats we use for training though. Now that I have Lucy I'm sure I will never be able to go back to free feeding. She'd eat me out of house and home and Fromm is not exactly cheap.

[Shannon Querry]

Well 2 weeks ago she was 30 pounds and the vet said she seemed thin! And she doesn't always eat fast, the morning meal is usually like that though. I've never seen her not accept food even if she's just eaten. I'm concerned I'm overfeeding her and the Fromm certainly isn't Ol Roy in price you're right lol.

[Adina P]

Not one of my three dogs (2 doods and a border collie) will EVER turn down food or treats no matter how recently they've eaten. They LOVE to eat and I think that's typical of dogs in general. If there's nothing MEDICALLY wrong with her (bug the vet a bit more next time letting him know that you feed MORE than recommended despite her being thin) than I wouldn't worry about it. Is she a high energy...GO GO GO kinda pup? Perhaps she's going through a growth spurt and needs more Calories than usual.

[Shannon Querry]

Is she a GO GO GO kinda pup?! Yeah, you could say that ;) LOL!!! And a growth spurt?! Oy. I know that no one really knows how big the pups are going to get BUT she was supposed to be in the 45-50 pound range FULL grown! She's already 30+ at 19 weeks! She's lucky she's cute lol.

[Dianne Carter ~ Trinity Doodles]

Hey Shannon, several things could be occurring. Puppies go through a pretty big growth spurt between 4 and 9 months, many breeders looking to prescreen potential breeders have hips examined at 4 months or wait until after 9 months for this reason. If she has recently come to your home it is not unusual for a puppy to eat vigorously especially if accustomed to eating with their littermates and they now no longer share their food. It has also been my experience that you may very well still have a dog who is 45-50 pounds at maturity ~ I have had a couple that seemed to pack it on, but then really slowed down ~ one even went slightly above during a growth spurt and then adjusted and thinned back out (kind of like some of our teenagers when they are a little pudgy and seem to then stretch out).

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Shannon...you just posted in my Puppy Madness discussion on this. Ever since Peri was spayed (11 days ago) and we switched to Fromms (14+ days ago) she eats like a mad woman! She would eat 5 cups a day if we let her and she is a mini!
At least she is eating...
When she was on TOTW she grazed her food. Now she scarfs it down. Who knows!

[sandy b]

I think it's part of the growing stage. Max ate like he was starving until he was at least 6 months old and now at over 1 yr he eats when he wants to. I would read in Puppy Madness about all these picky eaters and I thought something was wrong with him. I fed him 3x a day plus kongs, plus training treats but the vet said his weight was OK. I thought about switching food but stayed with the same brand and he's OK. I think Fleury will even out over time.

[Shannon Querry]

\Yeah picky eater she's never been but we've also always done Fromm too. She really looks good, not too thin and for sure not heavy at all. I think maybe it's all going straight to those supermodel legs she has! I think I'll maintain status quo with the 3 cups per day plus the other stuff and see what happens! Thanks everyone!

[F, Calla & Luca]

My 2 are on Fromm's. The 8 month old eats about the same total as yours and she probably weighs just over 40 pounds now. She always finishes her food and she is solid. My 18 month old weighs a little less and now is kind of bony. He gets the same amount but he doesn't always finish so sometimes he ends up with less. He's a grazer.

[Cherri]

Yes, we just switched to Fromm as well and my puppy is 19 weeks old. He is scarfing the food down as soon as he gets it and we are having to feed my maltese seperate so she can get food. What are they putting in this food?!! I had the same experience with Allyson with my pup barely eating TOTW and now wanting more and more. I don't know if it is because the protein level is much lower than in TOTW, but the little store I buy it from says that FROMM has some of the most popular flavors for even the pickiest eaters. This may be a growth spirt for both of our pups as well! Good luck. I would not be worried unless he gets underweight.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Yes, I think it is something about Fromms...the newness has worn off by this point, but they still love it. And Taquito eats while I am gone, which has never happened.