Your puppy is halfway to the 1-year mark, and you’ve probably seen some rapid growth spurts in that time! As they grow bigger and bigger, you’ll find yourself feeding them more and more. But as they continue to grow, feeding them becomes a bit of a balancing game—you want to feed them enough to meet your growing puppy’s needs, but not so much as to cause your puppy to become overweight.
Excess weight gain in puppyhood can predispose your puppy to a variety of problems, including obesity and arthritis as an adult. For medium- and large-breed dogs, puppyhood obesity can contribute to the development of orthopedic problems like hip dysplasia.
Now that your puppy is 6 months old, it’s a great time to take a step back and see how well they are maintaining a healthy weight. Your puppy should have a nice waistline just in front of their hips, which you should be able to see when you look at them from above and from the side. You shouldn’t be able to easily see your puppy’s ribs, but you should be able to feel them when you pet your puppy’s chest. If you’re uncertain how to gauge your puppy’s weight, your veterinarian will be happy to help.
If your puppy is deemed to be at a good weight, good job and keep up the good work!
As your puppy keeps growing, you’ll likely need to increase the daily amount of food they eat to match their new size. Keep evaluating your puppy’s weight to make sure you don’t give them too much to eat. While you’ll need to continue increasing the food for medium- and large-breed dogs at this age, your small-breed puppy may already be eating the amount they’ll need as an adult.
Keep in mind that your puppy’s energy requirements might go down after they are spayed or neutered. Your VCA care team is happy to discuss your puppy’s food plan with you. We love happy, healthy puppies!
Learn more about obesity and how to gauge your pet’s weight with the Body Condition Scoring Chart.
