How much should a 7 week old lab puppy eat, and how often?

Question

I have been feeding him Purina puppy chow, not my food of choice but we just got him, and I want to wait to switch to a better food. I have been feeding him 3 times a day, once at about 7:30am, 3/4 cup, and again at 12:30pm, and again at 5:30. The last 2 nights he has had terrible diarreah, and is throwing up large amounts of almost digested food (it doesn't look like kibble, more like a pile of poop). In the morning and throughout the day he is happy, energetic and eating and drinking. Am I feeding him too much?

He has had his first 2 or 3 wormings with Drontal, and has had a DHLPP (parvo and influenza) and Corona Virus vaccine. The last worming and Corona was 4 days ago.

We've had the dog for four days. I have not switched his food from what the breeder was feeding him. He does not vomit after every meal, only in the late afternoon-night, when the diarreah starts, it's only been going on for 2 days, and it happens about 3 to 4 hours after he eats.

Answer 1

I have a lab dog and when we first got him, we fed him about 4 or 5 times a day and only like 1/4 cup off food at the times. Maybe switching food will help we did that. If you switched food from the stuff he was on it does take time for him to get used to it. Just try feeding him the amount i suggested and see how that works.

Answer 2

That doesn't seem like it's too much food, and he should be eating three times a day. By your description, it sounds lik it's been in his tummy for while before he throws it up, which is why it looks the way it does. By awhile, I mean about half an hour???? Am I close?

I would most definitely call the vet the first thing in the morning ans tell them what's been happening. I'm sure they will want to see him.

I do have a couple more questions. How long have you had the pup? Does he vomit after every meal? The diarrhea could be because he was eating something different before you brought him home and the sudden change in food could be causing it. However the vomiting is definitely i definitely a major concern, especially since the poor little guy also has diarrhea. He could dehydrate himself quickly having both symptoms, even though you say he's drinking water. He may not be drinking enough to keep himself hydrated. Please take him to the vet in the morning.

Good luck to you and the little guy. . I hope he feels better soon.

ADD -- Excuse my typos . I seem to have misplaced my glasses :-)

Answer 3

PLEASE wait!! This is far too young for any puppy to leave his breeder/siblings, and even his mother as weaning isn't normally complete until around 6 weeks. Whoever is allowing this puppy to come to a new home is a BYB, pure and simple. Yes, it's done - because after mum stops feeding and cleaning up, doing a litter is a LOT of work, to say nothing of costing a bomb to feed. So surprise, surprise, get them out to the unsuspecting public. Fact is much as a puppy should be able to survive without mum at 6 weeks, on solids, and with mum probably no longer actually sleeping with her litter, the extra weeks, to 8 weeks MINIMUM age, are vital - these weeks allow the breeder to be certain the puppies will be okay out on their own, and perhaps more importantly, the 2 weeks playing and interacting with their siblings are so important for a puppy, to learn how to become a well-rounded adult. At this age, a puppy will need 4 meals a day - breakfast, lunch, tea and a late evening meal too. He won't be able to hold, physically for much longer than 1 hours (pee) and he'll need to have a BM at least as many times as he's fed. For sure, he's going to need to empty right through the day - which means getting him out every hour to start with, and probably twice during the night too. Finally, it's actually illegal in some places, to seel a puppy of under 8 weeks - for good reason!

Answer 4

he has prob had a diet change from what the breeder was feeding him. Dogs have very sensitive systems. In a few days he will get use to the new diet. When you swich him over to a different brand gradually change the food my mixing the food adding a little of the new every day till he is only eating the new that way it is eaiser on his system. You are not feeding him too much at that age puppys are growing alot and you can feel free to free feed him and leave out a unlimited supply of food. That may also help because he'll learn he dosn't have to compeate for food from his litter mates and learn to self regulate. When he gets to 6 mos, then you should put him on a schedule.

I wouldn't say you have anything to worry about. Congradulations on your new lab puppy.

Answer 5

Feeding Purina Puppy chow is a great choice, I have English Mastiffs and they have been raised on Purina food and have lived well past their estimated life expectancy. Puppies should eat as much as they like all the time. Eventually they will slow down on the amount they eat. The vomiting could be different things, If you have not had a vet check you should. Breeders don't all ways tell you everything you need to know. diarrhea could be stress of intestinal parasites.

Answer 6

You have picked the world's best all around dog. Purina puppy chow is really good dog food. He sounds like he has parasites. Take him to a vet.

Answer 7

Your puppy should not be doing this.
If your feeding him by the bag directions, that is ok.
Instead of asking YAHOO QUESTIONS-call your vet.
It could be a number of things going wrong inside his digestive track.

Answer 8

Why do you want to wait before changing him to a better food. No don't answer this question, there is no good reason to wait.

Take hhim to the vet, a put should not be doing that.

Answer 9

on every pack of puppy chow there is a chart to tell you how much,often you should feed

Answer 10

I would take him to a vet-he could have a blockage or parasites.