Can 4 week old puppies be overfed?

Question

Settle and argument. My son says that they will eat "until they explode"

Answer 1

4 week old puppies should be with their mother! (That being said I believe that while a puppy could eat themselves ill - possibly to death I suppose - I have never heard of a puppy "exploding".) It is important that puppies remain with their mother until at least 6-8 weeks of age. Most breeders begin to introduce a little food at about 4 weeks of age. Puppies should be fed small amounts of food several times a day - but water should always be available (be sure not to serve the water in a container in which it would be possible for the pup to drown.)

Answer 2

Of course they can't explode, but then again we humans will eat a all you can eat buffet and think we are going to explode lol. I guess I have been lucky in a lot of ways. I have food down 24/7 for all my dogs.. even puppies when they start eating solid foods. Never have I ever had any of them over eat. I have a theory about this.. If a dog thinks that what you put down is all its going to eat then they will devour that food. If they know the food is there at all time the dogs will learn to not devour their food because it is always there and they don't eat all the time because they know the food is always there. I have done this with every dog I ever had. I notice this last puppy I got..she is 8 weeks old , when I started feeding her she devour her food but once that puppy knew she can have food anytime she wanted There was never another problem. All my dogs will eat out of the same bowl too. If the little puppy wants to eat off their plates they will sit and wait until she is done before eating. This leaving food out at all times always work for me and my dogs. They have never over ate, never fought over food, and never devour their food.

Answer 3

If you're beginning puppy food, and you watch your pups eat, you can usually tell when they are full. You can visually see their little bellies fill up, and they will usually begin to slow down eating, or stop and back away completely when full. If pups are still sniffing and licking around pan of food when it is all gone, they are probably still hungry. Feed pups 3-4 times a day. Follow the recommendations on the label. If feeding a litter, I'd watch them eat to be sure the runt gets his share.

Answer 4

HI! Even though most pups will only eat until they can eat no more I have never had any explode! You should monitor how much they eat but to say they can over eat is something I myself have never seen. Pups at that age do few things, they eat then they poop then they play then they sleep. They should also still be nursing off mom too.
So to settle this arguement I have to say your the one who is correct. There is only so much a pup can hold it their stomachs.

Answer 5

Puppies are supposed to be pudgy. They need all the calories that they can consume just to perform the feat of growing. Their food when they are weaned to eat on their own will be filled with fatty calories to ensure that they grow to their full size with strong bones a teeth. Don't worry, in a couple more weeks they will get more exercise in one day than most people get in a week.
Your son is wrong.

Answer 6

No not if they are nursing. I have seen a puppy, when starting to eat dry food, eat so quick that they puck but not from over feeding.

Answer 7

Are they on dog food, or are they nursing? If they are on dog food, any dog can over eat. I doubt they will eat to the point of explosion.

Answer 8

sorry, your son wins. not all dogs will but there are a few who don't know when enough is enough.

Answer 9

of course they can, they are babies