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Question

How often and how much do you feed a lab? My brother has adopted 2 year old lab and he has lost some weight since then (4 pounds). He feeds him 2 times a day (dry dog food) and he has a lot of exercise during the day. I'm also interested at what time do puppies start to eat hard food and how much. Thank you

No, it's not nursing, and I wrote that "he" is loosing weight. He was adopted from a neighbor who's kids moved out and left a dog that she didn't want to take care for. As for puppies, they have nothing to do with this lab.

Answer 1

I would suggest having teh dog checked by the vet if he is following the directions on teh bag for the amount to feed. He should be feeding a high protien formula for teh excercise these dogs should get.
It could be worms eating all the nutrition not allowing the dog to get what's needed. or they may be some other health problem causing the weight loss. I onlly feed once a day at 2 years old.
As far as when pups should start to eat it's at about 4 weeks and then they should be taken from mom at night and in the morning given puppy chow that is moistened to a soup consitancy. during the day leave mom with pups but atleast 3 times a day take her away for 1/2 hour to let pups eat the moistened food and then let mom back I( I usually will let mom eat what is left) and then she can finiish feeding the pups each week make it thicker andat 6 weeks start to leave water down for them andleave a small bowl of dry down at least 2 times a day but give moistened but not to much they should be on only dry between 7-8 weeks. And they should stay with mom until 8 weeks. Pups should start shots at 6-8 weeks but no later.Pups should start worming at 2 weeks and ecvery 2 weeks along with mom

Answer 2

Is your question accurate? If the dog was just "adopted" and it is losing weight, I would say either you changed its food too quickly and it has not adjusted yet or it is being exercised too much. However, the puppy question makes me wonder if you have a nursing female and you just don't want to get slammed as a BYB? If it is a nursing ***** then, it is normal for her to lose a lot of weight and appear very thin. Producing all that milk will take a lot out of a dog. Make sure she has lots of food whenever she wants and fresh water. Pups should be started on dry food that has been soaked in water at about four weeks. They will still need to nurse until the mother weans them.

Sorry, I wasn't accusing you of anything. Glad to hear its as you say. Its just people here are sometimes afraid to ask for fear others might slam them. I just wanted you to have accurate info. Good Luck

Answer 3

If you are having trouble feeding the lab, keep the food out for the day. He will eat it, but will still control how much he eats. You can mix in wet food so he will be interested.

Puppies start eating dry food at about 6 weeks. They should always have a bowl out for them.

When the grow older you can start scheduled feeding.

Answer 4

Labs, like most dogs, should be fed twice per day. If you only feed once per day the body will start to store energy as fat when it DOES get fed -- feeding twice per day will eliminate that.

If your brothers Lab needs to loose weight, make sure that he is feeding the dog according to its TARGET weight and not its ACTUAL weight.

Good luck!