Swapping Puppy Food Brands

Changing a puppy’s diet can sometimes lead to digestive upset, so it’s a good idea to wait a couple of weeks before moving on even if you aren’t a fan of the breeder’s chosen brand. This is in part due to the fact that the length of a dog’s gastrointestinal tract is much shorter than that of humans. Since their digestive processes need to occur within a shorter time period, it puts additional stress on their ability to digest and utilize food.

When your puppy is well settled in your home and consistently giving solid poops, take a week or so to gradually switch. Start by mixing about three-quarters of the old food with one-quarter of the new food for the first two or three days. Then switch to equal portions of each food for another two to three days before moving over completely.

How Much To Feed A Maltipoo Puppy

I recommend feeding small breed puppies four fixed meals a day, and one meal portion for training treats. This works best if you’re using kibble, but can be done with the messier wet meals with a bit of prep.

At the start of the day put five dishes on the countertop, and measure out your pup’s daily ratio of food as shown on the side of packaging. Spread it between the five bowls. Feed meals at around the following times:

• 7am
• 11am
• 2pm
• 5pm

The final bowl you’ll dip into throughout the day to reward the behaviors you like seeing, or to get started with training.

How Feeding Changes as a Maltipoo Puppy Gets Older

As your Maltipoo puppy gets older, their nutritional and caloric needs will change.

How big they get will depend on whether the Maltese was crossed with a Toy or Miniature Poodle. A full-grown Maltipoo’s weight can range from 5 to 20 pounds. They can stand from 8 to 14 inches.

The most rapid weight gain will occur from birth to three months of age. After that growth will often come in spurts.

Smaller breeds reach maturity earlier than large dogs. This 2004 study found that the period of rapid growth was reached by 11 weeks of age for toy breeds, but for small dogs, it continues until 14 to 16 weeks. It also found that both toy and small dogs reach 99% of their adult weight by the age of 9 or 10 months.

When they stop growing they can be transitioned to an adult formulated dog food which contains less protein, fat, and calcium. At this point their meals can be reduced to two or three times a day.

Choosing A Type Of Food

Whether you decide to feed your Maltipoo puppy dry food, wet food, or a raw or homemade food diet, you’ll need to satisfy their specific nutritional requirements.

Feeding a Maltipoo Puppy Kibble

Dry food, or kibble, is a popular choice for its convenience, cost, and ease of use and storage. It’s also good to use for training because it’s easy to carry around.

There’s a seemingly endless variety of dry pet food options. Make sure to choose one that’s specifically designed for toy or small breed puppies. These formulations are extra-small to prevent the risk of choking, making it easier for little dogs to eat.

There’s no question that there’s a big difference from brand to brand and that some kibble contains preservatives, additives, food dyes, and questionable meat sources. But there are plenty of good quality dry foods to choose from.

Reading the label is important. The first five ingredients listed will tell you if the kibble is even worth considering feeding to your pet.

Wet or Canned Puppy Food

Wet or canned food usually has fewer preservatives and more meat protein than dry food. It’s also widely considered to be more palatable. While it too offers plenty of options, it’s almost always more expensive than kibble.

Another downside is that soft, wet food has been associated with contributing to dental problems in dogs. Because their mouths are so tiny, Maltipoos’ teeth can be very crowded. This already puts them at risk for periodontal disease. If your puppy prefers the texture and taste of wet dog food, you may want to mix it with kibble.

Raw Diets For Maltipoo Puppies

Raw food diets for dogs have never been more popular. However, much of the current scientific evidence suggests these diets can lack nutritional elements. They may also put your pet at risk for infectious diseases. Knowing how to store and handle raw meat properly is crucial to avoid contamination.

However, its hard to argue with the fact this is a more natural way to feed your dog. There are also benefits such as shinier coats, healthier teeth and gums, fewer allergies, and less obesity.

Feeding a Puppy a Homemade Diet

Homemade diets can be more natural, tastier, and allows you to control exactly what your dog eats. But it can also pose some concerns. It can’t be overstated how important it is to ensure your puppy gets the proper nutrients in the right amounts, which is hard to manage by yourself.

Feeding your puppy a homemade diet is very time-consuming. Before you commit to this diet, be prepared to do a lot of careful planning.