Feeding a Corgi puppy a good diet can lay the foundation for a healthy growth and a long life. Puppies have different dietary needs than adult dogs. To promote healthy growth, you’ll want to ensure they have a food that is high in protein and fat, but low in carbs. They also need plenty of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and Vitamin A.
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Swapping Food Brands
When you pick up your new puppy, your breeder should give you a little bag containing their current kibble. If they don’t check what they have been eating and make sure you pick some up on the way home.
Your puppy’s digestive system is going to be easily upset for the next few days, so don’t change foods straight away. Keep feeding what your breeder was giving to your pup for at least two weeks. If the old and new foods are very different in texture or type, wait for a month before you start the process.
Then, start to feed the new brand mixed in with the previous one. Gradually increase the ratio of new to old over the course of a week.
Diet vs Health
Studies have shown that your puppy’s good gut bacteria can suffer during diet changes. To support your Corgi pup’s microflora, you can mix dog probiotics under his food daily. A great example is Purina ProPlan FortiFlora Dog Probiotic Supplement.
But that’s not the only risk to your pup’s health that diet can bring. A scientific study on long-bodied breeds showed that they are more likely to develop hip dysplasia. As Corgis are also prone to obesity, this means that they have two risk factors for developing hip joint issues.
To prevent hip dysplasia, you’ll want to promote a slow, healthy growth. It’s important to control calories and monitor your Corgi pup’s weight and body condition score closely.
How Much To Feed A Corgi Puppy
Puppies need more calories per body weight than adults, but that doesn’t mean that free feeding or over feeding is going to help them grow.
Fortunately your puppy’s food will come with recommendations for portion sizes. Just make sure to adjust the daily calories according to the guidelines as your pup grows older and heavier.
Routines and Schedules
Your puppy’s total daily portion should be spread over multiple feedings. When feeding a Corgi puppy, a rough guideline to follow is:
- 2 – 4 months: 4 meals
- 4 – 6 months: 3 meals
- 6 – 12 months: 2 to 3 meals
- Over a year: 1 to 2 meals.
What To Feed A Corgi Puppy?
There are many options to choose from, and we know it can be confusing. But actually is isn’t a case of right or wrong options. There are benefits and drawbacks to them all, or you might even choose to combine a few types of food to get the best of both worlds.
Feeding Puppy Kibble
Kibble is a safe and easy option. It is designed especially for puppies is packed with all the nutrients your Corgi needs to grow. Choose a puppy kibble for small breeds to make sure the pieces are small enough for your puppy to chew and swallow.
Not all kibble is created equal, though. Go with a food with high-quality protein sources. Preferably, steer clear of kibble that contains cereals.
A good thing to look for in puppy food is a high level of antioxidants, which boosts the immune system. Studies have shown that this can increase the efficacy of your puppy’s vaccinations.
Wet Meals For Puppies
Cans or pouches of food are also designed specifically for puppies. If you want to feed your puppy only on wet food, make sure to choose a brand that is marked as complete not complementary.
One downside of wet food is that it is spoils more easily. In contrast to kibble, it’s also not that easy to feed on the go or use as a treat when training your puppy.
Fed on its own, wet food does not provide a teeth-cleaning effect. It is also known to cause loose stools in some dogs. Therefore, you can get the most benefits if you feed kibble and wet food together.
Just make sure not to go overboard on calories. Your vet can help you calculate portion sizes of both foods. If your puppy is a picky eater – which seems rather unlikely as Corgi pups tend to be “foodies” – wet food can help increase his or her appetite.
Feeding a Corgi Puppy Raw (BARF)
Raw diets for dogs have steadily gained popularity in the past years. Many people believe that all-natural ingredients are healthier for their pup.
Raw diets certainly have a lot of upsides, but there are some things to watch out for. Bone fragments can injure your dog or block his or her intestines.
The preparation of raw meats can also pose a risk for you and your family (especially for small children or elderly family members). But the biggest drawback of raw diets for puppies is that it’s up to you to make sure your dog gets all the nutrients it needs.
Nutrition on a Raw Diet
Unfortunately, we still see patients in the clinic with nutrition-related health issues due to “wrong” raw feeding. There are also case reports of puppies not getting enough nutrients for healthy growth.
Should you choose a commercial puppy food, you will certainly have peace of mind. These foods are put together very carefully so that your pup gets enough calcium, magnesium, vitamins, and so on.
If you do decide to feed your puppy a raw diet, ask an experienced veterinarian to help you calculate nutrition requirements and portions. You can find more information on raw diets here.
Is My Puppy The Right Weight?
As Corgis tend to become overweight easily, it’s important to keep an eye on the scale.
Numbers aren’t everything, though. Often you can tell more about your puppy’s health by judging his or her body condition.
If your puppy is too thin, this can impair growth and lead to long-lasting bone deformities.
On the other hand, a fat puppy will grow too quickly. This causes joint issues such as hip dysplasia.
If you think your puppy is too fat or too thin, talk with the veterinarian of your trust. They can help you adjust your pup’s diet.
A puppy that loses weight even though it’s eating the right amount of calories can have an underlying condition.
Have your vet check your pup for worms, infections, and other health issues.
My Puppy Is Still Hungry
Is your puppy one of those ever-hungry creatures that inhale their food like a vacuum?
It takes a while for your puppy’s stomach to signal to his or her brain that it is full.
Therefore, slower eating can help your puppy feel full. A slow feeder bowl can help slow down you puppy’s food intake.
Another option is to take some of your pup’s kibble from the daily portion, and use it throughout the day as treats for puppy training.
(paid link) Just remember to count these treats towards your Corgi’s daily calorie intake.
If your pup is still hungry, consider spacing out his or her meals.
You can distribute the total daily serving onto several feedings throughout the day.
My Puppy Won’t Eat
With the stress of moving into a new home, it’s possible that your puppy’s appetite suffers for a day or two.
Try offering some palatable wet food if your puppy is used to it.
If your Corgi pup misses more than two meals or 12 hours of eating, make an appointment with your vet for a check-up.
Puppies can get dehydrated quickly if they don’t eat and drink regularly.
Should your pup show any other symptoms, call your vet right away.
These symptoms include (but are not limited to):
- tiredness
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- fever.
Dean says
How many ozs in a meal?