What Our Puppies Are Eating!

Our puppies are on IAMS Puppy Large Breed. This food is made for big puppies like Labradors to grow strong and healthy. By the time they go home, most of them weigh between 15 and 20 pounds.

If you look at the IAMS feeding chart, you’ll see that a puppy this size needs about 3 ¼ cups a day at 2 to 3 months old. That’s over a cup and a half at each meal if you split it in two. It sounds like a lot, but there’s a good reason behind it.

Why Puppies Eat So Much

Puppies are in their fastest growth stage during the first year of life. Their bones, joints, muscles, and organs are all developing at the same time and that takes a lot of food and nutrition.

IAMS and other pet food companies work with nutrition experts and follow AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards to make sure puppies get what they need. That includes:

• Protein for muscle
• Fat for energy and brain development
• Calcium and phosphorus for healthy bones
• Omega-3s for joints and vision
• Vitamins and antioxidants for the immune system

Puppies are not just little dogs. They burn through food much faster. Feeding too little can slow down growth, weaken bones, or leave a puppy tired.

Why We Use Large Breed Puppy Food

Labradors and other large breeds have special needs. Regular puppy food can sometimes have too much calcium or calories. That can make bones grow too quickly, which puts stress on the joints. Large breed formulas are made to give the right balance so growth is steady and healthy.

What This Means for You

When your puppy comes home, expect them to eat more than an adult dog of the same size would. That’s normal.

For example:

• A 15 pound puppy at 2 to 3 months needs around 3 ¼ cups a day.
• By 6 to 9 months and 40 pounds, that same puppy will still be eating around 4 cups a day.

As they get closer to adulthood, the amounts will slowly go down until they settle into an adult feeding schedule, usually twice a day.