When taking on a Labrador as your family pet, you need to familiarize yourself with what you should and shouldn’t feed them. But what are the demands of the Labrador diet? How can you ensure your Lab feels satisfied after each mealtime?
In this article, we’ll go over all you need to know about labrador feeding.
The food you feed your Lab puppy needs to change as they grow, as do the portion sizes.
You can’t start a Labrador puppy on a raw food diet – they need to consume only kibble in their early stages. Two cups of kibble per day is the recommended amount, which is normally split up over four meals. It would be a good idea to leave roughly 4 hours between meals.
This dry food should supply them with around 650-1,200 calories per day.
A full-sized male lab of around 36 kilograms should be fed between 300 and 335 grams of dry or wet foods. This food should be split between 2 meals per day, with around 6 hours between meal times.
You can switch your Labrador onto wet food anytime after six months. However, it is better to wait until they have reached their maximum height and weight.
The recommended calorie intake for adult labrador retrievers is between 1,600 and 2,150.
As your Labrador grows older, its dietary needs change. In particular, it will require a balanced diet, with plenty of fibre and a good balance of protein and fat.
Generally, seniors require roughly 20% fewer calories than younger adult dogs. However, you should speak to your vet before cutting down or altering a Labrador’s diet.
You should increase your Labrador’s calorie intake by 10% throughout pregnancy. That would take its maximum daily calorie intake up to 2,365.
Stick to kibble when feeding a pregnant Labrador, as raw feeding is not recommended.
If you can feed your puppy raw and fresh foods responsibly, then there’s no reason you shouldn’t. Commercial kibble is generally used as it’s easier for dog owners than buying and preparing raw meat every night. Raw food diets do have their benefits, as do commercial dog foods. Consult your vet if you’re unsure what’s best for your lab.
Dog treats are useful for training your dog, and it’s safe to give them out as a reward from time to time – but don’t overdo it!
There is a wide range of foods that Labradors cannot eat, including onions, macadamia nuts, chocolate, grapes, garlic, raisins, and unbaked bread dough.
As long as you don’t feed them various foods, Labradors will be quite content eating the same thing their whole life.
A healthy, active Labrador requires around 2 litres of water per day.
Keep your Labrador’s portion sizes relevant to their size, minimise threats, and provide plenty of water, and your dog will have a happy, healthy life!
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