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Feeding (Meals)

Pug Feeding Guidelines

Feeding Overview

It is important to put thought into what you feed your Pug for both meals and snacks. Everything that a dog consumes will affect their health, both now and in the future. 

This breed is prone to weight gain and is sensitive to certain additives, which makes choosing the best foods even more vital. 

In this article, we will dive into all of the details you want to know about how much to feed a Pug, how often to offer meals and snacks, and how to keep a Pug on a healthy and nutritious diet.

Establishing good eating patterns is part of overall care of this fantastic breed, so let's get started. 
pug dog eating food
Already know all the details of dry vs wet, how much, and how often, and just want recommendations? Jump to: The Best Food for Pug Puppies and Adults.
pug dog eating food

Dry Kibble vs Wet Canned Food

In most instances, it is better to feed a Pug a dry kibble as opposed to a wet canned dog food. Dry kibble is much better for the teeth and wet dog food can lead to runny stools. 

There are exceptions of course. If a Pug is missing teeth or otherwise cannot handle a completely dry meal, a bit of canned food can be mixed in. However, other methods can work better, which includes adding in a bit of low-sodium chicken or beef broth or even just a bit of water, allowing that to soak in for about 10 minutes, and warming the food. 

How Often to Feed a Pug

Free feeding vs scheduled feeding: 

Free feeding is the method of leaving out food to a dog to access as they wish. And, of course, scheduled feeding is the method of offering a certain number of meals at certain times. 

With Pugs over the age of 12 weeks, scheduled feeding is highly recommended. This allows you to control how much your Pug eats which plays a big role in keeping this breed fit and healthy and dogs that are kept on schedules for feeding, grooming, walks, and other aspects, are generally better behaved. 
Pug puppies, age 8 weeks to 6 months: 

Pug puppies should be fed 3 times a day, in the morning, midday, and in the evening. In addition to this, several healthy snacks should be given in between meals. 

Pugs at 6 months and older:

Adolescent and adult Pugs can be fed 3 meals per day, many do well with this. This can help avoid issues with stomach bile being thrown up (it will look like a white or yellowish foam) due to an empty stomach and issues with eating too fast when a meal arrives. However, if you find that your Pug does not have much enthusiasm for a midday meal, you can switch to 2 meals per day. In either case, dry snacks should be given in between meals to tide a Pug over. 

Tip: It is the consumption of a meal that often triggers a bowel movement of the remains of a previous meal. So, if you find that your Pug's bowel movements are not in sync with when you can take them outside for bathroom needs, you can adjust meal times earlier or later by at least an hour or so. 

How Much Food to Feed a Pug

Meals: 

For manufactured food, how much you feed your Pug have depends on the exact brand. If you are feeding your Pug a trusted brand, trust the feeding instructions that are placed on the packaging. But, there are a few things to keep in mind:
  • Portion size is based on weight, so you need to know how much your Pug weighs, do not take a guess because it may be quite a few pounds less or more than you think.
  • Feeding guidelines are based on healthy and active dogs. If a dog is sedentary, he will need fewer calories. 
  • It is assumed that several snacks are given.
  • Amounts typically are for the day, not for a meal. Take the suggested portion and split this into however many meals you are giving your Pug, which should be 2 or 3. 
Note that suggested portions can vary wildly depending on the brand. For example, with Wellness Complete for Small Breeds (a brand we recommend), for dogs between 17 and 20 lbs. (7.7 to 9 kg) 1 cup to 1 and 1/4 cups per day is suggested. Compare this to Purina Pro Plan for Small Breeds (a brand with a less-than-impressive 3 star rating); for dogs between 13 to 20 lbs. (6 to 9 kg), 3/4 to 1 cup per day is suggested.

So for dogs at the 20-pound mark, we are looking at 1 and 1/4 cup vs just 1 cup. 

Differences like this can sometimes be attributed to inferior food being packed with calories and therefore less is needed to meet calorie requirements and better foods having healthier ingredients with fewer calories and therefore a dog can eat more. This is the same principle as junk food vs healthy food. 
If you are offering homecooked food, the amount per day can vary from 2/3 cup for puppies to 1+ cup for adults per day, and will depend on the exact ingredients and your Pug's age, activity level, and individual metabolism. Typically, what a dog eats in 15-20 minutes is enough for that meal.
Snacks and Treats:

Snacks are intended to help tide a puppy or dog over until the next scheduled meal and these should be dry. Pugs can learn to relentlessly beg for snacks, so it is best if these are scheduled as well. Aim to give your Pug 3 to 4 snacks a day, one between each of the 3 main meals and one after dinner. 
Treats refers to tidbits given as reward when training or to reinforce good behavior and these should be moist. If you stick to low-calorie options (more ahead), you can reward as needed for house training your Pug, command training, or any other training that you may be working on. If lots of rewards are given out these can replace of the the snacks you planned to give to your Pug. 

Calorie Requirements 

It’s understandable to be curious about how many calories your Pug requires. And this sort of question can be answered; however, meticulously counting calories is a stressful task that is generally not required. Even for adult Pugs that are overweight, getting your dog back to a healthy weight will rarely involve strict calorie counting. 
It is much more important to focus on offering quality food and ensuring your Pug meets exercise requirements for this breed. 
This said, growing puppies generally require 55 calories per pound of body weight and active adults generally require 40 to 45 calories per pound of body weight. 

As a dog ages and transitions in the senior years there is a gradual slowing down of metabolism and a decrease in muscle mass, and this is usually accompanied by less activity. For this reason, senior Pugs often need a bit less food to maintain their weight, typically 40 calories per pound of body weight. 

Note that these the exact calories a Pug needs will vary depending on activity level, age, health status, and individual metabolism. 

Grains vs Grain-free

For the past few years, there have been some reports of dogs that are not prone to a certain heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) developing the disease and a suspected connection to a grain-free diet. 

In 2018, it was thought that not all grain-free options were the problem, but rather that a BEG diet may be the link. This stands for boutique (small specialty brands) with exotic meats (non-traditional meats such as alligator, kangaroo, bison, ostrich, and venison), along with being grain-free and most likely with peas, legumes, and/or potatoes as one of the top five ingredients. 

In July of 2019, the FDA released a list of the top 16 grain-free dog food brands that were possibly linked to the 524 cases of DCM: 

Acana (67 reports)
Zignature (64 reports)
Taste of the Wild (53 reports)
4Health (32 reports)
Earthborn Holistic (32 reports)
Blue Buffalo (31 reports)
Nature’s Domain (29 reports)
Fromm (24 reports)
Merrick (16 reports)
California Natural (15 reports)
Natural Balance (15 reports)
Orijen (12 reports)
Nature’s Variety (10 reports)
Nutrisource (10 reports)
Nutro (10 reports)
Rachael Ray Nutrish (10 reports)

The total number of Pugs in the DCM reports are just two: A 5 year old male that was eating Acana Lamb & Apples Single Formula and an 11 year old male that was eating Instinct Limited Ingredient Grain-free with Lamb. And the total number of dogs (all breeds) in the reports are 524. So while this is something that should be monitored and many more studies need to be done, it's important to keep in mind that this is a very small number compared to the estimated 77 million dogs in the U.S. 

The latest update is that there are no recalls at this moment that are linked to this issue. Many veterinarians are suggesting a diet with some wholesome gluten-free or low-gluten grains (like rice, quinoa, and/or oatmeal) for breeds prone to DCM (the Pug is not one of them) or in cases when owners are worried about this possible connection, and a diet with traditional meats (not exotic) for dogs that must be on a grain-free diet (mostly in cases of allergies). 

The Best Food for Pug Puppies and Adults

What to Avoid:

Quite a few ingredients that are found in a lot of dog food brands can be severely detrimental to a Pug and cause everything from allergic reactions (itching, rashes, wheezing, running eyes, etc.) to serious health issues linked to long-term consumption including cancer. 
  • Synthetic preservatives including BHA, BHT, and TBHQ
  • Artificial coloring dyes including Blue #2, Red #40, and Yellow #5 and #6
  • Artificial flavoring including MSG
  • Soy which can be listed as soy, soybeans, and soy meal. 
  • Corn which includes as corn germ meal, corn gluten meal, and corn bran
  • High grain counts which includes high levels of wheat, oats, barley, and other cereal grains which may be listed as hominy feed. Rice can be an exception; with rice, the hull, bran layer, and cereal germ is removed and for this reason, rice is often tolerated very well. 
  • By-products which are animal body parts deemed unfit for human consumption and can include brain, lungs, undeveloped eggs, and more.
  • Generic meats or oils which can legally include roadkill and deceased zoo animals.
What to Look For:
  • All-natural preservatives; there are vitamin blends that work very well to preserve dog food and this often will show as mixed tocopherols.
  • Natural flavoring 
  • Protein will come from wholesome animal sources including chicken, turkey, lamb, fish, bison, and beef. There will be no by-products or generic meats.
  • If you offer grains, gluten-free grains are usually best. 
  • No other fillers or controversial additives. 
  • Helpful extras such as glucosamine and chondroitin (beneficial for joint health), omega-3, 6 (for healthy skin and coat), probiotics (for immune health) and antioxidants (to help prevent disease). 
  • Protein in the mid to high 30% range, carbs between 30 and 40%, healthy fats 15 to 20%, and fiber at 4 to 7%. 
  • Made in North America (includes USA and Canada)
Recommended Kibble:
Fortunately, there are some good choices. Some of the best food for Pugs includes: 
Best Formulas with Grains:
1. Wellness Complete Health for Small Breeds. This is a 100% all-natural kibble which means it has zero chemical preservatives or artificial additives. The base of this kibble is turkey and oatmeal which is easy on the stomach for most Pugs. There is also salmon, brown rice, peas, carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, blueberries, and apples. There are excellent levels of a wide-range of vitamins and minerals, good levels of omega-3 and 6, and glucosamine and chondroitin which are extremely beneficial joint supplements for Pugs. This is made in the US. 
Note that this offers puppy and adult formulas as well as 'healthy weight' for Pugs that need to lose a few pounds, and a senior formula. 
2. Halo Natural Small Breed Chicken & Liver Recipe. This line of Halo offers holistic recipes. This one has non-GMO produce and meats that are antibiotic-free and hormone-free with factory-free farming. The grains in this are oatmeal and pearled barley which are generally known for being well-tolerated. This is sized ideally for Pugs, and has no artificial additives, by-products, or corn. And, this is made in the US.  
Best Grain-free Formulas:
1. Wellness CORE for Small Breeds. This is one of the best grain-free kibbles for Pugs; it's really top-of-the-line. The base is chicken and turkey. There is a wide selection of vegetables and fruits compared to some other brands (spinach, broccoli, carrots, kale, sweet potatoes, apples and blueberries). Levels of omega fatty acids are ideal, via both salmon oil and flaxseed. And, there are good levels of glucosamine and chondroitin which as mentioned earlier are important for joint health. There is no corn, wheat, by-products, fillers, or artificial coloring, flavoring, or preservatives and this is made in the USA. 
2. Merrick Lil Plates Small Breed Recipe. This is another excellent choice that is formulated for dogs under 70 lbs., but ideally best for those under 30 lbs. There are several great bases including lamb, beef, chicken, and salmon. Protein levels are optimal; for example, the chicken formula has 38% protein. There are zero chemical preservatives and no artificial ingredients. Added extras are healthy antioxidants, omega-3 and 6, and the very important glucosamine and chondroitin which are very beneficial for breeds like the Pug that are prone to joint and hip issues. This is made in the US. 
3. Halo Grain-Free Small Breed Healthy Weight.This is a holistic kibble that offers non-GMO veggies and fruits and sustainably-sourced wild-caught fish and is ideal for Pugs that are carrying a few extra pounds. The base is salmon and whitefish, so most dogs love the taste. There are no chemical preservatives, corn, by-products, coloring, or fillers. And, this is made in the US. 

Switching a Pug onto a Different Food

If you just got a new Pug puppy, you may want to feed your little guy or gal something different than what was being given. And in many instances, this will be a good idea. The sooner you start your pup on a superior food that you've chosen yourself, the better.

If you have an adult Pug, you may decide to switch foods due to an intolerance to certain ingredients (some dogs do best with certain proteins like beef as opposed to chicken or vice-versa) or maybe you realized that your Pug was not on the brand and you want to make a change.

No matter the circumstances, if at all possible, it is best to change to a new brand of dog food in a gradual way because a quick switch can disrupt the digestive system.  The goal should be a incremental change over the course of 3 weeks. Week one is 3/4 old to 1/4 new (mixed well), week two is 1/2 and 1/2, week three is 1/4 old to 3/4 new, and this finally brings you to week four when your Pug can be fully on the new kibble. 

Home Cooking

Owners decide to home cook for their dogs for a variety of reasons:
  • It can be less expensive; though, this depends quite a bit on what you buy and if you can purchase ingredients in bulk. 
  • It may be done to fully avoid preservatives, additives, by-products and other subpar ingredients; you know exactly what you are putting in. 
  • This can help avoid an intolerance or allergic reaction to an unknown ingredient.
  • It is very flexible and adjustable.
  • It can be a good choice for picky eaters. 
Some of the ingredients that you can use to create meals includes:

Proteins - This includes white chicken meat or turkey (de-boned, no skin, baked or broiled), lean beef, fish (mackerel, whitefish, salmon, herring, walleye, flounder), lamb, bison, gizzards (liver, beef, or chicken), and/or pork (should not be the main protein source, but can be blended into meals). Other sources include beans such as lima beans, kidney beans, and butter beans (must be cooked).

Vegetables - This includes peas, carrots, spinach, zucchini, green beans, bell peppers, and butternut squash. You can also offer asparagus, kale, cauliflower, and broccoli (in moderation since these foods can cause gas,). Pumpkin in moderation is fine but typically reserved to help ease upset stomach issues.

Fruits - This includes blueberries, raspberries (both are low calorie, high in antioxidants, and water-packed), strawberries, huckleberries, banana, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, mango, kiwi, pear, peaches (no pit), plums (no pit), nectarines (no pit), fresh pineapple, and apple (no core, no seeds).

Additional - This includes oatmeal (plain), white or brown rice (if no intolerance), quinoa, potato, sweet potato, cottage cheese, plain whole white yogurt, and eggs (most dogs do best with scrambled eggs vs. boiled eggs). 

Read more about home cooking for a Pug

Snacks and Treats

We've covered the frequency of giving snacks and treats, but let's recap. Dry snacks, meant to satiate a dog in between meals should be given 3 to 4 times per day. And moist treats, meant to reward training and reinforce good behavior, should be given as needed. 

Now, the question remains on what to offer. All snacks and treats should be held to the same high standards that you have in place for your Pug's meals, meaning no synthetic preservatives, artificial coloring, artificial flavoring, soy, corn, by-products, high wheat levels, or generic meats. 
If your Pug's calorie intake needs to be carefully watched due to issues with weight gain, there will also be a need to opt for some low-calorie treats. 
An example of an excellent dry snack for Pugs is Bandit's Biscuits Healthy Dog Treats; these are all-natural (no artificial preservatives or additives), has no corn, wheat, or soy, comes in 3 different recipes of blueberry, cheese & bacon, or peanut butter, is made in the USA, and has only 10 calories for each cookie.  
And, to see more options, including moist treats for giving reward, continue on to the best snacks and treats for Pugs

The Best Type of Food for Stomach Distress

During times of upset stomach and/or diarrhea, feeding a Pug a bland diet can help give the stomach and digestive system a rest. Steamed, baked, or boiled white chicken meat (cut into bite sized pieces), rice (brown or white), and/or sweet potatoes blended well without season or topping is a good option during this time. 

After 2 to 3 days, if the problem has resolved, adding in additional ingredients can be done. Any diarrhea lasing longer than 3 days or moderate to severe vomiting lasting more than 12 hours should be brought to the attention of the veterinarian.

Water

Different elements will dictate just how much water a Pug dog requires, though a general rule of thumb is that each day, dogs need to drink about 1 ounce for each 1 pound (.45 kg) of body weight. 

Tips regarding water include:

• Do not limit water intake; fresh water should be made available to a Pug at all times of the day and night. 
• Keep the bowl clean and refill the bowl throughout the day; stale water, warm water, or water with tiny bits of food can cause a dog to resist drinking. 
• Do not offer unfiltered tap water; tap water in the US, Canada, and many other countries is filled with hundreds of contaminants including pesticides, prescription medications, industrial waste, and a wide range of cancer-causing elements. Offer bottled spring water or use a filter device like the. 
• Bring along water when you take your Pug out for walks or will be spending time outside. 
Related Articles: 
When a Pug is a Picky Eater - If you find yourself constantly scrambling to find foods that your Pug likes and their taste buds seem to change weekly, this will help you get things back on track. 
When a Pug is Always Hungry - If your Pug's appetite is ferocious and nothing seems to satisfy, these issues may be at the root of the problem. 
When a Pug Won't Eat - If your Pug puppy or dog refuses to eat or getting them to eat feels like a chore, these tips will help. 
How to Stop a Pug from Begging - If your Pug wants your food and is relentless about getting it, these guidelines will help stop this sort of behavior. 
Top 10 Pug Dog Eating Problems - A roundup of the most common eating-related issues seen with this breed and exact steps to resolve them. 
Do you have your book?

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