Feeding a Cane Corso puppy properly can be a daunting task. A healthy Cane Corso adult can weight well over 100 pounds. That’s a lot of ground to cover for a young pup. But puppies still need a healthy diet. As with all large breeds, your Cane Corso will need plenty of food, but you’ll also want to avoid overfeeding and bad feeding habits. Today we’ll share information on how much to feed, how often to feed, what to feed and in what way to feed Cane Corso puppies.
Contents
- Changing their food
- Feeding routines and schedules
- Is kibble or canned food better for them?
- What about raw feeding?
Swapping Puppy Food Brands
Many people choose to change food brands when they bring home a new puppy. While this is often necessary, there are certain precautions you should take to avoid any undue stress on your pet. Unlike humans, dogs don’t really start to chemically digest food until after they’ve swallowed. A dog’s saliva is mainly there to lubricate the esophagus and kill bacteria rather than break down food. This means that far more food textures make it into the canine digestive system, which results in a higher sensitivity to food variations.
When changing dog food, the first thing to remember is that switching food brands suddenly can cause digestive issues, especially in puppies. To make the transition easier, you need to gradually mix in the new food with the food from which you are switching.
Of course, to do this, you’ll have to communicate with whoever you are getting the puppy from. Breeders will often even send you home with a supply of your new puppy’s old food. Keep your puppy on this food for up to two weeks since this is already a stressful period of change.
How To Make The Change
When you do start swapping foods, start with a ratio of about twenty-five percent new food to seventy-five percent old. Gradually increase this amount over about a week until you completely phase out the old food. You’ll also want to do this when you switch to adult dog food and eventually senior food.
We understand that this system may not be possible for everyone–dog foods can be recalled, shelters can have special suppliers, etc. However, there are still things you can do to help minimize digestive issues in your puppy when changing foods.
Ask your veterinarian about introducing a digestive supplement to your dog’s new food if you aren’t able to mix it with their old brand. Even if you can mix, this may still be a good idea for your Cane Corso puppy.
Please be aware that adult dog supplements can be toxic to puppies. So, when we say consult a veterinarian, we mean it. It’s important that you monitor your dog closely any time you switch foods. If your dog develops digestive issues like diarrhea, vomiting or constipation when changing foods, consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Cane Corso Puppy Diets
There are tons of different puppy foods out there that could be good for your Cane Corso. The amount that you feed on each of these food’s diets may be very different depending on their nutrient contents. The following puppy foods for large breeds are all great options that adhere to guidelines for feeding small puppies :
- Purina Pro Plan
- Hill’s Science Diet
- Purina One SmartBlend
Routines and Schedules
From six to twelve weeks, the feed your puppy four times a day. However, from three months to six months you can reduce this to three times per day. By the time he or she is six months old you can feed your puppy twice a day, but there is no need to rush this transition.
Portions are by no means an exact science. You’ll need to pay close attention to your puppy and consult with your veterinarian to really understand how your Cane Corso puppy’s portion requirements will change. In general, their portions will increase greatly from one month up until about two years.
How Much To Feed A Cane Corso Puppy
Puppies, especially large breeds, require a huge amount of energy to grow. Your Cane Corso puppy will need between 1 and 2 ¾ cups of food between one and three months of age. As they get older, the amounts change:
- At four months, it will need 2 ⅓ to 3 ¼ cups.
- By six to eight months, it will need 3 ⅓ to 5 ½ cups of food.
- From nine to eleven months, your puppy will likely need 4 ½ to 6 cups.
- Then, at one to two years of age you’ll need to feed your dog 6 ½ to 9 ⅓ cups of food.
It should be noted that these amounts will vary between puppies and brands. You should also note that puppies who eat more grow faster. Because of this, some people try to overfeed their puppies. Never do this.
If a puppy grows too fast, it can increase their likelihood of joint problems, skeletal deformations and other complications. Puppies will eventually reach adult size as long as you feed them appropriately, so there is never a reason to overfeed to promote growth.
Feeding a Cane Corso Puppy Kibble
Feeding a Cane Corso Puppy Kibble is a popular option. It can promote dental health, it’s convenient and it can also be the cheapest option.
The downside is that dried food needs preservatives, can be less nutritious and is often not the preferred choice taste wise.
Feeding a Puppy Wet Food
You should have some puppy wet food available in case of emergencies any time there is a puppy in the house. You can more often get a puppy to eat wet food when they otherwise won’t eat.
In general canned meals have less carbohydrates and more proteins, and dogs love the taste and texture. However, once it’s opened it doesn’t less very long. This makes it more expensive and less convenient.
Raw Food Diets
Feeding your pet a raw diet has benefits and drawbacks. Raw feeding is obviously closer to your pup’s natural diet and avoids the issue of grain and fillers. But it may expose your dog, other animals and people to illnesses associated with bacteria contamination. It can also be very time consuming to prepare.
Feeding a Puppy a Homemade Diet
If you really want total control of your puppy’s diet, you can create a homemade diet for your pet. If you choose to do this, you’ll need to be very careful and highly educated.
There are amounts of nutrients that puppies absolutely must have. Without them, your Cane Corso won’t be able to properly develop. Commercial puppy food products, regardless of their overall benefits and issues, are carefully formulated to have these required nutrients.
Is My Puppy the Right Weight?
This is a particularly tricky question. Weights will vary a lot puppy to puppy, from metabolism to metabolism. Their healthy weight range will also change as they age. The best way to answer this question is to see a veterinarian. For a quick reference, you can use this Happy Puppy chart.
Your Cane Corso will fall into the large breed size. So, from zero to six months your puppy should gain about eight to ten pounds per month starting at one pound. From six to twelve months, they should gain about two to three and a half pounds per month. After that, they will gain a little over a pound per month until adulthood.
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In the event they stray too far from their healthy weight, your dog can end up with serious health issues. If your puppy is too skinny, it will not have the energy and nutrients needed to develop properly. If your puppy is overweight, it will put undue stress on his or her bones and joints. They may also develop serious heart issues as they get older.
As a rule of thumb, you should be able to feel your puppy’s ribs but not see them. From above, they should have a visible waist.
My Puppy Is Still Hungry
Large breed puppies will not control portions on their own. It is very normal for dogs to still seem hungry following a healthy meal. If your veterinarian gave you a meal plan, you shouldn’t alter it just because your puppy seems hungry.
In fact, I had a funny pup that would follow me around, looking back at his food bowl longingly, after every meal. While it is hard to remain firm when faced with puppy dog eyes, it is something all dog owners must learn.
You may consider adding in a feeding puzzle to slow your Cane Corso puppy down. This is also beneficial since Cane Corsos are a very intelligent breed that will need some mental stimulation.
If you think your puppy might need more food, keep track of his or her weight and then report back to your veterinarian at your next visit. However, if your puppy seems perpetually hungry and grows skinny, it may have intestinal worms. If you suspect that your puppy has worms, seek veterinary assistance as soon as possible.
