I’m sure all of us are in love with our toy poodles, the tiny bundles of fur that run around acting like they are huge dogs! Because of their tiny and adorable bodies, they obviously have different dietary requirements compared to bigger dog breeds. After all, you wouldn’t want to feed a huge bowl for your toy poodle to devour, that’s just a disaster waiting to happen!
So how much should a toy poodle eat? More importantly, what should they be eating? Learn more about the dietary requirements of toy poodles to ensure they get enough food for their mind and bodies!
How Much Should a Toy Poodle Eat?
Toy poodles are usually under 10 pounds, being the smallest breed of poodles today. Various factors depend on the amount you should be giving your toy poodle though, and it isn’t just based on their breed. Here are what you should look into:
1. Their Age
Caloric intakes would differ when it comes to the age of the toy poodle, as they have different sizes and activity levels.
- When they are puppies, toy poodles should have 130 calories a day
- Once they hit 6 months old, toy poodles should consume 250 calories a day
- When over 1 year old, they should get 325 calories a day
Again, their activity levels would also determine how much you should feed your toy poodle. If you do more than just the regular walks and also train them for shows, they require more calories from nutritious food to make up for the energy spent. However, if you have a senior toy poodle that stays at home most days, then they require less to prevent them from gaining too much weight.
Read more: The Best Time to Feed Dog: Before or After Walk?
2. Do They Have Health Issues?
Just like us humans, dogs, including toy poodles, can face various health concerns. Here are the common ailments of toy poodles:
- Cushing’s disease
- Hypoadrenocorticism
- Hypothyroidism
- Epilepsy
- Hip Dysplasia
- Bloat
To treat or prevent these ailments, you may have to alter the amount of food you feed them. This requires a check-up and diagnosis from your dog’s veterinarian, they can help and advise on what kind of nutrients they need, as well as the portion of dog food to give daily.
Because toy poodles have individual bodies and needs, this can vary from dog to dog.
3. Simplify the Calculation
You can refer to this formula to know how much to feed your toy poodle:
- Weigh your toy poodle
- If your toy poodle is under 4 months old, triple their Resting Energy Requirements (you can find it here). If over 4 months old, double their RER, and if a full-grown adult, multiply their RER by 1.6. For more active dogs, then you’ll need to increase the final Daily Energy Requirement accordingly.
- For instance, if your toy poodle is 2 months old and weighs 1 pound, they have an RER of 39 kcals/day. Multiply that by 3 and you get 117 kcals/day.
- Now, you know exactly how many calories to give your dog a day, so you can portion control and weigh their food accordingly, depending on the brand and type of food they consume. Typically, puppies would require a quarter-cup of dry dog food a day.
4. How Often to Feed Your Toy Poodle
The frequency of feedings would depend on their age.
- For puppies under 3 months old, it’s best that they free feed, leaving fresh dry food out at all times. If not, then you can feed them 4 times a day, plus snacks or treats.
- For poodles over 3 months old, they should eat 3 meals a day, including snacks and treats.
- Once your poodle pup grows into an adult, it doesn’t mean they should consume 1 meal a day. You can go for 2-3 meals a day, with snacks or treats given throughout the day.
It’s better to space out meals, especially if you have a fast eater. Just make sure that the portions fit into their daily caloric needs and that they are consuming the appropriate dog food suitable for their age.
If you’re still unsure of how much to feed your toy poodle, you can always adjust according to their weight. Monitor their weight weekly or monthly, seeing if they are gaining or losing weight, and adjust accordingly. If your dog continues to maintain his weight, then you are feeding him correct portions, great job!
But if they continue having weight fluctuations regardless of what you try, it’s best to take them to a veterinarian.
Wrapping It Up
Obviously, toy poodles require far less than the typical-sized dog, and they have different dietary and nutritional needs for their health. With high-quality dog food, proper portions, and feeding times, you are assured that they will stay healthy and have the energy for their exercise and playtime. The next thing to look into is the type of dog food to feed them, among the many available today!
I hope that this article answers your question, “how much should a toy poodle eat?” Whether you own a toy poodle or plan to have one, make sure to prepare his meals accordingly so he gets a healthy amount of food for a growing puppy or adult.