Rottweilers are amazing dogs with intriguing qualities. Being amazing guard dogs, Rotties are famous pets across the USA, and people love to have them as family members for many reasons. However, the key to a healthy and active rottweiler puppy and adult is the right nutrition.
Thus, if you are considering adopting a rottie or have recently become a parent to a rottweiler, here is everything you need to know to feed them right. Read this guide to learn how much to feed a rottweiler puppy and what food products to look for.
Rottweiler And Nutrition
It is a great responsibility to feed a rottweiler puppy. Their nutritional needs change as they grow and reach a certain age. The increasing age might also be a risk factor for many health problems. So, it is good to be aware of their diet and health in the early stages.
You should give your rottweiler puppy a quality and well-balanced diet. The goal that you should have in mind is to turn your little pup into a strong, active adult dog.
If you want to give dog food to your puppy, choose the right brand. Also, be certain about the portions to give in the entire day. This will help your little one to become stronger and healthier.
Feeding A Male Rottweiler
Compared to any other breed, feeding a rottweiler dog is more complex. The ideal diet for a rottweiler will depend on numerous factors. These may include age, gender, and level of exercise.
If you have a fully-grown male rottweiler, you may have to feed him more than a female one. The diet for a male one is a little more. But, if you own both a male and a female rottweiler, you cannot feed them the same amount of diet.
How Much To Feed A Rottweiler Puppy?
Normally, puppies must take in more calories daily in a different nutritional formula than grown-up ones. While your rottweiler puppy grows up, the quantity of food you offer might differ every month or two. Take into account the manufacturer’s feeding instructions when you are giving a complete and balanced large-breed puppy food. Remember to take a vet’s recommendation before feeding your puppy.
While feeding your dog a raw or homemade diet, you should consider working with a canine nutritionist. This helps in ensuring that your rottweiler puppy is consuming the ideal number of calories. It will also ensure he gets the right balance of carbs, vitamins, protein, and fats.
The ideal way to track the appetite of your rottweiler is to give them food for only a fixed time and see how quickly your puppy has it.
Feeding Your Rottweiler Puppy According To Age
When considering what and how much to feed your Rottweiler, you should consider its age. Take a glance at the below-mentioned points to get clarity on how much to feed your puppy according to age:
- 2 month old puppy: 2-3 cups and 3 meals per day.
- 3-month-old puppy: 2-3 cups and 3 meals per day.
- 5 to 6 months old puppy: 3-5 cups and 2 meals per day.
- 7 to 8 months old puppy: 4 to 6 cups and 2 meals per day.
- 9 to 10-month-old puppy: 4 top 6 cups and 2 meals per day.
When Should You Start Giving Adult Food To Your Puppy?
In general, as a puppy ages 18 to 24 months, you can start considering an adult diet. But, in the case of Rottweilers, you may have to wait for a few months extra. Consider your dog’s weight and height to understand it better. As it reaches 90 percent of its height and weight of adulthood, you can think of switching to an adult diet. But you should not make a switch too soon.
Take some time before you introduce a new diet to your puppy. That’s because you do not want your Rottweiler to suffer from problems like diarrhea. So, you can give them a small amount of the new food in the early phases. After a week or two, you can gradually increase the amount.
Ensure that the adult food should have a good amount of protein. The diet should not have any cheap fillers or animal by-products.
Can We Feed Eggs To Rottweiler Puppies?
Like any other dogs, rottweilers can eat scrambled or hard-boiled eggs. Cooked eggs are also a great choice to add to their diet. Eggs are a great source of protein, vitamins, and fatty acids. Overall, whole eggs are nutritious for rottweiler puppies. But you should avoid feeding them raw eggs.
Foods That You Should Avoid Feeding
There are some foods that may be poisonous for Rottweilers if given in higher dosages. For example:
- Avocado
- Milk
- Grapes and raisins
- Nicotine and caffeine
- Cabbage
How To Feed A Full-Grown Rottweiler?
If your rottweiler has fully grown, you need to have a fixed, regular feeding schedule. Control their diet and ensure that you are not overfeeding the pet. When your pet grows and reaches adulthood, you should feed him twice daily. Doing so will avoid overfilling his tummy with food and making him bloat.
There are allergic reactions that the dog may feel due to certain foods. If your rottweiler is feeling pain, itchiness, or flatulence while growing, you should focus keenly on his diet. Apart from diet, you also need to consider regular exercises for your dog to keep his weight under control.
What To Feed Your Adult Rottweiler Dog?
Feeding your rottweiler with a proper diet will result in a healthy and active dog. If your dog’s diet is good, their coat and skin will also look great. Here is what you can feed your full-grown rottweiler:
- You must provide your dog with quality food, with meat as the key ingredient.
- Ensure you don’t feed your pet with grains, by-products, or meat meal as the key ingredient.
- Remember to plan an exercise regime for your rottweiler dog. This will keep them from becoming obese or overweight.
- Once your dog has reached full maturity, keep his feeding schedule regular.
What Are The Nutritional Requirements Of A Rottweiler?
As an owner of a rottweiler dog, you may also wonder what kind of diet you should plan to get optimal nutrition for them. You can think of giving them:
- Essential fatty acids and omegas
- High-moisture foods and drinking water
- High-quality protein from sources like meat
- Good amount of carbs from sources like herbs, berries, and vegetables
- Natural minerals and vitamins from bone and plants.
Also Read: What Is The Temperament Of A Rottweiler? Should You Adopt One?
Is It Good To Feed Raw Meat To Your Rottweiler Dog?
There is no doubt that rottweilers are carnivores. You can give them raw meat and other raw foods to eat. As per research, dogs have carnivorous characteristics that let them break down raw meat protein faster when killing bacteria in decaying meat.
Rottweilers also have omnivorous capacity but are optimized for consuming meat. Your dog can feel safe and joyous with a diet rich in balanced raw meals.
What Raw Food To Feed Your Rottweiler?
Giving them raw food is beneficial. A raw diet is of 3 types, such as homemade, freeze-dried, and frozen. Here is what a raw dog food diet generally includes:
- Organ meats
- Bones
- Meat protein
- Allergy-free fruits and vegetables
- Yogurt or other dairy products
What Are The Benefits Of Giving Raw Meals To Your Rottweiler?
As per a veterinarian, a raw meal diet can bring many positive effects on a dog’s health. Your rottweiler can have:
- Improved skin
- Bright eyes
- Healthy weight
- Stronger immune system
- Increased agility
- Lean, stronger muscles
Things To Remember When Feeding Raw Meals To Your Dog
Make sure that you consider and follow all these things when feeding your cute little rottweiler dog:
- Give them small-sized raw bones that have many joints or ground bones. Strictly avoid feeding your pet cooked bones because they become softer when cooked and may splinter while chewing. Plus, you must avoid feeding them large-sized bones.
- Before you feed your pet with anything like raw meat, clean them properly. Make sure to wash all the raw meats, including the organs and other raw ingredients.
- You must be wary of the place from where you are buying the raw food products. Always buy from a trusted grocery store or butcher that maintains good cleanliness.
- Go to a vet to get proper guidance on how to prepare the best diet for your pet. The vet may also recommend the right supplement foods that fulfill all the nutritional requirements of your dog.
How To Choose The Right Food For Your Rottweiler Dog?
Raw food is the best choice when seeking food for your rottweiler. It is a natural and whole-food diet for keeping the dog active throughout the day. It may even prevent a range of common health-related diseases like joint, digestive problems, obesity, etc.
Ensure to consider the canine anatomy and digestive system when choosing the right food for the pet. The dog’s digestive system is perfect for high protein diets, mainly having meat, offal, and bones.
Choose a balanced diet or a diet that is suitable for their life stages and energy needs. You can add healthy fats, minerals, protein, and fibrous foods to your pet’s daily diet.
Can We Provide Anything Special To Your Rottweiler?
Likewise, any other breed, rottweiler, needs a balanced, nutrient-rich diet meeting their particular nutritional needs. It is not necessary to give them any special diet. Be it an adult or a puppy, commercial dog food of the best quality is suitable for the rottweiler breed.
Fat content, protein sources, and grain-free ingredient options are a few factors to consider while choosing dog food. But, when determining the right diet for your dog, talk to an expert veterinarian. It is crucial as each dog is unique and has distinct nutritional requirements.
Diet For A Pregnant Rottweiler Dog
If you have a female dog who is expecting, consider feeding her more nutritious food. Be certain about overfeeding your dog because that may result in obesity after giving birth.
But there can also be difficulties if you underfeed them. Pregnant dogs may develop health problems like loss of litter because of undernutrition.
Like normal dogs, a pregnant one also has a similar nutritional requirement till the third trimester. After this period, they may need more food than usual. It would be good to feed them 3 or 4 times a day. But, you must keep in mind their litter’s size.
Conclusion
Never overlook your rottweiler puppy’s health and diet. Raw food or homemade food is an excellent choice for feeding a rottweiler. But consult with your vet whenever you give anything to your dog.
Overfeeding your rottweiler puppy may raise the risk of health concerns like obesity. The rottweiler breed will likely become too big as they mature, around 70 to 130 pounds.
Want to adopt a rottweiler puppy or an adult Rottie? If yes, Vom Hause Stan is the place to find purebred rottweiler litters and adults. We are one of the most trusted and experienced rottweiler breeders in the USA, offering all sizes of rottweilers.