Are we feeding our Frenchie enough

[Lord Flashheart]

I've been feeding Hamilton 200g of Nature's Menu raw beef/chicken etc. twice a day, but it looks so tiny! Wilson the Bull Terrier gets 400g twice a day. Both beasties are well, so I guess that answers my own question! But nonetheless, I'd be interested to know what other Frenchie owners feed theirs and the quantity?

[spookly]

The recommended feeding guidelines are just recommendations.

When you say he's small do you mean small in all proportions? Or looking skinny?
If he's small all over but doesn't feel particularly skinny then he might just be small.
If he's skinny and you can feel excessive rib then he probably needs to eat more.

When you have Great Dane puppies they alternate between eating relatively small amounts, and then absolutely pound the food when they have a growth spurt. No idea what the growth patterns are like for smaller dogs, but I'd imagine it's similar but less extreme.

[Johnnytheboy]

Can you feel ribs or a spine? If not he's well fed.

I have two big English Bulldogs and they get a fairly small scoop of biscuits twice a day, neither is wasting away

[Batleyred]

Feed by eye and not the manufacturers recommended ammount. If he's to fat with no waist cut it down and if you can see more than 2 ribs up the feed.

[HTP99]

Daisy our Frenchie has 240g daily of Natural Instinct (raw), she weighs circa 8kg, I seem to remember the feeding guidelines state to feed them 2-3% of their weight daily; 3% of 8kg is 240g

Daisy is small for a Frenchie and very lean, we get the odd comment from randomers about her being underweight, she isn't, she is just trim and many Frenchies are overweight; the vet has never expressed any concerns.

Edited by HTP99 on Thursday 10th October 15:41

[nickwilcock]

My girl friend's Frenchie gets (IIRC) 170g twice per day. Some excellent nosh which means that, unusually for a Frenchie, he neither drools nor produces the usual Frenchie farts which would probably contravene conventions governing chemical warfare!

But be prepared for complaints if you put him on a diet: https://youtu.be/u5643U3qS8g

The look on his face when he's accused of being a little chubby is priceless!

[Lord Flashheart]

HTP99 said:

Daisy our Frenchie has 240g daily of Natural Instinct (raw), she weighs circa 8kg, I seem to remember the feeding guidelines state to feed them 2-3% of their weight daily; 3% of 8kg is 240g

Daisy is small for a Frenchie and very lean, we get the odd comment from randomers about her being underweight, she isn't, she is just trim and many Frenchies are overweight; the vet has never expressed any concerns.

Edited by HTP99 on Thursday 10th October 15:41

Based on this, he's getting just about the right amount. I should point out that I said in the original post that the 'amount' I feed him looks tiny, not 'he' looks tiny. But I wasn't sure how meaty Frenchie's are supposed to be. He weighs in at 13kg and has no shortage of energy, but what made me question the quantity of food was that he's small around the waist. I suspect that's what he should be like and not a barrel, but I've been used to feeding Bullies for so many years that this amount would be swallowed in one by Wilson...who is currently pushing 37kg!

[HTP99]

Lord Flashheart said:

HTP99 said:

Daisy our Frenchie has 240g daily of Natural Instinct (raw), she weighs circa 8kg, I seem to remember the feeding guidelines state to feed them 2-3% of their weight daily; 3% of 8kg is 240g

Daisy is small for a Frenchie and very lean, we get the odd comment from randomers about her being underweight, she isn't, she is just trim and many Frenchies are overweight; the vet has never expressed any concerns.

Edited by HTP99 on Thursday 10th October 15:41

Based on this, he's getting just about the right amount. I should point out that I said in the original post that the 'amount' I feed him looks tiny, not 'he' looks tiny. But I wasn't sure how meaty Frenchie's are supposed to be. He weighs in at 13kg and has no shortage of energy, but what made me question the quantity of food was that he's small around the waist. I suspect that's what he should be like and not a barrel, but I've been used to feeding Bullies for so many years that this amount would be swallowed in one by Wilson...who is currently pushing 37kg!

What we give Daisy looks a tiny amount given her size and make up (she is small but she has the bull dog look of being very muscly and solid up front, you can see her muscles, especially in the chest and hind area, she does have a very small waist though) my mum had her for a few days and made a comment on how little it looked, the thing with raw is that they don't need a great deal of it compared to cheap and nasty stuff as it is all goodness and no crap, just look at how small and hard their poos are compared to a non raw diet; far less waste!

No farting either!

Edited by HTP99 on Thursday 10th October 20:30