When deciding how much food to feed your Chow Chow, it’s helpful to remember that all dogs are individuals. Each Chow Chow has unique dietary needs, depending on age, activity level, and size.
Feeding your Chow Chow puppy is a fun and exciting responsibility, but it can also be confusing.
Fortunately, this article has everything you need to know about how much to feed a Chow Chow.
Chow Chow Feeding Chart by Age: How Much to Feed Your Chow Chow?
Chow Chows eat relatively less than other dogs in their class. They can eat ¾ to 2 cups of dry food daily as puppies and 2 ½ to 4 cups of dog food per day as adults. Meanwhile, as seniors, Chow Chow dogs can get by with only 2 to 3 cups of dog food daily.
Chow Chows need to eat different amounts of food at different points in their lives. The charts below list the amount of food your Chow Chow should receive at each stage of its life.
Instead of relying solely on this chart, keep in mind that not all Chow Chows are the same. This is a reliable guide, but it should not be your only basis for feeding your pup.
Each dog has its own dietary needs, which may vary depending on age, level of activity, and weight. Ask your vet for advice on what to feed your Chow Chow.
Chow Chow Puppy Feeding Chart (2 to 12 months)
The nutritional needs of Chow Chow puppies during the first month of their lives can be met by their mother’s milk alone.
But if the mother dog is unable to produce milk, her puppies can be bottle-fed a puppy milk replacer.
Chow Chow puppies should be transitioned from their mother’s milk to solid food at one month of age.
At this time, introduce your pup to a good starter puppy food that meets its dietary needs during the weaning phase.
It is also important to understand that these large dogs need more food and extra calories during their first year of life to grow into healthy adult dogs.
The table below gives detailed information on how much to feed a Chow Chow puppy:
Protein and fats are the main nutritional requirements of a Chow Chow puppy, followed by other nutrients.
All these help to maintain strong muscles, bones, and immunity, as well as good health in general.
Adult Chow Chow Feeding Chart (1 to 7 years)
At 12 to 18 months, Chow Chow puppies start growing into their adult size and require more food than they did as puppies.
A high-quality diet that provides adequate calories and nutrients is necessary for active dogs.
Here’s a feeding chart showing the daily adult food consumption of your adult Chow Chow:
The right diet can help your dog achieve its ideal weight, build lean muscle mass, and stay healthy. Omega fatty acids also contribute to your dog’s mobility, which increases his or her overall health and well-being.
Senior Chow Chow Feeding Chart (8 years and above)
To keep your senior Chow Chow healthy as it ages, you should provide a relatively low-calorie diet. This will keep its ideal weight and not put much pressure on its joints.
Older dogs can also be as susceptible to weight issues like obesity as younger dogs. To ensure your dog stays healthy, consult your vet or pet nutritionist for a tailored meal plan or senior-specific diet.
Here are some basic guidelines for feeding your senior Chow Chow:
Because older Chow Chows tend to lead less active lifestyles, they have a slower metabolism.
A diet with lower carbohydrate content will help keep your dog’s sugar level healthy, and adding natural fiber will support his digestive health. You can also add some supplements to their diet for bone support.
Chow Chow Feeding Frequency: How Often Should You Feed Your Chow Chow?
The ideal feeding frequency for Chow Chow puppies below 1-year old is four meals a day. Meanwhile, adults need to feed only thrice per day. Senior Chow Chows, on the other hand, can thrive with only two meals daily.
Chow Chows are known for their healthy appetites and their pickiness. By following a regular feeding schedule, you can help prevent overfeeding and maintain your Chow Chow’s healthy weight.
The following table summarizes how often you should feed your Chow Chow at each stage of its life:
If you’re just starting out with a newborn Chow Chow, you should free-feed it. It is the best way to make sure your puppy gets enough nutrients and energy for proper growth and development.
However, please ensure that your free-fed puppies are monitored closely to avoid overfeeding and bloating.
When your pup reaches two months old, you can start introducing small puppy food to it and gradually shift the frequency of its meals as it is about to reach three months.
Once your puppy hits three months old, it should be fed four times per day. This will help them develop healthy eating habits while still meeting their nutritional needs.
After your dog reaches one year old, feeding it three meals per day is generally recommended.
It provides enough calories for its growing body but doesn’t lead to overfeeding or weight gain issues later in life.
When your Chow Chow is eight years and older, you should reduce the amount of food you feed him to two meals a day.
However, you should continue to monitor their general health, along with any changes in weight.
Optimal Feeding Times for Chow Chows
Preferably, Chow Chow puppies are fed at 4-hour intervals — once in the morning, at noon, in the afternoon, and at night. Meanwhile, as adult dogs, they need breakfast, lunch, and dinner spaced 5 hours apart. Seniors, on the other hand, should be fed once in the morning and at night.
Chow Chows are known to grow quickly, so if you want to keep yours healthy and well-fed, it’s a good idea to establish a regular feeding schedule.
By feeding your Chow Chow dog food on a regular schedule, you can teach it to expect food at certain times of the day.
However, if you make their food readily available at all times, expect your dog to become picky about food.
Here is a suggested schedule for feeding your Chow Chow at all life stages:
You can adjust the schedule above according to your preferences and daily routine. However, don’t change the intervals between meals too frequently, or you may disrupt your dog’s digestion.
If you notice your pooch is eating more or less at particular times, and their weight is somehow affected, keep track of the pattern and contact your vet for advice.
Best Dog Foods for Chow Chows
After the proper feeding amount and schedules have been determined, the next step is finding the right dog food.
This is one of the costs of owning a Chow Chow, and you should invest in it to keep your pup healthy.
Of course, there are literally hundreds of brands to choose from, but the goal is to make that process a little simpler for you by highlighting some of the best dog foods for Chow Chows.
Here are some of the best types of food for your Chow Chow:
Dry Dog Food or Kibble: Dry food is the most popular, affordable, and convenient commercial dog food option for feeding a Chow Chow. It is available in various flavors and formulations, suitable for puppies, adults, and seniors. It contains the most beneficial nutrients your dog needs and high-quality ingredients to help it live a long, healthy life.
Canned Wet Food: While canned wet dog food doesn’t contain as many nutrients as dry food and is more expensive, it can be a good choice for Chow Chows that are finicky eaters and senior dogs. It is also a great option for your Chow Chow when you’re looking to add variety to its diet and make it more hydrated since it’s 75% water.
Home-Cooked Diet: Homemade diets can provide your Chow Chow all the nutrients it needs if you make sure to include a variety of foods in its diet. This may be a big responsibility, but if you are the kind of person who loves to cook and is committed to giving your dog the very best food possible, then this may be a good option for you.
Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet (BARF): BARF is a mostly raw, all-natural diet that includes raw meat, bones, eggs, fruits and vegetables, probiotics, and other natural ingredients. Raw food eliminates the risks associated with harmful preservatives in processed foods. However, it is still best to consult with your vet first to make sure that the meals are prepared safely.
By adding food supplements, healthy fats, and vitamins to your Chow Chow’s meals, you can help strengthen its immune system.
Dog treats are also acceptable, but give them in moderation to avoid obesity.
Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Chow Chow
Chow Chows are known for their insatiable appetites, and in addition to this, they are also curious.
They will put anything in their mouths and have been known to eat human food or even things that are hazardous to their health.
For this reason, it’s important to know which foods are dangerous for your pet. Even if some aren’t as harmful, you still need to be aware of them because you might be giving your dog a toxic snack without realizing it.
Here are various foods that you should avoid feeding your Chow Chow:
Avocado: Avocados are a delicious treat for humans, but they can be harmful to dogs. The pits, skins, and leaves of avocados contain a toxin called persin which can make your dog sick once consumed.
Chocolate: Dogs are not meant to eat chocolate. Theobromine, a chemical found in chocolate, can cause abnormal heartbeats, seizures, and even death if consumed by your Chow Chow.
Gums and Candies: Gums and candies are made with xylitol, a sweetener that’s more dangerous to dogs than chocolate. This substance can cause disorientation, hypoglycemia, and collapse in canines.
Coffee: Coffee is another human food that should be kept from your Chow Chow. It contains caffeine, which is toxic to dogs and can cause heart problems, high blood pressure, and stomach upset.
Alcoholic Drinks: Your dog’s liver and brain function are just as susceptible to alcohol as yours is. A little bit of alcohol can cause severe issues for your Chow Chow, such as vomiting or diarrhea.
If your dog is tempted by human food, resist the urge to let it have a taste. Many foods are not safe for dogs to eat and can lead to illness or even death.
If you suspect your dog has ingested any potentially poisonous substances, rush it immediately to the nearest veterinarian for emergency treatment.
How to Transition Your Chow Chow to a New Food
When your Chow Chows reaches a certain stage in its life cycle, such as when it becomes an adult, you need to change its diet. A gradual change will help to prevent digestive problems.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), abruptly switching a dog’s diet can cause stomach issues, so it’s recommended that the process takes five to seven days.
Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide to help you make the transition to your Chow Chow’s new puppy food:
Keep a close eye on your pup’s response and eating habits during this transition period.
Some dogs may have sensitive tummies or allergies that necessitate a longer transition time, while others may exhibit concerning signs like vomiting or diarrhea.
If your Chow Chow experiences any changes in appetite or discomfort, it’s best to consult with your vet. This way, you can find out if your dog has food allergies, intolerance, or other food issues.
Feeding an Overweight Chow Chow
Chow Chows are known for their tendency to be overweight and lazy, so you need to make sure that you’re feeding your Chow Chow the proper diet.
However, if you’re dog is already obese, as owners, you should be responsible for keeping it healthy again.
Feed natural foods rather than pre-packaged dog treats. Treats are often high in calories and sugar, which can lead to weight gain over time. If you do buy treats, choose ones that have fewer calories per serving size.
This does not only apply to treats. Kibble or dog food with low-calorie content is also important, as this will help keep your pet at an ideal weight while providing adequate nutrition.
Moreover, correct food proportions are extremely important when it comes to keeping your pet healthy and happy. Make sure they’re getting enough protein without overdoing it on carbs or fats.
Regular exercise is also essential for your obese dog to lose excess weight, so make sure you take them outside every day for walks around the neighborhood or even through mini obstacle courses in the park.
Lastly, sticking to a feeding schedule is another crucial part of keeping your dog at an ideal weight.
If you don’t have one established yet, talk to your vet about what would work best for your dog’s age and size so that both of you know exactly when they need to eat each day without causing confusion or stress.
Watch this video to learn how to train and keep your Chow Chow active:
How we train our chow chows! [SUPER INTERESTING]<a href="https://youtu.be/O9r0va2x5cw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.bubblypet.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FO9r0va2x5cw%2F0.jpg" alt="How we train our chow chows! [SUPER INTERESTING]" width="1280" height="700" /><br />Watch this video on YouTube</a>
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is My Chow Chow Not Eating?
Chow Chows can refuse to eat when they are stressed. If you have recently moved or had a change in the family structure, your dog may be feeling stressed.
This can also happen if there has been a sudden change in the environment, such as a new pet or baby in the house.
Underlying illnesses and health issues, as well as certain foods and medications, can also cause dogs to lose their appetites.
In this case, consult your veterinarian immediately to help determine your dog’s condition.
Finally, it’s possible that it has dental problems which are causing pain when it eats or drinks.
Do Chow Chows Eat a Lot?
Chow Chows are a large dog breed, but they’re not known for being heavy eaters. In fact, when it comes to food, these dogs are actually pretty moderate eaters.
Can Chow Chows Eat Bones?
Chow Chow dogs love to gnaw on bones, but they should never be fed cooked bones. This can splinter and cause damage to the dog’s mouth and digestive tract, which could result in an obstruction.
They can safely chew and digest raw bones from chicken, turkey, lamb, and beef as long as they are served soft enough for them.
Can Chow Chows Be Vegetarians?
Chow Chows have been bred to thrive on a vegetarian diet and will do well with grains and vegetables. However, meat should still be included in the diet to keep them nutritionally balanced.
Final Thoughts
The Chow Chow is a breed perfect for lovers of large dogs with bear-like features. They are best known for their distinctive blue-black tongue and their cuddly and playful nature that earns the admiration of their owners.
But even though they look like they’re having a blast all day long, they do have some specific needs when it comes to feeding.
The best way to keep your Chow Chow happy and healthy is by providing the proper diet, schedule, and proportion in all of its life stages.
The Chow Chow’s unique digestive system means it has specific needs for its food.
We hope this guide has been helpful as you get to know your new furry companion and its dietary needs. Share some of your thoughts on Chow Chow feeding in the comments below.
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