Members Only Area

As your puppy matures, you must adjust the feeding schedule to ensure that there is sufficient food and water to maintain growth and sustain hydration but not so much as to cause digestive problems. When the puppy comes home, it will need to be fed about every two hours. Within a week or less, the time between feedings can begin to be lengthened as the puppy's nursing abilities improve and the mother's milk becomes more plentiful.

In doing this you will become an aficionado of stool and urine color and consistency. You probably already know what well-formed normal stool looks like. If your puppy is being overfed, its stool will usually become loose and the color may change from brown to green or yellow. These are signs that the puppy is not fully digesting its meals. Loose stools are a potential problem because they can lead to dehydration through excess loss of fluids and may be a sign of digestive issues. Usually, increasing the time between feedings will return the stool to its normal color and consistency.

Urine is another indicators or the healthiness of your puppy. If there is no or very little urine or its color is very dark, it can be a sign of too little liquid intake or problems processing urine. If increasing liquid intake or changing feeding frequency does not show a change in volume or color of stool or urine, you should consult your veterinarian.

You should also read the sections on SocializationSafety, and Grooming in Bulldog Maintenance.