Growth Spurts

[Lexigirl]

We got our puppy lexy at 6 weeks of age. when we first got her ate quite a bit for a week or so and then it kinda mellowed out. About the time after she started eating less she grew quite a bit. She is now 11 weeks and for the past couple days she has been eating the most she has ever ate. Is she going to have another growth spurt? How often do they have these and about at what age? Thanks

[Sharon Marples]

Growth spurts will occur in pups up to a year of age. There is no "set" schedule for when they occur just as there is no set schedule for when growth spurts occur in human children.

You just need to watch her closely to make sure she is getting the nutrition she needs and when she starts to look a bit thin due to growing, then bump her food up and when she starts to look plump, lower the quantity down again. It's a constant up and down game until they get to be about 9-12 months of age and they pretty much level out in terms of growth.

[Lexigirl]

We just took her to the vet today and she weighs 26.2 Lbs. When we got at her first shots she weighed 13.2 so she has doubled her weight already in one month. She is 11 weeks now so does 26 Lbs. sound good? The vet said she is all healthy and that she is going to be a big dog. I dunno if she is growing faster than normal or what. She no way shape or form fat. She is ideal.

[Sharon Marples]

Her weight sounds good for her age at this point. What you want to do is just make sure you don't get her too heavy as she is growing for her first year. As long as you can feel her ribs when you lightly touch her sides, all should be well.