The nutritional requirements of an American Bully dog demand much attention from a dog owner.
Our American Bully feeding chart will help you find the optimal amount of food for a bully max high performances.
These dogs have high-quality genetics, inherited from crossing the American Pitbull Terrier and Bulldog. We can give thanks to the Bully breeders for crossing these two remarkable breeds as this is what makes this bully breed extra healthy, strong, and impressive looking.
To keep it that way, this dog needs an attentively balanced diet compiled of the best dog food.
The American Bully Feeding Chart: How Much To Feed?
There are a few guidelines that can help you out if you are struggling with deciding how much to feed your dog. American Bully dogs are muscular dogs that need a lot of attention when feeding. They need the right amount of food and exercise in order to develop optimal body structure.
American Bully Body Condition Score
Body Condition Score or BCS is a measure of a dog’s ideal weight. It has nine degrees which describe a dog’s physical appearance.
1 to 2 – the dog is underweight. There is a loss of body fat and muscle mass.
It is the reason you can see the dog’s ribs, pelvic bones, and lumbar vertebrae through the skin from a distance.
3 to 4 – the dog is considered thin. The top of the lumbar vertebrae is visible and when touching, you can feel ribs.
Pelvic bones are prominent and the waist and abdominal tuck are obvious.
5 – is the ideal BCS. There is no excess fat on the ribs.
The abdominal tuck can be seen from the side and so can the waist when viewed above.
6 to 7 – the dog is considered fat. There is quite a large amount of fat over the ribs, lumbar area, and the base of the tail.
The waist is not prominent. The abdominal tuck might be seen.
8 to 9 – at this level, the dog is obese. There are large amounts of fat all over the ribs, spine, thorax, and base of tail.
The dog has a fat neck and limbs with swelling in the abdominal region so the abdominal tuck cannot be seen.
Feeding Guide Calculator
| Weight (lbs.) | Amount of food per day (cups) |
|---|---|
| 20-30 | 1 1/2 – 1 3/4 |
| 30-40 | 1 3/4 – 2 1/4 |
| 40-60 | 2 1/4 – 3 |
| 60-80 | 3 – 3 1/2 |
To keep your dog fit – not too fat and not too thin – one can calculate the optimal number of calories your American Bully needs to take in to maintain a healthy weight.
The total number of calories is multiplied RER (Resting Metabolic Requirement expressed as a weight in kg with potency 3/4) with 70, after that the product is squared.
This is very helpful if you are trying to make an American Bully feeding chart.
Feeding Schedule From Birth To 4 Months Old
A small Bully pup needs to be fed with t 3 cups of puppy food daily (the first two weeks are the exception). The feeding frequency should be four times a day.
2 Weeks Old
A newly born puppy still feeds on mother’s milk. This way all his nutritional needs are met.
If mother’s milk is lacking, then it should be given a proper nutritive replacement.
4 Weeks Old
The fourth week of life means that the puppy is ready to try eating adjusted adult dogs food.
You can offer him small amounts of solid food softened with water. At this time, solid food should take a quarter of a meal and rest should be water. Later, the amount of water should be reduced.
He can’t eat much due to still being small and on mother’s milk.
6 Weeks Old
In the sixth week it is time for slowly transitioning from adjusted feeding to a normal dog’s diet.
You should start slowly reducing the amount of water in a meal, step by step, until your puppy can eat the pet food by itself.
8 Weeks Old
Eight weeks old is the time for setting a feeding frame.
This means that the dog is provided with food four times a day.
Try to teach him to eat all that is being served by taking away a plate with leftovers and then only giving him more four hours later.
10 Weeks Old
During the tenth week, the bully puppy should be fed four times daily.
His meal should contain one cup of food, but not more, in order to prevent obesity.
12 Weeks Old
In the third month of a puppy’s life, a meal should still contain one cup of food, but the number of meals should be reduced to three.
If the dog is very active, then the amount of food per meal might be enlarged.
Feeding From 4 To 12 Months Old
During this period, a pooch must be provided with three meals daily with a total of five cups of food.
Feeding Over 12 Months Old
These dogs are considered grown-ups when they reach the first year of life.
This means that these adult dogs need less food and fewer meals, which means three to four cups given twice a day.
The American Bully Feeding Chart: What To Feed?
Whether you enjoy cooking or not, we have food suggestions for you to serve to your dear bully. We’ll also go through supplements and nutrients. So, let’s see!
Not Into Cooking: Commercial Dog Food
Commercial dog food is a very practical and quick solution for a great number of dog owners. Due to a reasonable price, it sounds like a benign choice.
However, you should be careful while buying these products and take your time to read the package information
Not only are some cheaper dog foods not beneficial but they are bad to your pet. Sometimes a bowl of kibble is not only low in nutrients but can also be full of harmful toxins, by-products, fatty acids, chemicals, pesticides, and preservatives.
If your American Bully feeding chart includes commercial dog food, then make sure to provide him with premium foods that are not grain-free. If there are no specialized pet shops near you, you can find quality dog food online. There is a lot of choice on purchasing sites, such as Amazon.
RELATED: How Much Does An American Bully Cost? American Bully Puppy Price And Other Expenses
Into Cooking: Homecooked Food
Some people like to be sure about what kind of food they provide to a pet, so they prepare it at home themselves with trusted ingredients.
Some groceries can be served raw, such as fruits, eggs and meat, while some should be cooked first such as vegetables like sweet potato.
Ingredients you should avoid are garlic, coffee, mushrooms, mustard, gum, candy, onions, salt, walnuts, and seeds.
Going All Natural: Raw Food
Raw food is an organic, all-natural diet that is an excellent source of nutrients for large breeds such as the American Bully dog.
This term includes groceries that are served without processing, such as meat of various animals, eggs, vegetables, fruit and milk products.
It is not recommended to mix dry dog food with raw food.
The benefits of raw food are many. It boosts the immune system, reduces risk of diseases, enlarges reproductive capacity and gives a taste of the wild to your four-legged friend.
Make sure the food is properly stored. If not, there is a possibility of forming all kinds of bacteria such as salmonella.
On The Veggie Edge: Fruits
Fruits are an important source of vitamins and other nutrients that, being rich with antioxidants, repair the immune system and enhance overall health.
Though fruit is not clearly associated with the American Bully feeding chart, some of these dogs like to eat fruits as a snack or treat after a meal rich with meat.
Do be careful when offering dog with fruits, because some are not beneficial for this breed.
Good To Go Fruits
Apple, pears, bananas, cranberries, kiwis, oranges, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries,cantaloupe, strawberries, and watermelon are all beneficial fruits.
These fruits are a great source of a whole range of vitamins – A, B, B1, B2, B6, C, E, and K. Fruits are generally rich in fibers which are important for the digestive system.
They also contain other important vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc, selenium, tannin, potassium, manganese, folic acid, thiamine, beta-carotene, niacin, copper, phosphorus, and iodine.
Be Careful Fruits
Figs, avocados, grapes, raisins, coconut, oranges and lemons are fruits that you should be careful of.
Grapes are poisonous for dogs, avocados can cause stomach issues, figs can make your dog vomit and cause diarrhea, while contact with a fig tree can induce skin inflammation.
Contact with orange and lemon trees can cause poisoning, accompanied with vomiting, depression, and diarrhea.
Health Support: Supplements
Supplement can be used as general support fillers to the usual diet or at times when a dog has certain health problems.
Especially important are vitamin supplements that act on entire health, nails, and hair.
Supplements rich with probiotics are important if your American Bully dog has digestive issues.
Fish oils are rich with omega-3 DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). Salmon meat is especially rich with these acids. The veggie option rich with amino acids is flaxseed.
Using these supplements has been proven to improve dogs’ wellness..
They help in the prevention of dermatitis, liver issues, problems with renal function, and autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, inflammations, or allergies.
Supplements are recommended if a dog is having heart issues, cancer, kidney issues, lower blood pressure, high triglycerides, and cognitive slow down.
Consuming supplements rich in collagen helps with increased shedding, wound healing, growth, and nail and hair health
RELATED: American Bully Growth Chart: Here’s How Your Bully Grows!
Feel Good Basics: Nutrients
Fats
An American Bully’s meal needs to contain 20% of fat content to provide conditions for full growth and forming a normal shape.
Fat is essential for metabolism and ensures that proteins can be correctly broken down.
Fat molecules are essential for the acquisition of a shiny coat, a good appetite, and hormone production.If the dog is not provided with the right amount of high-fat sources, it may develop health issues in adulthood.
Fats can be found in oil, animal fats, and soy.
Proteins
Another nutritional building block that should be highly represented in your dog’s food are proteins. They are essential for the muscle growth which allows this dog breed to bulk up.
Proteins are built from amino acids and these are responsible for muscle strength, repairing body tissues, and regular body functions. Meat such as chicken, beef, lamb, and fish have high protein rates.
Intentionally choose premium dog food rich with protein content. Having enough energy from an excellent diet governs the activity levels of American Bully dogs.
Carbohydrates
Carbs are the most important source of energy.
Puppies need up to 70% of proteins in food for normal functioning. However, they also need carbs. These can be found in wheat, oats, corn, barley, and brown rice.
Vitamins
Vitamin A provides healthy skin and hair. Vitamin E is a major support to the immune system.
A great source of vitamins are vegetables and fruit. Vitamins are also among best known antioxidants.
Minerals
The most important minerals for your American Bully dog are sodium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and chloride and these can be found in meats, fruits, grains ,and vegetables.
Besides those, there is also calcium which is essential for healthy teeth and bones. Good sources of calcium are milk and milk products and canned fish.
Fiber
Fiber is essential for maintaining a healthy digestive tract and preventing constipation and other digestive issues.
How Much Water Is Enough For An American Bully Dog?
A bowl of water should accompany every meal and it has to be refilled during the day.
Water should always be fresh. This is very important in order to prevent bacterial infection.
You should pay extra attention to keeping your American Bully dog hydrated while he is in thepuppy stage. Offer him a bowl of water frequently.
This way the puppy will learn to drink regularly. Later, in the adult stage, your dog will have no trouble with dehydration.
Write yourself a reminder to include a bowl of water into your American Bully feeding chart.
Final Commentary
Establishing an American Bully feeding chart for your pet will benefit him in the long run.
This way you will be sure that your American Bully puppy gets all the best nutrients in the right amounts for a healthy growth.
By keeping track of his energy intake, you’ll be on track to provide this muscular dog with the proper nutrition he deserves.
Read Next:
• Bully Ear Cropping: A Barbaric Method Or A Bare Necessity?
• The Pitbull Bully Mix: How Reliable Are Bullypits?