How Much to Feed a Cavapoo (Feeding Chart & Guide)

As an owner or prospective owner of a Cavapoo, understanding their feeding requirements is essential. The amount of food a Cavapoo needs varies based on factors like their weight, activity level, age, and overall health.

For Cavapoo puppies, the ideal daily food intake ranges from ¼ to 1 ½ cups of puppy food. Adult Cavapoos typically require about ¾ to 1 ¾ cups of food per day. When Cavapoos reach their senior years, their daily food requirement slightly decreases to about ¾ to 1 ½ cups.

This feeding guide will delve deeper into the specific feeding recommendations necessary for a Cavapoo’s optimal nutrition. Continue reading to learn more!

What Factors Impact How Much to Feed a Cavapoo?

When determining the appropriate amount of food for your Cavapoo, several key factors must be taken into account to ensure they receive proper nourishment:

• Weight: Maintaining an ideal weight is critical for a Cavapoo’s balanced diet. Excessive weight gain not only complicates food portioning but can also lead to various health issues, especially in smaller breeds like Cavapoos.
• Activity Level: Understanding the activity level of your Cavapoo is essential. If your dog is highly active, their calorie intake may need to be increased to meet their energy demands. This is something to consider when reading dog food labels and making feeding decisions.
• Age: The age of your Cavapoo significantly impacts their nutritional needs. Puppies typically require more frequent meals and nutrient-rich food to support their growth and development, whereas adult dogs have different dietary requirements.
• Health Conditions: The overall health of your Cavapoo also plays a crucial role in how much they should be fed. Dogs with certain health issues, allergies, or undergoing treatment may need adjustments in their diet.

It’s important to factor in these aspects when planning your Cavapoo’s meals. Consulting with a veterinarian or a pet nutritionist is always a good idea to ensure your Cavapoo’s diet is tailored to their specific needs.

How Much to Feed Your Cavapoo

When feeding a Cavapoo, it’s important to consider their size, as they can be either toy or mini due to their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle heritage.

Typically, a Cavapoo’s height ranges from 9 to 14 inches, and they weigh between 8 to 25 pounds. Being small dogs, Cavapoos usually reach their full size earlier than larger breeds.

The following feeding chart is based on the toy Cavapoo for the minimum range and the mini Cavapoo for the maximum. Adjust the feeding amounts based on your pet’s specific size.

Cavapoo Puppy Feeding Chart (2 to 12 months)

For the initial two weeks, Cavapoo puppies rely on their mother’s milk. By three weeks, as they develop teeth and become more independent, they start transitioning to solid puppy food.

Here’s the feeding chart for how much puppy food to feed Cavapoo puppies:

As the puppy grows, its caloric needs increase. Puppy food should be rich in nutrients, with around 30% lean protein and 20% fat, to support this growth phase.

Adult Cavapoo Feeding Chart (1 to 9 years)

When Cavapoos reach one to two years old, they typically enter adulthood. The exact timing can vary due to genetics, nutrition, physical activity, and overall health.

As they mature, their nutritional needs evolve, though they require fewer daily calories compared to larger dog breeds.

Here’s the recommended feeding amount for adult Cavapoos:

When switching to adult food from the puppy stage, ensure that the adult food for your Cavapoo still contains lean protein and healthy fats, as well as vitamins, minerals, and healthy carbs.

All the necessary nutrients above should be written on a regular dog food pack, so read carefully through the label. Be mindful of those that have excessive additives, artificial flavors, and preservatives.

If necessary, dog supplements can also be added to a dog’s diet, especially if they are deficient in some things. Dog treats are acceptable, but as a rule of thumb, they should not exceed 10% of a dog’s daily calories.

From my experience with my cousin’s Cavapoo, Charles, I adored his long, curly hair, which is present from his face down to his tail. However, this also posed a challenge in terms of keeping him neat during feeding time.

Hence, I suggested that my cousin get Charles a haircut that would help us keep him clean and dry, especially after meals. With his summer cut, it was easier for us to wipe off any food debris on his face and body after meals.

Senior Cavapoo Feeding Chart (10 years and above)

Ensuring a balanced diet for your senior Cavapoo can be a bit more challenging due to their specific needs.

As they age, senior dogs often face digestive problems and have lower activity levels and slower metabolism, leading to different dietary requirements compared to their younger selves.

Here’s a guide to the amount of food you should provide for your senior Cavapoo:

It’s beneficial to include food supplements in your senior Cavapoo’s diet in addition to managing calorie intake. Supplements such as probiotics can be particularly helpful for those with digestive issues, improving gut health.

For Cavapoos experiencing joint pain or mobility problems, glucosamine supplements can provide relief and aid in maintaining joint health.

How Often Should You Feed Your Cavapoo?

For young Cavapoo puppies between 2 and 4 months old, it’s best to spread their daily food intake across four meals. As the puppy grows older, from four months to a year, you can reduce feeding to three times a day. Once the Cavapoo reaches over a year old, transitioning to two meals per day is advisable.

Here’s a quick reference for the recommended feeding frequency for Cavapoos at different life stages:

Regular feeding intervals in the early stages are crucial for meeting a growing Cavapoo puppy’s nutritional needs.

As they mature, fewer meals per day are sufficient, and this change also helps prevent digestive issues like bloat, a serious condition where the stomach can twist due to gas or fluid buildup.

How to Transition Your Cavapoo to a New Food

When transitioning a Cavapoo, known for their picky eating habits, to a new diet, it’s essential to do so gradually to avoid upsetting their digestion and appetite.

Given their particular nature, changing their food requires careful planning and observation.

The process of transitioning a Cavapoo’s diet should ideally be spread over a week. Here’s a suggested schedule:

Look out for symptoms that your Cavapoo isn’t taking the transition well. If your dog starts to vomit or experience diarrhea during the process, it’s better to switch back to the old diet and consult your vet. 

Tips on Feeding an Overweight Cavapoo

The amount of food that a Cavapoo eats and its activity level are typically the biggest factors why it becomes overweight. 

While Cavapoos don’t normally encounter weight problems, it’s still something to watch out for. Older spayed dogs, especially females, are more prone to obesity, so it’s best to monitor them closely.

If you suspect your Cavapoo is at risk of being overweight or obese, here are some tips to manage the issue:

• Avoid free feeding. Dogs are known to be enthusiastic eaters in general, so having an overweight dog exposed to a seemingly unlimited supply of dog food will just entice it to keep eating and make matters worse.
• Adjust feedings for weight loss. A modification in an overweight pup’s diet means setting proper food portions and meal frequencies in a day. Contrary to what others believe, simply cutting down on the current amount of food being given to an overweight dog, without regard for its overall nutritional needs, will not be helpful.
• Incorporate fiber-rich foods into your dog’s meals. Fiber is an extremely vital nutrient for a dog that’s losing weight. A high-fiber dog food could aid in digestion, and healthy sources of fiber, like green beans, could help make a dog feel full while consuming fewer calories. 
• Consider preparing your dog’s own food. Instead of buying commercial foods, some of which contain unhealthy ingredients, you might want to switch to making a homemade dog food recipe for your dieting dog. You can also try a raw diet, which usually has fewer calories than a cooked meal.

Remember that obesity exposes your furry friend to serious risks related to the cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, and immune system, among others — and it’s preventable with a healthy diet and ample exercise.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Know If I’m Feeding My Cavapoo Enough?

Factors like age, weight, activity level, and overall health should determine whether you should give your Cavapoo less or more food. 

If your dog falls within the ideal weight for this hybrid, is generally active, and isn’t showing any signs of medical issues, the food it receives must be enough to sustain its energy level and nutritional requirements. 

Why Is My Cavapoo Not Eating?

Although Cavapoos are known to be picky eaters, it’s not normal for a dog to simply not have an appetite. If this happens, though, it can be due to several reasons. 

Among these is an underlying illness like cancer or liver failure, a dental disease, adverse effects of vaccination, a change in environment, food transition, or behavioral issues.

Remember, though, that while a dog can survive a few days without eating food and not experience any ill consequences, it’s essential to address this issue as quickly as possible so it won’t become a more serious problem.

Can I Feed My Cavapoo With Human Food?

Some human foods safe for Cavapoo consumption include cashews, cheese, coconut, corn, eggs, ham, honey, quinoa, and yogurt, among others. Remember to feed them moderately, though.

On the contrary, you should avoid feeding your pet foods like chocolate, almonds, cinnamon, garlic, onion, grapes, raisins, and ice cream, as these can be detrimental.

Do Cavapoos Eat a Lot?

Cavapoos are small dogs, so they consume smaller meals, unlike larger breeds. These dogs can also be fussy with the food they eat, so their appetite should increase with the quality of their food.

This means that regardless of whether they’re fed raw meat, wet food, or solid food, the best food that will make Cavapoos eat more is what they like.

Can Cavapoos Eat Bones?

Dogs can get minerals and other nutrients from bones, but many veterinarians don’t recommend giving bones to dogs for the risks it brings about.

That said, you could provide your Cavapoo a raw meat bone to chew on, but keep a watchful eye on them. 

On the contrary, if you’re cautious of the risk but still want the nutrition from bones for your dog, you can try feeding raw food supplemented with ground bone.

We hope this Cavapoo feeding guide has been informative and useful for you. If you have any further questions or would like to share your own feeding tips, please feel free to leave a comment in the section below!