One of the best ways to keep your Alaskan Malamute healthy is to feed them the right amount of dog food. Feeding your dog too much or not feeding enough can lead to various health issues.
Figuring out the right amount of food for your Alaskan Malamute isn’t always straightforward, but it’s really important. This article explains everything about Alaskan Malamute feeding, including how much and how often to feed your dog.
What Factors Impact How Much to Feed an Alaskan Malamute?
Various factors affect how much you should feed Alaskan Malamute puppies and adults. Here are the most common factors:
- Age: Age is the key determinant of the caloric and nutritional intake a dog requires. Alaskan Malamute puppies have different dietary requirements compared to older dogs due to the different support functions the food provides to their bodies.
- Activity Level: An Alaskan Malamute engaged in higher levels of activity, such as sledding, hiking, or working as a therapy or service dog, will need more food compared to one who lives a more sedentary lifestyle as a family pet.
- Weight: A healthy adult Alaskan Malamute ranges from 75 to 85 pounds. This factor is used as the basis for its feeding chart, guiding you on how much food to give your Malamute based on its current weight.
- Physiological Status: A pregnant Alaskan Malamute requires an adequate amount of food to meet her physiological needs during this period. Conversely, spayed or neutered dogs may require fewer calories due to their bodies’ lowered metabolic rate.
Other elements like health conditions and lifestyle can also impact an Alaskan Malamute’s diet.
Nonetheless, always remember that each Alaskan Malamute is unique, and the amount of food to feed puppies and adults should consider their individual needs.
How Much to Feed Your Alaskan Malamute?
As your Alaskan Malamute progresses through its various life stages, it’s essential to follow a feeding guide for each stage to ensure your dog remains healthy and well-nourished, irrespective of its age.
Moreover, regardless of the type of diet you choose for your dog — be it commercial dry food, wet canned food, raw meat, or homemade meals — it’s important to ensure they receive a healthy and nutritious diet.
Alaskan Malamute Puppies (2 to 12 months)
When Alaskan Malamute puppies are born, their primary source of nourishment will be their mother’s milk, which provides the initial dose of natural antibodies from colostrum.
By the time the Malamute puppy reaches its third or fourth week of life, it begins the weaning stage, transitioning towards consuming soft puppy food.
As your Alaskan Malamute grows older, the quantity of dry dog food to feed the puppy will fluctuate on a monthly basis. However, you’ll notice that they require more calories from puppy food compared to adult dogs.
Moreover, it’s essential to provide high-protein large-breed puppy food to cater to the escalating needs of your Malamute puppy during its developmental phases.
This chart provides specific guidelines on the amount of food to give your Alaskan Malamute puppy:
| Age | Daily Feeding Amount (Cups) | Caloric Intake (Per day) |
| 2 – 3 months | 1 ½ – 3 ¼ | 653 – 1,488 |
| 4 – 6 months | 2 – 3 ¾ | 865 – 1,668 |
| 7 – 9 months | 3 ¼ – 4 ¼ | 1,456 – 1,873 |
| 10 – 12 months | 3 ¾ – 4 ½ | 1,668 – 2,070 |
Naturally, large breed puppies, like the Alaskan Malamute, consume more puppy food compared to smaller breeds.
Hence, it’s advisable to choose the best food brands with high caloric density to satisfy their nutritional needs without needing to feed them large volumes.
Moreover, if you provide your puppy with the best possible dog food, there is typically no need to offer additional puppy supplements. A well-balanced diet should sufficiently support your puppy’s growth and maintain its health.
Adult Alaskan Malamutes (1 to 6 years)
Once an Alaskan Malamute puppy reaches the age of one year, it transitions into adulthood. This milestone also calls for a switch from puppy food to adult food formulated to sustain the dog’s bodily functions.
With their more robust digestive systems, adult Alaskan Malamutes can also handle a variety of diet types, such as raw food and home-cooked meals, provided that their diet remains complete and nutritionally balanced.
Below is the recommended feeding amount for adult Alaskan Malamutes :
| Age | Daily Feeding Amount (Cups) | Caloric Intake (Per day) |
| 1 – 6 years | 4 – 4 ¼ | 1,578 – 1,733 |
Further, an Alaskan Malamute’s diet must have considerable amounts of animal-sourced proteins and fats, similar to their natural diet in their natural habitat or the cold Arctic region.
Hence, dog food with these two things at the top of the list of ingredients is great for Alaskan Malamutes.
Additionally, considering the thick and plush coat of the Alaskan Malamute, administering supplements such as omega 3 and 6 fatty acids can enhance the luster and quality of its coat.
Senior Alaskan Malamutes (7 years and above)
Senior Alaskan Malamutes, due to their reduced energy and metabolic rate, require a different diet compared to their younger counterparts. These changes significantly decrease their dietary needs.
Moreover, senior Alaskan Malamutes may experience diminished senses. Therefore, for those feeding kibble, it might require some creativity to keep their diet interesting and appetizing.
The food for Alaskan Malamutes that are already aging should also be easily digestible and free from harmful additives. It’s good practice to read the food labels on the packages of commercial dog foods.
The table below will serve as a useful reference for feeding your elderly Alaskan Malamute:
| Age | Daily Feeding Amount (Cups) | Caloric Intake (Per day) |
| 7 years and above | 3 ¼ – 3 ½ | 1,262 – 1,386 |
Additionally, incorporating wet or canned dog food into the diet can be helpful for senior Malamutes, especially as their teeth may begin to wear down.
Feeding your senior Alaskan Malamute dry dog food can pose a challenge for them to chew and might gradually lessen their appetites.
Lastly, it’s advisable to buy a dog food rich in protein and with adequate levels of calcium and phosphorus to support the aging dog’s heart, bones, and joints.
How Often Should You Feed Your Alaskan Malamute?
Although it’s advisable to free-feed a younger Alaskan Malamute puppy due to its rapid growth and developmental needs, monitoring is essential to prevent issues like hyperglycemia or bloating.
Upon reaching four months, your Alaskan Malamute puppy should transition to four equal meals a day and then eventually adjust to thrice-a-day feeding as it matures to maintain its normal bodily functions.
Given the lower metabolic rate and decreased activity level of senior Alaskan Malamutes, a twice-a-day feeding regimen can be adequate to prevent them from experiencing unnecessary weight gain.
The table below summarizes how often to feed your Malamute dog breed:
| Age | Feeding Frequency |
| 0 – 12 weeks | Free feeding or four times a day |
| 4 – 12 months | Four times a day |
| 1 – 6 years | Three times a day |
| 7 years and above | Two times a day |
You may also notice that how often to feed a Malamute is more frequent than those of smaller dog breeds.
This is because the large stature of these dogs requires more cups, and they may also be prone to bloat, even as adults. Dividing their daily caloric intake into an equal number of feedings a day is much safer.
How to Transition Your Alaskan Malamute to a New Food
Transitioning to a new food is unavoidable for your Alaskan Malamute. This can be for various reasons, such as advancing from their puppy years to the adult stage, being bored with the current food, or due to certain health concerns.
When such a need arises, it’s crucial to ensure a smooth transition from the current to the new pet food to avoid any gastrointestinal discomfort or other digestive issues.
This smooth transition can be achieved by gradually modifying the ratio of old and new food you feed over a span of time until your Malamute pup or adult fully adapts to the new dietary routine.
Here’s a suggested seven-day transition outline recommended by the American Kennel Club (AKC):
| Day | Old Food | New Food |
| Day 1 – 2 | 75% | 25% |
| Day 3 – 4 | 50% | 50% |
| Day 5 – 6 | 25% | 75% |
| Day 7 | 0% | 100% |
If you are welcoming a Malamute puppy into your home from a breeder, it’s a wise move to inquire about the brand of puppy food and the feeding amount the breeder has been giving.
This information will help you to better transition your dog into the best type of food for your Alaskan Malamute.
With my years of handling dogs, one of my habits, whenever I need to switch to a different type of dog food or other types of diet, is to check and monitor the dog’s stool consistency and skin condition.
When I observe loose stools, my immediate response is to introduce probiotics to my dog’s diet to facilitate a better digestive environment. Yet, if the issue extends or skin rashes emerge, I seek veterinary help immediately.
Tips on Feeding an Overweight Alaskan Malamute
Feeding large dogs like Alaskan Malamutes can be tricky. Sometimes, because they’re big, people might feed them too much, leading to weight issues.
Additionally, a non-working Malamute might even have a stronger tendency to gain more weight due to lower activity levels.
It’s smart to check your Malamute’s weight or build to see if it’s healthy. You can do this by looking at a body condition score chart.
If your dog is overweight, it’s important to act quickly to help them get back to a healthy weight.
Here are some steps to help your overweight Alaskan Malamute lose weight:
- Watch the diet: Whether you’re giving your dog dry food, wet food, raw food, or home-cooked meals, keep an eye on the calories. Lower the calories little by little until your dog reaches a healthier weight.
- Limit treats: Treats are good for training, but giving too many can lead to weight gain. Make sure treats are a small part of your dog’s daily food, not extra.
- Choose high-quality dog food: Switch to high-quality dog food that’s packed with good nutrients but not high in calories. Make it a habit to read labels and check the quality of food your dog eats. This way, it gets what it needs without eating a huge amount of food.
- Talk to a nutrition expert: It might be helpful to talk to a pet nutritionist. They can give you good advice on the right food and diet plan to help your Malamute lose weight while staying healthy.
By keeping a close watch on your dog’s diet, exercising together, and maybe getting some professional advice, you can help your Malamute get to a healthy weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know If I’m Feeding My Alaskan Malamute Enough?
Determining the right amount of food for a typical Malamute can be gauged in several ways.
One method is to compare the amount you’re currently feeding your dog with the suggested quantities indicated in this article’s feeding charts. Adjusting the portions can help meet your dog’s daily calorie needs.
Moreover, you can also evaluate your Malamute’s body condition score. If you notice the ribs, backbone, and hip bones are overly prominent, with an obvious lack of body fat and muscle, it’s likely your dog is underfed.
Lastly, a trip to the vet can provide a precise assessment regarding any undernourishment issues. They can provide tailored advice, ensuring your Malamute receives the proper nourishment moving forward.
Why Is My Alaskan Malamute Not Eating?
If your Alaskan Malamute shows a lack of interest in its food or is facing a stressful situation, it might not have any appetite to eat. However, this isn’t usually a cause for alarm.
You might consider blending dry kibble with canned food, venturing into raw food diets, offering tasty dog treats, or switching to various dog food brands to bring back your Malamute’s enthusiasm and appetite.
Nevertheless, if your dog’s decreased appetite comes along with symptoms like lethargy, vomiting, or diarrhea, consult with a veterinarian without delay. These signs could indicate a more serious health issue that needs attention.
Can I Feed My Alaskan Malamute With Human Food?
As omnivores, it is normal Malamute behavior to enjoy a variety of human-grade meats, fruits, and vegetables.
These foods can be offered in diverse preparation methods. They might be provided raw or as tasty home-cooked meals.
Yet, be mindful that not all human foods are appropriate for dogs. Certain foods contain ingredients that could be harmful to your Malamute.
Therefore, it’s vital to thoroughly investigate the contents of any food you intend to share with your furry companion.
Do Alaskan Malamutes Eat a Lot?
Although Alaskan Malamutes are famous for their huge size, they are also quite known to have picky eating habits and refuse to eat a lot. Hence, the amount of food they consume is just right for how big they are.
Hence, when it comes to feeding Malamutes, ensure that the food available to them is nutrient-dense. Dishing out aromatic and palatable food at mealtimes to maintain their strong appetite is also advisable.
Can Alaskan Malamutes Eat Bones?
Similar to other dogs, Alaskan Malamutes can eat bones, but with caution. Bones must be served raw so that it is safe for them to eat.
Cooked bones might crack, and its sharp edges may cause internal damage to your Malamute’s gastrointestinal linings.
In addition, a dog feeding on raw bones will benefit from its high concentration of calcium and phosphorus. It also promotes dental and gum health, as well.
We hope this article has been helpful in guiding you on how to feed your Alaskan Malamute. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please don’t hesitate to comment below.
