Hello, pet parents! Welcome to my ultimate guide on feeding Pointers.
In this guide, I will cover how much to feed a pointer, how often to feed your pointer, when to feed your pointer, what foods to feed your pointer, what foods to avoid feeding your pointer, and other questions you may have about your pointer’s nutrition.
You can read the article to the end, or go through the table of contents below and jump to the section that answers the questions you have on your mind.
- Pointer Nutritional Requirements
- Factors Affecting The Feeding of a Pointer
- Pointer Feeding Amount
- Pointer Feeding Frequency
- Pointer Feeding Schedule
- The Kind of Food To Feed Your Pointers
- The Food To Avoid Feeding Your Pointer
- When To Transition Your Pointer From Puppy Food To Adult Food
- Why Your Pointer Is Not Eating
- Why Your Pointer Is Always Hungry
- Frequently Asked Questions on Feeding A Pointer
- Final Thoughts
Pointers are athletic dogs that were bred for hunting, they are known for their adaptability, gentle nature, and obedience. These traits have endeared them to the hearts of pet parents all around the world.
Pointers possess an athletic muscular build as a result of breeding. Given that they are active dogs, they will require the right nutrition and in order to maintain their muscular texture. They can also become obese and develop health problems if they’re not properly fed the right nutrition.
I have created this ultimate guide to feeding your Pointers to curious and new pet parents to solve your dog’s nutrition problem.
Let’s jump into the article.
Pointer Nutritional Requirements
Pointers are medium sized dogs that require the right nutrients in their specific amount to grow healthy. Like other dog breeds, if some of these nutrients are present in excess amounts or less, it would end up endangering the overall health of your dog.
Your Pointer meal when they are in their growing phase should majorly consist of 22-32% protein, adults 26% protein, 10-25% fats as puppies, and as adults 5.5% fats; fiber, carbohydrates, multi-vitamins, and minerals.
Your Pointer’s feed should contain adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals for a healthy immune system and bones. Its source of fiber should come from wholesome vegetables from broccoli, carrots, cabbage, and sprouts, while its source of protein must come from animal flesh like fish, chicken, turkey, beef, and organ meat. Its source of fat must come from vegetables and fish oil.
Nutritional Requirements for a Pointer Puppy
The diet of a pointer puppy should consist of 10% protein, 10-15% fat, and 6% fiber. Puppies have a faster metabolism and tend to have an adequate quantity of quality to grow into healthy dogs.
Nutritional Requirement for Adult Pointer
An adult Pointer’s diet should include 26% protein, 16% carbohydrates, 5.5% fat, and 3% fiber. At this stage, pointers are most active and will need protein and carbohydrates to maintain optimal muscle mass and energy levels.
However, you should avoid overfeeding your pet at this stage because pointers are prone to obesity, which can lead to a host of other health problems.
Nutritional Requirement For Senior Pointer
At this stage of your dog’s life, it is less active than at other stages. Your pet’s food at this stage of life should ideally consist of 26-32% protein, 5.5% fat, and fiber. Senior pointers will need more minerals and vitamins in their food to keep their immune system and bones healthy.
Factors Affecting The Feeding of a Pointer
There are some factors that will affect the diet of your pointers, such as the size of the breed, its age, its activity level, and its underlying health conditions.
Let’s take a quick look at those factors before we jump into the quantity of food to feed your dog.
Size consideration
The average length of a pointer male is 58–64 cm, and that of a female is 53–59 cm, from the sole of its feet to its shoulder. The weight of a pointer male is 25–32 kg, and that of a female is 20–27 kg.
Male pointers are bigger than female pointers, which will make them need more calories than females to get to their optimum health.
Age consideration
Age is an important factor when it comes to pointers; as adults, they are at their most active and will require more energy-giving food and less protein than the puppy stage.
Puppies are fed more calories than adults due to their faster metabolism, and seniors are fed fewer calories than other stages because they are relatively inactive. Feeding those excess calories can lead to being overweight and other complicated health problems.
Activity Level
Pointers were bred for hunting, and they are very active dogs that require more calories than the average dog. Pointers are most active if they are fed the quality nutrients needed to maintain their solid structure and muscles. Cheap and low-quality foods that are filled with fillers will seriously affect your dog’s health.
Health Consideration
Pointers are prone to certain health conditions, which should be taken into consideration in their diets if you wish to manage or prevent those issues.
Some health issues that affect your dog breed include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, hereditary sensory neuropathy, spinal muscle atrophy, deafness, and retinal dysplasia.
Some of these health issues can be prevented or controlled by feeding your dog the right food and following strict guidelines when feeding them.
If your pointer is fed low-quality feed, which is usually the cheapest, it may cause some of these issues in your pet, and feeding your pet quality feed will help prevent diseases that are not related to their genetics.
Pointer Feeding Amount
Your Pointer, just like any other dog breed, will require different amounts of food according to their stage of development. According to nutritional requirements, the amount of food required by a puppy differs from that required by an adult.
On average, feed your puppy pointer 0.5 to 2.75 cups of food that has 654 to 1670 kcal per day; feed your adult pointer 2 to 5 cups per day that has 1,077 to 1501 kcal per day, according to their activity level; and feed your senior pointer 2.25 to 2.75 cups per day that has 1077 to 1501 kcal per day.
I will provide you with charts below to help you plan your dog’s meals from its puppy years to its senior years. However, this meal plan is not one-size-fits-all. It’s just a general guideline that should be followed based on your dog’s needs and recommendations from your vet or dog nutritionist.
How Much Should You Feed Your Puppy Pointer?
For your puppy and adolescent to grow into healthy adults, the meal should be high in protein and low in fat, which can be obtained from animal meat.
Puppy pointers should be given 0.3 to 0.6 cups of food per day that contains 220 kcal to 605 kcal of nutrients based on their age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.
The feeding requirement of your puppy is given in detail in the charts below:
| Age | Daily FoodQuantity (Cups) | Kilocalories(per day) | Protein | Fats |
| 2–3 months | 0.5 – 1.33 | 654 – 1299 | 22- 32% | 10-25% |
| 4 – 5 months | 1.5– 2.33 | 1299 – 1458 | 22- 32% | 10-25% |
| 6–8 months | 2 – 2.33 | 1458 – 1670 | 22-32% | 10-25% |
| 9-11 months | 2.5-2.75 | 1566-1670 | 22-32% | 10-25% |
| 12-18 months | 2.75-5.25 | 1670-1876 | 22-32% | 10-25% |
Following the above guidelines will aid in bone development and muscle growth, as well as strengthen their immune system to combat common bacteria and viruses that can cause health complications.
How Much To Feed Your Adult Pointers?
The nutritional requirements of an adult Pointer differ from those of a puppy. The food of a mature Pointer should have a lower percentage of proteins and fats to prevent obesity. This is done by reducing the feeding frequency to two times per day.
A mature and adult Pointer should be given 0.75 to 2.75 cups of food per day that contains 1125 to 1575 kcal of nutrients based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.
The chart below will give you an understanding of the daily consumption needs of an adult Pointer and help you with their meal plan.
| Age | Daily Food Quantity(Cups) | Kilocalories(Per Day) | Protein | Fats |
| 1.5–7 years | 2.5 – 5 | 1077 – 1501 | 26% | 5.5% |
How Much Should You Feed Your Senior Pointer?
Senior pointers are generally less active than their younger counterparts due to their fragile bones and joints. This means their meals will contain lesser quantities of calories, protein, and fat.
Geriatric pointers are often plagued with health issues, which can be controlled by feeding your senior dog more vitamins and minerals to help revive the weak immune systems and fragile bones.
Senior and geriatric pointers should be given 0.5 to 2 cups of food per day that contains 900 to 1000 kcal of nutrients based on their age, weight, size, gender, and health issues.
The table below gives you some details about the meal plan for older Pointers.
However, you must still ensure that they get the essential nutrients they need.
| Age | Daily Food Quantity(Cups) | Kilocalories(Per day) | Protein | Fats |
| 8 years and above | 2.25-2.75 | 1077– 1501 | 26-32% | 5.5% |
You can continue giving your senior Pointer the same food you gave them as an adult, only in smaller quantities as they don’t need as many calories as adult dogs. However, you should still consult your vet or pet nutritionist to be on the safe side.
Pointer Feeding Frequency
Your pointer’s meal frequency will vary the same as the feeding amounts, which are largely dependent on its age. Below is a list of how often to feed your pointer:
How Often Should You Feed Your Pointer Puppy?
• During the weaning process or at 8 weeks old and below: feed them four times a day at equally spaced intervals.
• 8 weeks to 3 months old: feed them four times a day at equally spaced intervals.
• 4 months to 12 months old: gradually transition to feeding them three times a day with equally spaced time intervals
How Often Should You Feed Your Adult Pointer?
You should feed your adult Pointer twice a day, with a 12-hour interval between meals. One in the morning and one in the evening is ideal.
How Often Should You Feed Your Senior Pointer?
You should feed your senior Pointer two times a day except given a specific schedule by a vet.
Pointer Feeding Schedule
• Pointer puppies should be free-fed or fed in the morning, afternoon, evening, and night due to a faster metabolism in comparison to their adult colleagues
• Adolescent Pointer should be fed in the morning, afternoon, and evening to help them transition properly into an adult.
• Adult and Senior Pointer should also be fed in the morning and in the evening unless stated differently by your vet or pet nutritionist.
As a general rule, you should feed your pointer a few hours before going to bed in the evening, so they have enough time to digest the food before going to sleep.
In total, we shouldn’t spoil our companions with treats as they may grow too attached to them. Treats should be heavily used as a reward when training your dog. Feeding them too many treats will lead to obesity, and it may lose its effectiveness in training.
The Kind of Food To Feed Your Pointers
The food you feed your pointer should specifically cater to medium breeds and contain the required nutrients necessary for a strong and healthy dog.
The kind of food to feed your Pointer includes dry dog food, wet dog food, a home-cooked diet, and biologically appropriate raw food to ensure your dog eats a balanced diet.
Let me touch on these few points to help you understand what to feed your dog:
Dry Food: Dry dog or kibble is a portion of commercial pet food made by grinding and mixing up ingredients like meats, grains, and nutritional additives, which are then shaped into little kernels and cooked at high temperatures to remove the water content. Dry dog contains more carbs, less fat, less water, and sometimes less protein, and is often recommended by vets due to its lower cost, dental health benefits, convenience, weight loss support, and playtime perks.
Wet Food: Wet dog food, or canned food, is made by mixing up and cooking the ingredients before adding or extracting varying amounts of water. Unlike dry dog food, wet dog food contains more water, fewer carbs, more fat, and often more protein. They are recommended by veterinarians due to their high water content, taste, ease of eating, and high nutritional profile.
Home-Cooked Diet: Home-cooked diets are a great option for pet parents who are not into commercial dog food and want to go the extra length to prepare a meal for their furry companion. Feeding your dog a home-cooked meal gives you control over its nutrition and can put your mind at ease knowing that you are always providing the best care for your dog.
BARF diets are used as a substitute for processed foods with preservatives. However, consult your vet before feeding your pet a raw diet to avoid health complications from harmful substances.
The Food To Avoid Feeding Your Pointer
We should take caution before giving whatever food we’re eating to our pointer. They have large appetites, which makes it tempting to hand them whatever we find ourselves eating.
There are certain human foods, fruits, and vegetables to avoid feeding your Pointer because these foods contain toxins that are harmful to your pet that could lead you to frequent trips to the vet.
Human foods to avoid feeding your pointer include chocolates, coffee, gum, peanut butter, candies, cooked bones, etc.
Fruits and vegetables to avoid feeding your Pointer include grapes, avocado, garlic, onions, etc.
You should always check the ingredients on the food label to see if these ingredients are present in the food. Or you can simply consult a vet or pet nutritionist to check the ingredients with them.
When To Transition Your Pointer From Puppy Food To Adult Food
You should transition your Pointer puppy from puppy food to adult food when he’s around 10–12 months old.
Transitioning your adolescent Pointer from puppy food to adult food is an important stage in your dog’s development. Puppy food contains more calories and nutrients than adult food to meet the nutritional requirements at this stage of life.
Transitioning needs to be gradual by introducing adult feed bit by bit until you get to 100% adult feed.
However, feeding your adult puppy food will fill them with more protein and fat than their body requires and will lead to obesity due to the high fat content the body doesn’t need for optimum growth.
Why Your Pointer Is Not Eating
Your pointer will not eat if it has one or a combination of the factors listed below:
Illness, dental problems, teething, medication, spoiled food, stress, and picky eaters
Pointers are big eaters; if for any reason your dog is refusing to eat consistently, it may be a sign of an underlying illness or dental problem. A big indication of dental problems is bad breath. If this happens for two or three days and your dog is not drinking water, you should see the vet immediately.
Why Your Pointer Is Always Hungry
Pointers have a fast metabolism and are big eaters. If your pointer is very active, then it will most likely be hungry. However, with strict training and planned feeding, this tendency can be controlled. You should avoid free-feeding your pup to avoid obesity, which can lead to health problems.
An alternative reason might be if your dog is engaged in too many exercises, is under stress, or is infected by worms; if your dog is in any of these categories, then it may be why they are always hungry.
Frequently Asked Questions on Feeding A Pointer
Do pointers eat a lot?
Can pointers become vegetarians?
If you are taking your dog on a vegan diet, then ensure that meals contain micronutrients that may not be present in a vegan diet.
You should consult your vet or pet nutritionist while planning your vegan meals to ensure your pointer does not encounter any health complications.
Can pointers eat bones?
However, you ensure that bones fed to your dog are disposed of after two to three days to prevent infection. Some guidelines concerning this have been stipulated by the American Kennel Club.
What human food can I feed my pointer?
What Fruits and Vegetables Can I Feed My Pointer?
Should You Give Your Pointer Supplements?
Final Thoughts
Pointers are strong, energetic pets that would make adorable pets for their lucky pet parents. Due to their athletic build and tendencies, they have to feed on the best type of nutrition they can thrive on in order to grow strong and healthy.
Options such as dry, wet, raw, and homemade diets are all great for them. As a puppy, you can free-feed your Pointer, but as it grows, you must adhere to a strict diet plan. It is also essential to know what foods are healthy and should be avoided, as some are toxic.
However, if you desire more information on how to take care of your Pointer, you should contact the nearest vet for information on essential nutrients, and you can also see a pet nutritionist for a regimen schedule for your pet.
