If you have not tailored your dog’s nutrition to consider variables such as their age, level of physical activity, metabolic rate, and others, you might observe notable enhancements in your dog’s health and well-being by modifying their diet to address these requirements.
Regardless of the types, whether you feed your dog raw pet food or kibble, the secret lies in the amount that you feed your pet over the course of a day.
Why The Right Amount Of Dog Food Matters
The reason why the right amount of dog food matters is simple. If your dog is fed too little, he might be at risk of nutritional deficiencies. If you give too much dog food, your dog will suffer from obesity and other related health issues. These health-related issues include, and are not limited to the following:
- Labored breathing
- Epidermal issues
- Cancer
- Cushing’s disease
- Congestive heart failure
- Decreased life expectancy
- Degraded Quality of life
- Musculoskeletal issues
How To Find The Right Amount Of Dog Food For Your Dog
Consider The Essential Factors
The appropriate meal size suitable for your pet depends on the following factors.
- Frequency of meals
- Bodyweight
- Rate of Metabolism
- Type of food diet
- Amount of exercise
- Energy requirements
- Activity level
- Dog’s age
Check The Feeding Guide On The Bag
The feeding guide on the dog food’s label holds great importance. As you start the process, have a good look at the guide provided which is usually presented on a table calculation. This feeding guide table gives you the recommended total number of cups to be given to your dog in a 24-hour interval.
As for the age, most older dogs regardless of their breeds should be given an average of two meals a day, while puppies need an average of three or more foods a day, you have to divide the particular amount stated in the table by the number of meals you administer to your dog breed.
Take Your Dog’s Lifestyle Into Account
Coming up with the initial amount of food to feed your dog, you should combine the feeding information with the knowledge of your dog’s lifestyle. For example, if you have a 95-pound Rottweiler (originally bred as a guard dog) that lives a quiet sedentary lifestyle and has a high tendency to gain weight, you might want to reconsider giving your dog a little less than their meal tables suggest. Subsequently, if your dog is an active 55-pound labrador that cannot sit still for a moment, then you should think of giving your dog a little more. This practice will more likely maintain a healthy weight for your specific breeds.
Use A Dog Food Calculator
Using a dog food calculator would definitely cut the work for you. Considered as another option, you can try using a calorie calculator for dogs to measure the right quantity of food that your dog needs. On the other hand, you should always remember that devices like a dog food calculator give you precise numbers, the actual amount to support your dog’s needs may be lesser or greater than 25%.
Determine Your Dog’s Body Condition Score
Your veterinarian can aid you to understand the implications of your dog’s body condition score (BCS), which is determined through using the body condition scoring system and can help determine the right calorie amount.
Generally, dogs who have healthy body weight when:
- Your dog’s ribs aren’t readily visible but can be felt with light pressure.
- Your active dog has an “hourglass” figure when he is seen from above. That means that his abdomen should be narrower than his hips and chest.
- When seen from the side, your dog should be tucked up where their chest is closer to the ground than their belly if he is standing.
Keep A Record Of Your Dog’s Weight Change
Monitor your dog’s body weight over the course of 2-4 weeks and jot down every result. Whenever your dog’s body weight is gaining or losing, adjust the portion of the meals according to your pup’s weight. You may add or reduce a cup as you feed him on a daily basis.
Reassess The Portion Size If You Shift Foods
Every time you transition from one dog food formula to another, you should be repeating this entire process as the number of calories in the new food isn’t the same as the old one.
Remember To Seek Advice From Your Vet
If you have further inquiries about your dog’s health and diet, you can talk to your dog’s veterinarian. With some professional help, you can determine exactly how much food should you offer to your dog.
Finally, other factors include the treat you give your pets every day. In general, it is ideal that you’re feeding your pet less than 10% of your dog’s caloric intake.
Converting From Calories To Serving Size
In order for you to convert calories to serving size, you should be able to know your pet’s activity level and the ideal weight for him.
The number of calories in a specific amount of dog food is known as its metabolizable energy and is generally written as “calories per cup” or “calories per kilograms.”
When the results discuss that it is the desired amount “for the day,” divide it by how many meals you are planning to give your specific breeds in a 24-hour interval in order for you to yield the optimal growth for your pet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should my dog eat based on weight?
Toy dogs (3-6 lbs) need only 0.50-0.36 lbs of food per day. For small dogs (10-20 lbs), they will need around 1-2 lbs of dog food. For medium dogs (30-50 lbs), 0.45-5 lbs will be needed to sustain them through their daily activities. Finally, large adult dogs (>60 lbs), need 0.90-10 lbs of food per day. [1]
These figures are rough estimates and may not work. You may estimate and try adding up or reducing the amount of food you give to be suitable for your dog’s daily activity, breed, and age.
How do you calculate dog food?
To calculate your pet’s food, you must include his weight and the activity level he has in a day. By using a dog food calculator, suggestions will be made for your pet’s daily food amount in cups or in weight. To give an example, if your pet had a higher activity level he should be fed more amount of food to ensure that your pet won’t go underfed.
How do I know if I’m feeding my dog enough?
You are feeding your dog enough if your dog displays the physical sign of a pet with a healthy weight. This includes a perfect physique with slightly visible ribs and an hourglass shape as seen from above. Feel free to alter the feeding amounts of your pet whenever he needs to gain or lose weight.
Conclusion
As one dog is unique from the other, always make sure to look at the package’s feeding instructions or the suggested amount given by the calculator. Be sure to weigh your pet every few weeks. Then, just adjust the recommended serving size to hit and sustain your dog’s ideal weight.
Furthermore, bear in mind that any treats should be offered as part of the total daily feed allowance, not to supplement it. Also, if you’re planning to feed your dog raw food, take note that the quality of nutrition in a raw diet is such that dog breeds can typically require what appears to be a small quantity of food compared to a processed feed quantity. Canines fed raw typically begin to ‘self-regulate’ and behave more naturally around the food due to their wildlife genes. For further questions regarding your dog’s diet, always consult your vet.
