If you want to keep your dog healthy, you have to feed it high-quality food in the right amount.
Diet and nutrition are necessary to keep your dog healthy for years to come.
You must have read some statements on the internet or heard from other people. But do you know why it’s essential and how much you should feed your dog? If you don’t have the correct answer, read this blog!
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Why It’s Essential to Feed Your Dog The Right Amount of Food?
If you feed your canine friend too little, it can suffer from nutritional deficiencies. However, if you provide too much, it can lead to obesity and eventually to other health issues, such as:
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Skin disorders
- Cushing’s disease
- Cruciate ligament ruptures
- Reduced quality of life
- Intervertebral disk disease and more
So the right amount of quality food will help your dog’s overall health. So, how much you should feed your puppy or dog.
How Much Should You Feed Your Dog?
Several factors need to be considered to ensure that you feed your dog the right amount of food. It depends on your dog’s age, weight, and health. Let’s discuss them in detail:
Weight – Maintaining optimal body weight is essential for your dog’s overall health. However, if your dog’s weight is not ideal, you may need to adjust your dog’s diet. You can consult with a veterinarian to get your dog’s right weight management formula.
Age – The right amount of food changes as your puppy grows. If you’ve a puppy, it’ll need puppy formula for proper growth, and senior formulas can help your old dog stay active and playful.
Activity Levels – If your dog exercises a lot, it may need more calories to meet its energy levels.
How Much Food Your Dog Requires Depending on Its Weight?
Yes, the ideal amount of food that your dog needs depends on its weight, but food amount is not directly proportional to its weight. Puppies have a higher metabolism rate than large dogs, which means pups need more calories for more energy and proper growth.
You can check the feeding guides printed on the wet and dry food packages to get a fair idea of the food amount you should feed your dog.
However, these guides aren’t 100% correct. Each dog has a different metabolism rate, so the food amount required varies from dog to dog. You can use a feeding calculator or consult a veterinarian to calibrate how much food you should feed your dog.
Food Required At Different Life Stages Of A Dog
As a dog grows, it requires a different calorie intake to stay active and playful and for proper growth. So let’s start with the pregnant and lactating dogs.
Pregnant and Lactating Dogs
The nine weeks of dog pregnancy are divided into three semesters. The first two trimesters of the pregnancy are not very energy-demanding as, during this time, the embryos develop slowly. However, the mother’s nutritional requirement increases during the third trimester due to increased embryonic growth.
It is normal to see a 15% to 20% weight gain throughout the pregnancy, but you must maintain the mother’s optimal body condition. Excessive weight gain can make it difficult for a mother to deliver puppies and significantly reduces puppies’ survival after birth. In contrast, weight loss might lead to weak pups.
In the lactation phase ( between the third and fifth week), the mother requires more energy than a non-pregnant and non-nursing female dog. The energy requirements might increase twofold to fourfold to stay healthy. You must ensure that dog food is constantly available whenever she needs it.
Puppies
Healthy newborn dogs are estimated to gain 5% of their total body weight per day during their first four weeks. Make sure they drink the mother’s milk shortly after being born and during the first few days.
It is essential because the first milk (called colostrum) is very rich in antibodies and will help the puppies fight off disease until they build an immune system.
However, if you’ve adopted a puppy and don’t have access to its mother, you can buy colostrum formula products. Make sure to follow the directions of puppy milk formula properly to avoid harming your puppy.
Young Adults
Dogs are usually considered young adults until they are 5-7 years old. Therefore, make sure to feed your dog a proper diet that’s adequate to their lifestyle.
Feeding them a balanced diet is necessary to set a trajectory for their health in their senior years. You can start by providing 15-20% less than the amount of food suggested by the food manufacturer.
You can gradually increase or decrease the food amount if your dog’s weight decreases or increases. You must weigh your dog monthly to maintain its optimal weight.
Senior Dogs
Senior dogs have more protein and less energy requirement to maintain their lean muscle mass. If your dog has any specific health condition, you can feed them veterinary-approved diets.
Conclusion
Feeding a dog can be confusing for the novice dog owner. If you don’t know about feeding the dog, we request you not to follow the hit and trial strategy.
We suggest you consult with the veterinarian to decide which food and how much amount of food is best for your dog. We hope this blog will help you determine the right food amount for your dog. If you’ve any queries, do let us know in the comment section!
FAQ: How Much Should You Feed Your Dog ?
How Many Times a Day Should I Feed my Dog?
As per the dog food chart, it’s recommended to feed your dog twice a day.
How Much Should Dogs be Fed a Day?
Small Breeds (10-20 pounds): 3/4 cup to 1 1/2 cups per day. Medium Breeds (30-50 pounds) 1 3/4 to 2 2/3 cups per day. Large Breeds: (60-100 pounds) 3 to 4 1/2 cups per day, plus 1/3 cup for every 10 pounds over 100 pounds.
How Many Cups Are in a Can of Dog Food?
A 13-ounce can is 1.625 US customary cups.
How Much Wet Food do You Mix With Dry Dog Food?
There’s a handy measurement table on each bag of kibble. You can choose a dry-to-wet food ratio, but we generally recommend two-thirds dry kibble to one-third wet food.
Should I Feed My Dog Both Wet and Dry Food?
Due to the range of benefits that wet and dry diets boast, a mixed feeding approach can help your dog get the most out of mealtime. Combining damp and dry to their diet can give them some variety, where they are exposed to different textures that they will generally be more tempted to try.
