Feeding your dog is much more than pouring them a large bowl of dog food. Ensuring your pup’s health and energy means tailoring their proper food portion to suit their breed. Weight, life stage, weight, health and activity level. Your dog needs a complementing portion size to maintain their health.
Determining your mutt’s meal measurement depends on specific factors such as their bread and life stage, and their food’s quality.
You CANNOT give TOO MUCH food or TOO LITTLE.
So, how much dog food to feed to your canine friend? It is crucial to find the right balance. Overeating and malnutrition have their specific drawbacks on your dog’s health. So, to avoid health problems like loss in muscle mass or excess of it, you need to know the correct food portion for your dog.
Follow this guide to understand the quantity of food your four-legged friend needs to stay healthy!
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Table of Contents
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How Much Dog Food to Feed: Understanding the Different Criteria
Three factors that determine how much dog food to feed:
- Portions by weight
- Portions by age
- Portions by breed (We will discuss this in detail later)
These factors govern how much food you will give to a Chihuahua and a 150-pound Great Dane.
It is also important to assess the age of your pet dog. Since puppies grow up fast, their nutritional needs are unique. They need high calories and carbohydrates to facilitate their quick growth. For this reason, puppies require more food than you’d expect to get enough calories in their diet.
We will shortly discuss how much food and how frequently you should feed your puppies or adult dogs.
But first, let’s see how much dog food to feed based on specific criteria.
By Weight
A question that every pup owner thinks-“How much food should I give to my dog?”- As a dog owner you must be curious about the amount of food that your pet needs depending on their weight.
The size and weight of your pup are important considerations when it comes to how much to feed your dog. Here are a few guide pointers:
- Small breeds have smaller stomachs. So, you can feed them less food that is more calorie-dense.
For small puppies try: Size Health Nutrition Mini Ageing 12+, Canine Care Nutrition Exigent Mini, Perfect Digestion Small & Mini Puppy Dry Food,
- Large dogs, and vice versa, need more food. For instance, a 70-pound dog would need 1460 calories per day. Their large stomachs can handle more food at a time.
For large-size breeds try: Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Maxi Adult, Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Medium Adult - 12 Wet Food Pouches – Maryam's Pet
Regardless of their size and breed, you can space out and time meals so your dogs do not overeat in one go. Apart from weight, another important factor regarding how much dog food to feed is age. Let’s see how that governs the food portion.
By Age
Calories are important as you need to consider them as your dog ages- you cannot overfeed them as they might gain weight.
This is especially necessary as they approach their senior years. So, get the best dog food for puppies and seniors.
AVOID overfeeding your dogs as it can cause excessive weight gain. For this reason, low-calorie food is typically the best option for senior dogs as they mature, as long as you’re mindful of your dog’s weight over time to make sure they stay at a healthy weight.
Effects of Malnutrition and Overweight on Your Dog
You must know if your dog has malnutrition or is overweight. So here is a checklist that will tell you to control your diet properly so that they do not suffer from these extreme outcomes:
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Effects of Malnutrition |
Effects of Overweight |
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These diseases not only affect your dog’s lifestyle significantly, it also greatly affects their happiness like osteoarthritis, or ligament ruptures. They can affect their ability to move around, play and have fun.
All you need to do is regulate their food intake with exercise.
How Much Dog Food to Feed My Overweight Dog
When it comes to an overweight dog, it is more about n how much to feed. If your dog is overweight, simply feeding less of their current food could lead to an imbalance or lack of important nutrients. So you need to balance their diet. Here is how much dog food to feed to your canine friends based on their size and age:
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Puppies |
Adult Dogs |
Senior Dogs |
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Feed your puppies 3-4 small meals a day. As your puppy gets older, reduce the number of meals until they are eating 2 meals per day. Feed your puppies high-quality puppy food that is specifically formulated for their growth and development. Feed them until they are full, but not overfed. |
Feed your adult dogs 2 meals a day. You can also feed your dogs once a day. Ensure that they are getting the right amount of food. Try high-quality dog food like Medium Adult Dog Food and Medium Adult Dog Wet Food that has the formulation for their specific needs. Feed your adult dogs until they are full, but not overfed. |
Feed senior dogs 2 meals a day. You can give them a full meal once a day. Give them Senior Vitality Dog Food that has easy-to-digest ingredients. Such dog food is a special blend of ingredients that support brain function, interaction, energy & vitality. |
Knowing how much dog food to feed to your puppies or adult dogs is crucial. But there is another factor. That is the breed.
Your dog breed governs the food they eat. A chihuahua won’t require the same amount of food as a husky - even if they’re the same age.
Food Amount for Different Dog Breeds
Here is a short overview of the amount of food certain dog breeds would need:
Small Breeds
Toy breeds, the tiniest canine companions, are easily recognizable due to their petite size, typically weighing around ten pounds. Examples of popular toy breeds include Pomeranians and Yorkshire Terriers.Give them ⅓ cup of all-natural dog food per day for three-pound dogs and ½ cup for six-pound dogs.
Mid-Size Breeds
Dogs like Boston Terriers and Dachshunds are slightly larger, weighing around 20 pounds. Feeding recommendations for them will vary. You follow this rule: ¾ cup for ten-pound dogs, one full cup for 15-pound dogs, and 1 ⅔ cups for 20-pound dogs.
Medium breeds, like Australian Shepherds and Beagles, can be identified by their weight. 1 ¾ cups for a 30-pound dog is good. For a 40-pound dog, increase it to 2 ¼ cups, and for a 50-pound dog, provide 2 ⅔ cups daily.
Large Breeds
Large dogs like Golden Retrievers or Bernese Mountain Dogs, require more substantial portions. How much dog food to feed them? It could range from three cups for a 60-pound dog to 4 ½ cups for a 100-pound dog.
X-large breeds, exceeding 100 pounds, should receive an additional ⅓ cup of the Breed Health Nutrition Yorkshire Adult for every ten pounds to meet their nutritional needs and support their larger bodies.
Time your dog’s meals. With the right amount of food and plenty of outdoor activities, your dog will be in great health!
FAQs: How Much Dog Food to Feed to Your Canine Friend: A Guide
What are some popular dog food brands in Oman?
The major dog brands that veterinarians frequently recommend include Acana, Hill's Pet, Royal Canin, Canagan and Pedigree.
Is Pedigree a good dog food?
Pedigree dog food has the right balance of vitamins, fibre, calcium and protein thus ensuring it is nutritionally balanced for your dog.
Is Acana a good dog food
This brand has high-quality food for your dog. Acana offers a balanced canine diet, containing all the ingredients your dog needs to thrive.
Conclusion
Determining how much dog food to feed is essential for their overall health and well-being. Follow the guidelines above to strike the right balance and ensure your dog leads a happy and healthy life. Head over to Maryam’s Pet for the best nutrition for your furry friend.
