Online Community Discuss How Dog Owners Can Find The Right Amount Of Food For Their Beloved Fur Babies

People have varying opinions about the amount dog owners should give to their pets.

May

• Published in Animals
• December 3, 2022

Just like humans, dogs come in all shapes and sizes. While some breeds are known for their hearty appetites, others seem to be able to live off of scraps.

So, how do you know how much food your dog needs? Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The amount of food your dog needs will depend on factors such as age, activity level, and metabolism.

However, there are a few general guidelines that can help you ensure that your dog is getting enough to eat. For example, most experts recommend toy dog breeds have four to six meals a day for the first three months.

As for medium-breeds and large breeds, they need three meals and three to four meals in a day, respectively. If your dog is very active, it may need more calories than a couch potato dog.

And finally, different breeds have different calorie needs. For example, toy breeds like Chihuahuas generally need fewer calories than giant breeds like Newfoundlands.

Ultimately, the best way to determine how much food your dog needs is to talk to your veterinarian and make adjustments based on your dog's individual needs.

And if you want to hear other people's opinions, look at this Quora thread we've compiled. Community members provided their opinions and advice about finding the right amount of food for dogs.

The question

How do you find the right amount of dog food for your dog?

Vets will suggest the best calorie count for your dog.

I asked my vet how many calories per day my Pibble should be consuming. In the winter time it goes down about 40 calories per day, but it depends on the age and breed of the dog.

Ask your vet for a daily calorie count. Then, look at the k/cal on your dog food, and divide the daily calories by three.

That will give you an accurate idea of how much dog food to use for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Don't forget to factor in treats, too!

Weight is a factor in determining the amount of food.

For either a dog or cat, you must know the dogs actual or desired weight. For accuracy this weight should be obtained by a pet clinic. Every food bag contains a chart which gives pet weight and how much food per day should be fed.

Most if not all smaller pets should be fed twice a day. Make certain to divide the daily amount of food by 2.

Don't always trust what it says on the dog food bag.

These three things are the wrong way to judge the correct amount.

what it says on the dog food bag. They are trying to sell dog food and don't know enough about your dog

any absolute weight recommendation, like “A Lab should weigh 70 pounds. “

Your dog's appetite. It's normal for a dog to wolf down its food and then act still hungry.

The one and only way to gauge the correct amount of food is to carefully measure it every time and keep track of the feel of your dog's body. You should be able to feel its ribs about as easily as you can feel your finger bones on the back of your hand. No rolls of fat around his neck, no fat pad above his tail or between his front legs and he should have a distinct waist.

The most important thing is to give them high-quality food.

Most of pet lovers may get into the troubles about their dog’s health, and one of the best ways to keep dogs healthy is to feed them the right amount of a high-quality dog food. Feeding your dog too much or not enough can have certain health consequences.

Before you feed your dog, the following factors you may need to take account when determining exactly how much your dog should be eating.

The correct meal size depends on factors like: type of food, number of meals, body weight, metabolic rate, amount of exercise.

A feeding guide shared by a user

To start the process, take a look at the feeding guide on your dog food’s label. They are usually presented as a table that looks something like this:

The user further explains the table above.

Unless stated otherwise, these amounts give you the total that is recommended for your dog over a 24-hour period.

Most adult dogs should eat two meals a day, and puppies often require three or more feedings, so you’ll need to divide the amount in the table by the number of meals you are offering.

Two methods of giving food to dogs

Here I’d like to show you two main methods, both of which have their own benefits and drawbacks.

1. Free Feeding

Free feeding is when you fill a bowl and leave it out for your pet, allowing her to eat as much as she chooses when she chooses to. This method works best with dry foods, since they do not spoil as quickly as wet dog food.

One of the obvious advantages of free choice feeding is that you do not have to worry about making it home in time for meals, a challenge for people with very busy schedules or who are confined to the vagaries of commuter traffic.

Also, if pets were given the option, it seems apparent that they would choose to have food available whenever they wanted it. It could also serve multiple pets' needs, since they would be able to eat from the same bowl throughout the day.

Of course, there are disadvantages. One being that in multiple pet homes, one pet might hoard and bully over the bowl, not allowing the others to have a turn. There is also the risk of the animal becoming overweight from eating too much. Some breeds of cats and dogs are particularly known for eating well beyond the feeling of fullness.

2. Scheduled, Portion Controlled Feeding

If you have a predictable enough schedule that you can depend on being home at meal time, the scheduled feeding method works well and is the healthier method, since it limits the amount of food your dog is taking in at each meal.

There are variations on this method. You might fill the bowl with food and take it away after a reasonable time has passed, allowing the dog to eat his fill. Ten to twenty minutes is generally enough time. Or, you may choose to measure out a portion of food at each meal time and then leave it for your dog to eat at his own pace.

Both methods have pros and cons. The dog owner needs to think about what's best for their pet.

It almost goes without saying that dogs that have been placed on a prescription or weight control diet have to be given controlled portions of food. This method also works well for dogs that need to be given medications mixed with their foods.

For other considerations, such as conditions that might make feeding time a struggle, weight loss that needs to be regained, or illness, measured and scheduled feeding times can allow you the opportunity to monitor your dog, making sure that he is eating all of his food. With scheduled meal times, you can use this time of day to bond with your pet.

A major disadvantage to scheduled feeding is that you will need to feed your pet multiple times during the day. This can be especially challenging when caring for puppies, which even under normal circumstances need to eat smaller and more frequent meals than adult dogs.

If you cannot decide which method will work best for you and your pet, talk to your veterinarian for suggestions or use the Pet Measuring Tape to check your dog’s weight in weekly/monthly. There may be age and breed considerations that you need to consider, or you may want to think about arranging for someone to come into your home to help with the scheduled feedings. There are also mechanical food bowls that can be set to feed your dog small portions at specific times of the day.

In the end, remember not to base your decision solely on convenience, but on the long term health of your dog.

Every dog has its own food requirements.

When it comes to feeding your dog, there is no one-size-fits-all answer.

What works for one dog might not work for another.

The most important thing is to find a food that your dog loves and that fits his or her specific needs.

To figure out how much food your dog needs, start by calculating their weight and dividing that number by their body size.

This will give you a benchmark for how much food your dog should be eating each day.

If your dog is a small breed, such as a Shih Tzu, they might need only half the amount of food as a larger dog, such as a Golden Retriever.

However, you could lookup Dog Food Calculators. Many Pet food services do off this as a way to get you to buy their product. But this does not mean that the calculator is worthless to you.

The breed is a huge factor to deciding the amount of food.

Depends on the breed, their age and their activities.

A user shares excerpts from a book

I know of a dog feeder designed to meter out the proper quantity of food. See below…

This is the title of the book.

Answers to the difficult engineering problems posed in the narrative appear below…

The answers to the problem

Question 1 - Answer (c)

Question 2 - Answer (b)

Good luck

It's still best to ask your vet.

Ask your Veterinarian how many kcal's your dog should have per day. Then read the package and see how many kcal's it had per serving and what constitutes a single serving. Most food labels have an amount based on weight but breed and age also play into the calculation so you are better off asking your Veterinarian.

Some points to remember

How to Find the Right Amount of Dog Food for Your Dog

Consider the Important Factors The correct meal size depends on factors like: Type of food Number of meals ...

Look at the Feeding Guide on the Bag ...

Take Your Dog’s Lifestyle Into Account ...

Consider Using a Calorie Calculator ...

Determine Your Dog’s Body Condition Score ...

Keep a Record of Your Dog’s Weight Change ...

Reassess the Portion Size if You Switch Foods ...

Always Talk With Your Veterinarian ...

This user believes in what's written in the package as well as making the necessary adjustments.

To start off, the amount they need is written on the outside of the package. If they don’t eat that much, give them less. If they eat it all and are always looking for more, feed a little more. If they don’t gain weight inappropriately, adjust as your dog shows you that they need.

Or you can do like I do and free feed- just fill the bowl when it’s empty if your dogs keep a normal weight. I’ve never had a dog that was fat.

Free-feeding is the way to go for this pet owner.

My dog, Max, is free-fed. I fill his bowls (food and water) each morning after they have been thoroughly washed and dried. Some people disagree with this method.

They provide a measured amount of food twice a day. I believe most dogs, in their infinite wisdom, will let you know how much food they need.

A user goes for a simple answer.

If your dog is too thin, feed it more. If your dog is too fat, feed it less. How hard is that to understand.

Some points that can help decide the amount of food to give to your dog.

How to Find the Right Amount of Dog Food for Your Dog

Consider the Important Factors. ...

Look at the Feeding Guide on the Bag. ...

Take Your Dog's Lifestyle Into Account. ...

Consider Using a Calorie Calculator. ...

Determine Your Dog's Body Condition Score. ...

Keep a Record of Your Dog's Weight Change.

Making adjustments depending on the dog's weight is necessary

There are some things you can do to make sure you're feeding your dog the right amount of food. If your dog is overweight, cut back on their food by around 10%. If they're underweight, consider increasing the amount a bit.

You can also monitor how many times a day they eat to see if that changes anything.

If you're like most dog owners, you want to make sure you're giving your furry friend the best possible care – and that includes feeding them a healthy diet. But how much food is the right amount?

It turns out, there's no one-size-fits-all answer to that question. The amount of food your dog needs will depend on different factors. And that's probably why people also have different opinions about it.

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