What You Need To Know About Dog Feeding Guidelines

Published A Few Days Ago
ADVERTISEMENT

How much food should I be giving my dog? Here’s what you need to know about dog feeding guidelines before you ring the dinner bell.

While it might seem like you can trust the feeding guidelines on the back of your dog’s food packaging, this isn’t necessarily the case. The recommended feeding amount can vary wildly from one brand of dog food to the next, so it’s hard to know who to trust. Besides, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to feeding canines: the amount of food your pooch needs will depend on factors such as his age, weight and activity level.

Related:How is Commercial Dog Food Regulated?

So, How MuchShouldYou Be Feeding Your Dog?

In order to determine how much you should be feeding your dog, you need to know his current weigh and the ideal weight for his breed or type. Smaller dogs need more calories per pound than larger dogs, so as a general rule of thumb, small to medium dogs should be fed 1 ½ cups of food per 20 pounds of body weight and large to extra-large dogs should be fed around 1 cup of food per 20 to 25 pounds of body weight. Of course, the exact amount will vary depending on your dog and the nutritional content of the food. If your dog is over his ideal weight, he should be fed slightly less than this amount, whereas if he’s under his ideal weight, he should be fed slightly more. The same goes for exercise; if he’s very active, feed him a bit more, but if he’s fairly inactive, he’ll require less food. If you feel unsure about how much you should be feeding your canine companion, it’s a good idea to consult your vet.

Related:Do I Have A Fat Dog? How To Tell If Your Dog Is Overweight

Monitoring Your Dog’s Progress

The only real way to know if you’re feeding your dog the right amount is to keep an eye on his weight. Try to weigh him each month for a few months, so you can see if he’s staying on track. If he’s maintaining his weight (or losing/gaining weight, if that’s what you’re aiming for), you know you’re feeding him the right amount and you can keep up the good work. If his weight is heading in the wrong direction, you can easily adjust the amount you’re feeding him. To keep things as accurate as possible, make sure you always measure out your dog’s dinner.

What Should You Be Feeding Your Dog?

Not only should you be feeding your dog the right amount of food, you should make sure you’re offering him a high quality food. There aren’t many strict regulations as to what can and can’t be put in dog food (only that the ingredients have to be “generally recognized as safe”) so some brands are far better than others. Low quality foods often contain too many fillers and additives, plus too much salt and sugar, meaning they can be detrimental to your dog’s health. What’s more, since they have an inferior nutritional profile, you may need to feed your dog more of the product, making it more costly than a better quality food in the long run.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

You May Like

5 Cat Hacks to Understand and Treat Cat Hairballs

The sound, the aftermath, the cleanup - cat hairballs are not fun. To minimize the mess, we''ve put together a few cat hacks that''ll help.
How to Care for an Orphaned Kitten

When you find a kitten that''s been abandoned, you instinctively want to care for it. Here''s what you should do if you find a stray kitten.
Goldfish

Goldfish are one of the first species of fish to be domesticated and are also one of the most commonly kept aquarium pets. Peaceful and hardy fish breed.
Benefits Of A Grain-Free Diet For Your Dog

Is a grain-free diet right for your dog? Here’s how to tell if you should go against the grain and make a switch. A grain-free diet for dogs is very mu…
Best Covered Cat Beds

When you want to give your feline friend her own little bed to sleep in, there are plenty of different cat beds to choose from. But have you considered getting her a covered cat bed, in particular? You might be surprised by how much your kitty likes this type of bed. And many cat parents find that it is a great addition to their pet’s collection of beds throughout the house.
Ginger Snaps Dog Treat Recipe

Right now, my kitchen smells better than any air freshener you could buy at Bath & Body Works. It’s all thanks to this new Ginger Snaps Dog Treat Recip…
Regent Parakeet

With their affectionate temperament and energetic and fun behavior, Regent Parakeet will make a wonderful avian companion as well as a loving pet.
California Spangled

California Spangled bred in order to produce a domestic pet that would resemble the appearance of wild cats, such as the leopard and the ocelot.
Best Dog Exercise Pens

Dog exercise pens help keep energetic dogs safe both indoors and outdoors. Easy to store and practical, these dog exercise pens are great to have around!
Adoptable Dog Of The Week – Artimus

If you’re happy and you know it, you need to meet Artimus, our Adoptable Dog of the Week. Artimus is a young male American Staffordshire Terrier mix fr…
English Toy Terrier

The English Toy Terrier is a wonderful dog breed - it is smart and energetic while being loyal and affectionate with its owners.
Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Treat Recipe

What do you do with bananas that are about to turn to the dark side? My latest brown banana went into this Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Treat Recipe.
Turquoise Rumped Parrotlet

A little bird that offers a lot, the Turquoise Rumped Parrotlet might weigh just an ounce, but it has a TON of loveable traits.
Meet Willow, an Aussie Cat Living Her Best Van Life

After selling everything he owns, Willow''s dad remodeled a van into a tiny home on wheels. Since then, the duo has been traveling all around Australia.
Upscale Dog Bowls Let Fido Chow Down Like A Posh Pooch

You a have fine dining set... well, your dog should have one, too! Ceramic never goes out of style, and these chic dog bowls add panache to your dog''s dinner.