Working out how much to feed your dog sounds super simple – and it can be. But our pets are all individuals with different metabolic needs, so it’s not always as straightforward as it sounds. Just like people, pets of different ages and activity levels will have completely different requirements. There are, however, a few simple rules to ensure your dog eats the right amount.

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Is my pet a healthy weight?

Firstly, it is crucial to determine if your pet is a healthy weight. There are breed-weight charts available, but these can be misleading. The best way to approach this is by using a standardised body scoring chart. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association has published a chart for dogs. You should aim for your pet to have a body score of 4-5 out of 9. If they are not a healthy body condition, you can address this with the amount and type of food they eat. Most veterinary practices run nurse clinics where you can have your pet weighed and measured and discuss their diet. This can be very helpful if you are unsure what weight your pet should be or if you need extra guidance.

How do I know how much food to feed my dog?

A simple calculation can determine your dog’s resting energy requirements (RER). This is the amount of energy (kilocalories) your pet needs in 24 hours when they are completely at rest:

(30 x bodyweight in kg) + 70 = RER in kcal 

So for a 10 kg dog, that is:

(30 x 10) + 70 = 370kcal/day

The kcal can then be compared to the energy content of the food provided. If a food label shows that it contains 1.2kcal per gram, then divide the RER by the energy of 1g of food:

370kcal / 1.2 = 308g of that particular food per day.

This is a useful calculation that vets use to check if their hospital patients are eating enough. In reality, this is just a baseline energy requirement, and active pets need to eat considerably more. It’s also important to remember that this is the daily intake amount, and the value needs to be split into separate meals. So this dog may receive 2 meals of 150g minimum each day or 3 meals of 100g minimum.

Other calculations do exist which give similar results. The amount calculated can then be adjusted according to activity levels, obesity, growth and other requirements. For example, working dogs may need as much as 2-5 times the RER to meet their energy needs. The Ohio State University gives an excellent example of how the RER can be adjusted according to your pet’s requirements.

Should I read the food labels?

Absolutely. Carefully reading the pet food label is a simpler way to determine how much your pet should eat. It can also be helpful to compare labels with the RER calorie calculation. Most good quality pet food will have a basic feeding guide for pets that are of standard body condition and for those that are under and overweight. You can also assume that a dog with a normal body condition score that is super-active could be fed in line with an underweight pet. A sedentary pet should be fed less than average (or as an overweight pet). Older pets may need to be fed less, and young, growing pets will need to be fed according to their growth stage or projected adult weight.

Look at the pet, not just the label

Once you have worked out a feeding regime, you must check that it suits your pet. Your pet has all the answers, so it is important to monitor them closely. The following questions can give you a clue as to whether you need to increase the amount you are feeding them:

  • Is your pet gaining or losing weight, and do they need to?
  • Is your pet passing normal consistency, healthy faeces?
  • Does your pet have enough energy?
  • Is your pet hungry/asking for food more than usual?

If your pet is losing or gaining weight unintentionally, you may need to alter the amount you feed them. Remember, if you have a working dog, these are athletes and need to be fed as such. Dry foods and working dog diets can help to increase the calorie intake significantly for underweight dogs. Conversely, if your dog is overweight, weight loss diets that help them feel full and less energy-dense wet foods can provide good results.

How many times a day should a dog eat?

Young puppies up to around 3 months should eat approximately 4 meals a day. This should be gradually decreased to 2 meals a day by the age of 9-12 months. Historically, dogs were often fed once daily. But nowadays, we realise that there are potential health risks associated with this, including gastric dilatation and volvulus (bloat). Feeding your adult dog 2-3 times daily can help dogs with digestive issues and can deter them from scavenging. It is also important that you don’t feed your dog for 1-2 hours before exercising, as this can also increase the risk of bloating, particularly in medium to large-breed dogs.

Why is my pet eating more or less than usual?

If your dog is unexpectedly losing or gaining weight, or their appetite has suddenly changed, it is essential to work out why. If their diet is new, you may need to adjust the amount fed to see if that helps. However, if your dog is gaining or losing weight, despite you altering how much they eat, this may be a sign that things are not right. In addition, if your dog’s appetite is suddenly voracious, or has abruptly reduced, consider a trip to the vet. Weight changes and increases in appetite can indicate hormonal conditions such as thyroid disease, Cushing’s disease and diabetes. Whereas decreased appetite might be a sign of gastrointestinal issues, pancreatitis or another illness.

Conclusion

Feeding your dog is absolutely not a one-size-fits-all situation. Each dog must be considered individually according to their body condition score, life stage, activity levels, response to different foods, preferences and other health issues. However, if you create a sensible feeding plan using a good quality, complete pet food, you are heading in the right direction. It is then just a case of tweaking the plan according to your results. And remember, your vet team will be able to assist you if you have any concerns about your dog and how to feed them.

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