Figuring out how much food to feed your dog is one of the most basic parts of being a pet parent. Yet it’s also one of the most important. If it were up to our pups, they’d probably keep scoffing until they were sick! But correct portion sizes are vital for keeping your pooch at a healthy weight. Here’s what you need to know.
Factors that affect how much food your dog needs
There are lots of things to consider when working out how much food to feed my dog. These include:
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Age – puppies normally need more calories per kg of body weight than adult dogs, and senior mutts usually need less
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Size – large pooches have to eat more than small dogs and toy breeds (and sometimes require different types of food)
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Body condition – overweight pooches should eat less in order to reach a healthy weight, while underweight pups should consume more. The general advice is to give your pet the quantity of food for their ideal weight, not their current weight
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Organic Reishi Mushroom Powder
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Organic Ashwagandha Powder
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Activity level – working dogs and those who are energetic require more calories to fuel their active lifestyles. If you take long walks or run with your pooch, you should feed them more than if they’re sedentary
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Reproductive status – spayed and neutered mutts need fewer calories because they have a slower metabolism. Conversely, pregnant pups have to eat more to support their puppies’ development
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The food – some types of dog food are more calorific than others, which affects the quantity you should dish up
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Health condition – some medical conditions may affect the amount of grub you should give your pup
Reading the feeding charts on dog food packaging
Almost all brands of dog food will come with a feeding chart or instructions on the label. It’s really important to pay attention to these, because different foods can have very different nutritional values. That means the number of calories in a cup of kibble or wet food may vary quite dramatically.
Start by weighing your dog – your vet can do this on your next visit if you don’t have scales at home. Then check the food packaging to see what the company recommends feeding a pooch of that size. Don’t forget that if your pet is overweight or underweight, you need to dish up the quantity of food recommended for their target weight instead. The chart might also have sections for different life stages and activity levels, so choose the most appropriate categories.
Remember that labels usually display the total amount you should give your mutt in a day, not per meal. Divide this by the number of times you feed your pet to find the correct quantity to dish up.
If you feed your pup more than one type of food (e.g. wet and dry), you need to take this into account as well. As an example, you could give them 50% of the daily recommended quantity of two foods. Treats count too, so make sure you factor those into your calculations!
Do I need to give my puppy special puppy food?
Puppies have different nutritional requirements than grown-up mutts. This affects both how much food you should feed your puppy and the type of grub you should give them. They require more calories and protein than adult dogs, as well as more calcium and phosphorus to aid bone development. Most puppy foods are also richer in omega-3 fatty acids to support their growing brains. Because of this, it’s crucial to give young pooches special food for puppies rather than varieties for adults.
What about senior dogs?
As your mutt gets older, their nutritional needs change again. For example, their calorie requirements drop as they become more sedentary. They might also need more fibre to support their digestion or added nutrients to care for their joints. All animals age differently, so consult your vet about whether it’s time to transition to senior dog food. If so, make the switch gradually to avoid triggering tummy troubles.
Why it’s important to get canine portion sizes right
Feeding your pup the correct amount of food is crucial for many reasons. First, it keeps them happy by making sure they don’t feel hungry or uncomfortably full. But more than that, it’s central to their health.
If you don’t give your pet enough food, they’re at risk of nutritional deficiencies. Over time, this can lead to muscle loss, weaken their immune system, and leave their coat dull and dry. Lack of food might also affect your pooch’s behaviour, making them scavenge for scraps or feel lethargic. In severe cases, malnourishment could be fatal.
These days, it’s far more common to overfeed your pet than to underfeed them. In the short term, wolfing down too much grub can result in digestive troubles like bloat and vomiting. Meanwhile, chronic overfeeding is a major cause of canine obesity.
Experts estimate that around 50% of dogs in the UK are overweight or obese.(1) But giving your mutt too much food puts a serious strain on their health. It increases the likelihood of problems like arthritis because of the extra load on their joints. Plus, being overweight forces their organs to work harder, raising the risk of other chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Obesity can also shorten your furry friend’s lifespan and lower their quality of life.
All of which shows just how vital it is to know how much food to feed your dog.
How to tell if you’re feeding your dog the correct amount
So, you’ve read all the advice and decided how much food to feed your dog. How do you know if you’ve got it right? One way is to work out their Body Condition Score (BCS).(2) This is a system that vets use to determine whether a dog is underweight, at a healthy weight, or overweight. It has a nine-point scale that runs from too thin, through ideal, to overweight and then obese. Naturally, you want your pooch to be in the ideal section (point 4 or 5).
A quick way to figure out which category your mutt falls into is to do the following checks:
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Look at your dog from above. Their waist should be a gentle inward curve behind their ribcage. If it goes in sharply, they may be underweight. If there’s no visible waistline or it curves outward, they may be overweight.
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Look at your dog from the side. Their abdomen should slope upwards from the ribcage to the hips. If the slope is sharp and their ribs and hip bones are visible, they may be underweight. If there’s no upward slope or their belly sags down, they may be overweight.
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Run your hands over your dog’s ribs and spine. You should be able to feel the bones through a layer of skin and fat (like knuckles on a flat hand). If the bones are sharp with little padding (like knuckles on a closed fist), they may be underweight. If you have to press firmly to feel the bones at all, they may be overweight.
It’s important to note that what a healthy weight looks like differs between dog breeds. As such, we recommend chatting to your vet for a personalised assessment of your pup’s weight.
How often should I feed my dog?
Knowing how much food to feed your dog is only one part of the equation. You also have to know how many meals to divide that amount into. Once again, the answer depends on factors like your pet’s size, activity level, and age.
Puppies need to eat little and often, because they have smaller stomachs and a faster metabolism. Aim for four meals a day if they’re under 12 weeks old, and then three meals a day until they’re six months old.
Most adult dogs only require two meals a day – one in the morning and one in the evening. However, you may find that active pooches, large mutts, and those with digestive issues prefer to have three meals.
Senior pups usually like to eat smaller portions more frequently, so try offering them three meals a day.
Regardless of how often you feed your dog, be sure to keep the times consistent. A regular feeding routine is good for canine digestion, plus helps to prevent food-related anxiety. And don’t dish up dinner too shortly before or after exercising your pooch, as this can cause digestive troubles.
Wet food vs. dry food: the effect on portion size
The type of meal you’re dishing up has a significant impact on how much food to feed your dog. Most importantly, kibble tends to be denser in nutrients and calories because of its low moisture content. That means you need to give your mutt a greater amount of wet food by volume or weight compared to dry food. Some pet parents therefore find animals feel fuller after eating wet food, even when the calorie content is the same. It also makes it easier to overfeed your pooch when giving them kibble.
Treats, toppers, and the 10% rule
It’s super important not to forget about treats when working out how much food to feed your dog. There are two main points to bear in mind. The first is that any treats, chews, or toppers you give your mutt count towards their total daily calorie limit. As such, you need to reduce the amount of kibble or wet food you dish up accordingly.
The second is that no more than 10% of your pooch’s calorie intake should come from treats. So, if your pet needs 1,000 calories a day, they can only have up to 100 calories in treats. That includes healthy ones!
Fortunately, there are nutritious and low-calorie options you can add to your pup’s meals. These include many of our functional foods, like stress-busting ashwagandha powder and immune-friendly reishi mushroom powder. You only need to use a small amount, so it shouldn’t affect your mutt’s portion sizes.
So… how much food should I feed my dog?
It’s impossible for us to tell you how much food to give your dog without knowing them! You have to consider your pet’s current and ideal weight, activity level, life stage, size, and breed to work out their daily calorie requirements. Then combine this with the information on your pooch’s food label to determine the right amount to dish up. And don’t forget to factor in treats!
Frequently asked questions
Should I feed my dog for their current weight or their ideal weight?
You should feed your dog for their ideal or target weight, not their current weight. For example, if you have a portly pooch who weighs 20kg but ought to be 18kg, give them the amount recommended for an 18kg mutt. However, you shouldn’t reduce their calorie intake by more than 10% at a time. If your pup is very overweight, speak to a vet about how to put them on a diet.
Do neutered dogs need less food?
Yes, neutered dogs need less food because they have a lower metabolic rate and require fewer calories. However, they also often have more of an appetite after the procedure. Together, this means they’re at a greater risk of weight gain. As such, you should reduce the amount you feed your pet by about 30% after neutering. Special foods are available for neutered pooches.
How do I know if I’m feeding my dog too much?
Signs that your dog is overweight include having no visible waist, pockets of fat around their shoulders and hips, and ribs that are hard to feel. You might also notice them panting excessively and struggling to keep up on walks. If you’re unsure whether your pet is a healthy weight, check with your vet.
How do I know if I’m not feeding my dog enough?
Signs that your dog is underweight include clearly visible ribs, prominent hip bones and spine, and a very tucked-in waist. You might also notice lethargic behaviour and a dull coat. Again, chat to your vet if you have any questions about your pet’s weight.
