


But there are rough guidelines by which you can calculate the perfect amount of food: In addition, dog food manufacturers often put very generous portion sizes on their packaging to sell more and cover all dog breeds and sizes. Obviously, there are many factors which influence how much food a dog needs. Calculating the right amount of food for dogs Dogs that are fed dry food don’t really eat less. In the end, however, the body regulates the actual amount of food by drinking and excreting. A dog’s stomach can digest a much larger amount of wet food at once – up to four times as much as with dry food. If your dog mainly only eats dry food, he’ll need to compensate for this by drinking water. Always keep a close eye on how much and what you feed your dog during the day. So if, for example, you regularly give him treats when going for a walk or let him gnaw on a chewing bone on the way to the vet, the need for “normal” dog food will decrease. Supplementary feeding or fixed mealtimesĪlways remember that everything your dog eats satisfies his energy balance. What does the packaging say about the energy density of the dog food? Find out about the individual ingredients in the food at BARF or cook your dog’s food yourself. The biggest source of energy is fat, followed by carbohydrates and proteins. The so-called energy density of the food depends on the amount of nutrients it contains. So, observe carefully and consider how much food your dog now needs under the new circumstances.Ĭharacteristics of the food Energy content If you keep feeding him the same amount, he could easily become overweight.

Therefore, it can happen that your dog needs less energy after castration. CastrationĪ fertile dog has a different hormonal and metabolic balance than a neutered dog. It’s best to talk to your vet about calculating the ideal amount of food for your sick dog. In other cases, the body needs more energy than when it’s healthy. For some illnesses like diarrhoea, a diet is medically advisable. When we’re sick, we often eat less – especially if the illness is gastrointestinal. These are found, for example, in fish fats such as cod liver oil or salmon oil, in animal fats such as beef tallow or lard, or in vegetable oils such as olive and linseed oil.
PUPPY ADULT WEIGHT CALCULATOR SKIN
In order to survive this time in spring and autumn, the dog needs different food than usual to support coat and skin generation: you should increase the amount of essential fatty acids. Change of coatĪ change of coat is physically demanding for a dog. If puppies don’t eat, this can be for a variety of reasons. Make it easier for your puppies to start their lives with a healthy diet. Age of the puppyĪs previously mentioned, young dogs need a lot of nutrients and vitamins to help them grow. The necessary amount of food can then increase by up to 30%. The exact requirements depend on how many puppies she’s having. However, you should only provide more food than before from the 4th week of pregnancy. Accordingly, the energy requirements of the dog increase. If your dog is pregnant, new little bodies are growing inside her. Special factors in calculating the ideal amount of food Pregnancy The energy requirements due to physical activity are closely related to age, height and weight. Does your dog romp around all the time? Does he run or bark a lot? Then he’ll eat more than quiet dogs who see getting out of bed for a walk as torture. The individual character of your dog plays an important role when calculating the perfect amount of food. It’s best to implement an increase or reduction in food in consultation with the vet. However, you must always make sure that your dog is still getting sufficient nutrients. If the dog is underweight, you should increase the amount of food you can put overweight dogs on a diet. If you can feel his ribs and spine but they’re not overly conspicuous, then your dog is at an ideal weight.

Whether your dog is overweight or underweight is best felt on the dog’s back. A large body has to supply more cells with energy than a small one. Probably the most obvious deciding factor in terms of the right amount of food because you can tell by the size of your dog whether he needs a lot. Similar to people, their energy requirements decrease because they’re not that active anymore. Puppies need a lot of energy because they’re growing. But what exactly are the factors that determine how much food a dog needs? Characteristics of the dog Age You already suspect that a little Yorkshire Terrier eats less than a large St.
