How many grams can a dog eat per day
How Much Food To Feed Your Dog: Fact Checked By Our Vet
How Much Food To Feed Your Dog: Fact Checked By Our Vet
Written By Eloisa Thomas| Canine Coach, Double M.A in Anthropology.Edited & Fact Checked By Renae Soppe | B.A Journalism & Science.Last Updated: 7th January 2024
Many new dog owners wonder how much food to feed a dog.
Depending on their size, age and activity level, your pup will need more or less food per day. They may even need a different number of servings per day.
Your dogs feeding needs depend on many factors so it isnt possible to give a blanket answer that will work for everyone. But we can try! In attempting to do so, we teamed up with canine nutrition experts to compile this guide.
Here are some simple guidelines you can follow on how much food to feed a dog every day to ensure your dog is getting enough food!
Check out our YouTube video on How Much Food To Feed Your Dog
How Much Should I Feed My Dog?
If youre wondering how much to feed a dog per day by weight, youre on the right track. While there isnt a one-size-fits-all answer, starting with their weight is usually your best bet.
Related:How Much Wet Food Should You Feed Your Dog?Related: How Much Raw Food Should You Feed Your Dog?
In general, the amount you need to feed a dog is related both to their age and their ideal weight. In all cases, you should try to offer your pup the best dog food adapted to their needs. High-quality dog food has all the nutrients your furry friend needs to stay healthy and happy.
PRO TIP:Your dog should eat according to their size, weight, activity level, age and the type of food youre feeding them.
As a rule of thumb, dogs need about 1/3 cup of dry food per day for every 5 kilograms of weight. Keep in mind puppies may need 2x or even 3x as much, depending on the breed and age.
A good starting point is reading the label of your chosen food. Weigh your dog and follow the manufacturers guidelines for a couple of days. If you see your dog leaves food in their bowl or seems hungry even after eating, adjust the quantities as needed.Related:How Long Does It Take For A Dog To Digest Food?
How much should you feed a small dog?
Toy breeds and small dogs eat less food than their larger counterparts. If you have a Chihuahua, Shih Tzu or Pekingese, these are considered toy or mini breeds. Or if you're like me and have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, small Poodle, Boston Terrier or French Bulldogs, then keep in mind that these are small dogs.
Here are some general guidelines on how much food you should give your small dog [2]:
- Mini breeds under 1.5 kilograms need about 1/3 cup or 140 calories per day
- Small dogs around 5 kilograms need around cup or 340 calories per day.
- Dogs that are about 10 kilograms will need 1 cup of dry food per day.
PRO TIP:Small and toy breed puppies are prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels). If left untreated, your puppy will show lethargy, weakness and even seizures. Its very important you offer your small breed puppy several small meals a day to keep their sugar stable. When in doubt, offer a small energy-dense treat like a piece of fruit. Bananas work well!
How much should you feed a large or giant dog?
Medium, large and giant dogs eat a lot of food. However, you should be careful to avoid overfeeding. Your pup will be much healthier if they stay at a healthy bodyweight. According to PetMD, heres how much you should feed your dog:
- Medium dogs, 15 kilograms: 1 cups of dry food per day, or around 780 calories.
- Medium dogs, 25 kilograms: 2 cups of dry food per day, or around 1100 calories.
- Large dogs, 30 kilograms: 3 cups of dry food, or around 1300 calories.
- Giant breeds, 40 kilograms or more: 4 to 4 cups of dry food per day, or around 1800 calories.
Keep in mind your dogs calorie needs may vary as much as 25% more or less than the recommended amount Jennifer Coates, DVM [2]
How Often Should You Feed A Dog?
In general, veterinarians recommend that adult dogs eat 2 meals a day. Larger and giant breeds that are prone to bloat do better eating several smaller meals a day. In that case, a third meal might be the best option.
The amounts showed above are the total food and calories a dog should have per day.
You can break that in as many meals as youd like or as advised by your vet.
Of course, keep in mind that puppies eat more frequently than adult dogs.
PRO TIP:To keep messes at bay, place a plastic dog feeding mat to catch crumbs and debris. Your floors will thank you!
Should Large & Small Breeds Eat The Same Food?
Not really!
Large and small breeds have different metabolisms and health needs. As such, our team of experts note that high-quality dog food for their size offers proper nutrition adapted to those requirements.
Small breed dogs have a fast metabolism and need a diet thats slightly high in calories. On top of that, small dogs have significantly smaller jaws and their kibble should fit their mouths. Just imagine having to eat food the size of a brick, all in one bite! Thats how a small dog feels when you offer regular kibble. I discovered this the same day I brought home my adopted toy poodle. After all, small-bite kibble is designed for small jaws, like his!
Large and small dog breeds have different metabolism and need specific food adapted to their energy needs.
On the other hand, large breed dogs tend to have joint issues and are more prone to bloating. As such, they need food with extra supplements (like glucosamine) and specific calcium levels. Large dog breed food is a little less energy dense than small breed dog food, to fit the slower metabolism of large and giant breeds.
PRO TIP:Large breed puppies need to grow slowly to avoid calcium deficiency and ensure their joints stay strong as adults. When in doubt, its better to slightly underfeed a giant-breed puppy than offer too much food too soon. Talk to your veterinarian to adjust your puppys feeding schedule as needed.
How Much Should I Feed My Puppy?
Puppies grow fast and their feeding needs change daily. If you have the time, weighing your puppy every day will offer a good starting point to calculate how much food to offer. However, most owners dont have the time or the proper scale to weigh their little ones.
When theyre very young, puppies should drink their mothers milk freely. Once the mum starts weaning them, our experts recommend you offer regular puppy food adapted to their adult size. Below youll find how much to feed a puppy based on weight, as advised by veterinarians:
| Daily calorie needs of small breed puppies (based on adult weight) |
| Daily calorie needs of medium-sized puppies (based on adult weight) |
| Daily calorie needs of large and giant puppies (based on adult weight) |
How Often Should You Feed A Puppy?
Wondering whether or not is it ok to feed a puppy twice a day? Here are some general guidelines offered by our expert team of canine nutritionists:
If you have a mama dog with puppies, you can start offering free-grazing puppy food as early as three weeks old. If you feel your puppies are overeating, limit the free-grazing to a couple of hours twice a day.
However, once they are weaned, or if you get a puppy thats 2 months old or older, put food out at regular intervals. In general, four times a day is ideal.
PRO TIP:Stick to regular intervals when feeding puppies. If youre feeding 4x per day, offer food every 6 hours. That probably means youll be feeding puppies late at night and early morning, but it will keep them properly fed and healthy.
When your puppy reaches 4 months old and is starting to teeth, theyll do great eating 3 times a day and should be eating the best puppy food available in Australia. Then, once theyre 6 months old, you can switch them to an adult schedule and offer just 2 meals a day.
How Much Should I Feed A Dog With Specific Health Issues?
These recommendations are general guidelines aimed at healthy dogs. If your pup has other health issues like kidney or liver problems, obesity or gastritis, their meal schedule and food amounts may change.
As long as the dog food is nutritionally complete and balanced and has the AAFCO [Association of American Feed Control Officials] guidelines on it, you'll be fine. Marty Becker, veterinarian at North Idaho Animal Hospital. [3]
Related:What is AAFCO? The Association of American Feed Control OfficialsRelated:What Is the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia (PFIAA)?Related:AAFCO vs PFIAA: Dog Food Standards Comparison AustraliaIn such cases, our team notes that your best option is consulting with a trusted veterinarian. They will evaluate your dog and recommend a feeding plan suited to their needs.
Related: How To Fatten Up My Dog?
PRO TIP:If your dog has special health needs, ask your vet about choosing food tailored to their needs instead of regular food. Nowadays you can find specialty foods created to fit weight-loss plans, sensitive stomachs and even low-sodium diets.
Our Other Must Read Dog Nutrition Articles
Should large and small puppies eat the same food? Whats the difference between small and large dog food?
While small breed and large breed puppies can eat the same food, its best if they dont. The difference between small and large dog food goes beyond the size of the kibble.In fact, small breed dog food is more energy dense created to fuel their fast metabolism. On the other hand, large breed dogs have a slower metabolism and need food with a lower calorie count. If you dont offer the right food and amounts, your small puppy can be underfed or your large pup will grow too fast.Offering your dog high-quality food adapted to their size and metabolism is the best way to ensure a healthy life further down the road.
Can puppies and adult dogs eat the same food?
No.Puppies are growing, and because of that they usually need a calorie-dense diet. If you feed that same food to an adult dog, they will probably gain weight.In addition, puppies also need more calcium than adult dogs. As such, puppy food has specific nutrients (like calcium and vitamin D) to support the growing body of a normal puppy. In contrast, an adult dog eating too much calcium wont absorb it and instead, it can cause constipation.
References
- Are you feeding your dog the right amount?. PetMD. Available here. https://www.petmd.com/blogs/nutritionnuggets/dr-coates/2015/july/are-you-feeding-your-dog-right-amount-32905
- Puppy feeding guide. Nom Nom Now. Available here. https://www.nomnomnow.com/learn/puppy-care/puppy-feeding-guide#puppy-feeding-chart
- Interview with Vet Marty Becker, Author 'Your Dog: The Owner's Manual'. AARP. Available here. https://www.aarp.org/relationships/pets/info-05-2011/interview-marty-becker-veterinarian-author-speaks.html
How Often Should Dogs Eat?
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Among the many questions new and experienced dog owners face is an especially important one. How often should dogs eat? Diet and nutrition are crucial components to keeping your dog a healthy member of the family for years to come.
Though theres no hard-and-fast rule to how often a dog should eat, twice a day is generally a good place to start. However, more important than feeding frequency is meal portion size. Portion size may vary based on breed, age, and health condition, and settling on the right amount can be tricky.
Dog meal delivery services can make it easy to serve your canine companion delicious, nutritious, and appropriately-portioned meals that even humans can eat. Ollie is a service that delivers fresh, human-grade dog food customized for your pups unique nutritional needs. Ollie works with vet nutritionists to formulate a perfect plan specifically for your dog based on weight, breed, and allergies. Plus they make it easy for us humans all of Ollies recipes are pre-portioned and your pup will be set up with their own feeding schedule so you dont have to worry about overfeeding or underfeeding.
What Affects How Often a Dog Should Eat?
Veterinarians recommend feeding a dog at least twice per day. Dogs with medical issues or dietary needs may require specialized feeding schedules or restrictions on what they eat. Talk to your veterinarian about your dogs eating habits to make sure youre meeting their nutritional needs and healthcare requirements.
Breed plays a large role when deciding how often to feed your dog. Common large breed dogs, for instance, will often require more feedings and more calories per day than medium and small breed dogs.Age is also another important consideration. The caloric requirements for a two-month-old Yorkshire Terrier varies greatly compared to a two-year-old Yorkie.
How Much Should Puppies Eat?
A fresh meal servicelike Ollie helps change your feeding approachas your dog changes ages from puppy to adult so you dont have to worry about portions during different life stages.
Since puppies are growing rapidly, they need more food than adult dogs. Puppy nutrition is crucial for developing a foundation for future growth, as well as their bone and organ development. Puppies must have a specific amount of calcium in their diet, otherwise, they can develop metabolic bone disease or orthopedic conditions like early-onset arthritis. Toy-breed puppies, in particular, are prone to hypoglycemia.
Puppies need small, frequent feedings. For the first few months of a puppys life, they will need small meals of food throughout the day as they transition from their mothers milk to solid food. Starting around four months, puppies can begin eating about three times a day, and after that, puppies will quickly graduate to twice-a-day feedings.
Feeding them three or four times per day makes it easier for puppies to digest and help keep energy levels consistent. However, its important to not overfeed them, since overweight puppies are more likely to become overweight adult dogs.
Toy-breed puppies will need 4 to 6 meals per day for the first three months of their lives. Medium-breed puppies will require three meals per day, and large-breed puppies typically need 3 to 4 meals per day. Though the breed is an important consideration, metabolism and energy levels can vary by up to 30 percent. Therefore, youll need to proportion meals accordingly.
Even though puppies grow quickly, its important to keep caloric intake and food amount consistent from four to twelve months of age. Puppies use fewer calories for growth as they become older. This comprehensive puppy feeding chart has vet-recommended guidelines on how much and how often to feed your puppy.
How Much Should Adult Dogs Eat?
Dont let your dog trick you into more mealtimes with adorable puppy dog eyes. Most dogs only require two meals a day, but if you catch your dog begging, an occasional healthy treat can help.
The trick is to make sure youre not feeding your dog more than is recommended. Food labels can be misleading or confusing. Generic feeding charts may over-calculate how much to feed a dog, or use outdated information.
To determine how much food to feed your dog, you should start by knowing your dogs estimated adult weight. Most large breed dogs will weigh between 50 to 150 pounds, while small breeds weigh under 20 pounds. Knowing the weight of your dogs same-sex parent can also be an excellent guide.
From there, you can use the estimated weight to determine how many calories dogs need per day.
What Sort of Feeding Schedule Works?
Free-feeding, or leaving food available to dogs at all times, is often not recommended by veterinarians. For multi-species or multiple-dog households, free-feeding makes it difficult to account for different diets and to track each dogs intake. Additionally, free feeding can lead to obesity when dogs overeat.
Sticking to a schedule can help your canine companion avoid grazing, feel like part of the family, and can encourage good mealtime behavior. You should plan a feeding schedule by consulting with your veterinarian.
Why Ollie?
Feeding dogs a diet made with natural, real ingredients can do wonders for their overall well-beingit can promote heart health, increase energy level, make their coat shinier, their breath smell better, improve eyesight and even impact poop. With Ollie, all the prep work is done for you so you dont have to worry about when, how much, or life stages when it comes to feeding. Were providing 50% off to the AKC audience for their first trial box, delivered straight to your home.
- Ingredients: Ollies food is made only with whole, human-grade ingredients sourced from reputable farms and approved by vets. They never use fillers, by-products, artificial flavors, or preservatives in any of their recipes. Each recipe is cooked by hand at low temperatures in small batches in a USDA-regulated kitchen so you know your pup is getting the best.
- Easy Schedule:All of Ollies recipes are pre-portioned and stored in the freezer plus you will receive a puptainer to keep your pups food fresh in case you feed your dog before your morning coffee. Ollie also takes care of us humans, Ollie is delivered directly to your door in as little as 2 days, on your schedule.
- Health Benefits: The proof is in the results. Ollie dogs have reported shinier coats, decreased allergies, improved appetite, and more.
Ollies freshly cooked food is the simplest way to keep your dog happy and healthy at any age. Our five delicious recipes were formulated with vet nutritionists and ensure mealtime stays fresh and exciting for your pup. Visit Ollie.com, tell us all about your pup, and well create a custom meal plan just for them.
