It can be challenging for a pet owner to determine how much food a dog should consume. From a veterinarian’s perspective, a dog’s daily food intake should be determined by his ideal weight and the number of calories required for an average dog of that weight.
Usually, your dog will undergo an examination and be evaluated by your veterinarian to determine his ideal, or healthy, weight. You can use the following techniques to get a general idea of your pet’s weight range:
Healthy-weight animals should have ribs that are easy to feel but not overly pronounced. Your dog may be too thin if, for comparison’s sake, you make a fist and lightly run your finger over the top of your own knuckle bones (the ones that connect your fingers to your hand) and that’s how they feel. At a healthy weight, a dog’s ribs feel more like this if you flatten your palm and run your finger over the tops of your knuckles. Your dog may be overweight if you turn your palm over and run your fingers over the knuckle region (you should barely be able to feel them there).
Observing the dog’s top and determining whether he has a waist—that is, whether his body tapers inward after the ribs but before the hips—is another method of gauging general weight. The belly area tapers upward (isn’t as wide) compared to the chest when you view him from the side. Overweight dogs will likely have little to no tapering or shape change from the ribs to the hips.
It is important to use these measurements as a general guide since each breed will vary slightly. Ask your veterinarian to check on your pet if they don’t seem to be a healthy weight.
Treats and snacks should make up no more than 10% of your pet’s diet in order to prevent nutritional imbalances or deficiencies. So for a 60 lb. dog, that’s only1-2 medium dog biscuits. A 10 lb. Dogs should only receive 1 small biscuit per day, but they may receive 6 or 7 baby carrots instead. You can find tiny treats with only 4-6 calories each if you carefully read the labels on products. Many pet snacks contain a lot of salt, so be sure to check the treat labels for sodium content as well.
With more fiber and protein but significantly less fat than regular cat food, Hill’s feline R/D prescription weight loss diet has about 260 calories per cup. A cat eating R/D could consume three-quarters of a cup per day and still experience satiety and weight loss.
Some OTC cat foods contain more than 500 calories per cup. Evo, for example, has 530 calories per cup! A 10 lb. cat would only need 1/3 of a cup per day of food, which looks awfully puny in the bowl. This is why cats eating these “natural,” “low carb” or “grain free” diets are so prone to obesity. Even Evo’s “weight management” diet has 481 calories per cup.
Small dogs’ calorie needs are comparable to those of cats, with a 10 lb. dog needing about 218 calories per day. A 20 lb. dog needs about 366 calories, a 40 lb. dog 616, a 60 lb. dog 835 and 100 lb. giant dogs need about 1225 calories each day. Exercise and metabolism are typically more variable in dogs. A sled dog competing in the Iditarod can burn up to 3000 calories per day, while an active hunting dog may burn off a few thousand calories per day. The number of calories per cup in dog foods varies greatly, just like it does for cat foods.
How to Calculate How Many Calories Your Dog Should Eat by Size
According to the Association for Pet Obesity and Prevention, you can use this formula to calculate a dogs caloric needs.
Every pound of weight is equivalent to 0. 45 kilograms. So for example, a 60-pound (27. 2-kilogram) dog would need this calculation:
This helpful chart provides an estimate of the number of calories your dog needs based on weight if you don’t want to do the math.
Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong / Jody Tramontina
Kostiuk clarifies, however, that “each pet is unique; it is important to collaborate with a dependable veterinarian to decide how much to feed your dog.” “.
How Many Calories Does a Dog Need Per Day?
You can use a formula to determine an estimate of the number of calories (also known as kilocalories or kcal) your dog needs each day assuming they are both at a healthy weight and activity level:
Calorie (kcal) needs = 1. 6 [70 x (weight in pounds ÷ 2. 2)0. 75].
In order to maintain his weight, a 10-pound healthy dog with an average amount of activity will need about 350 calories per day. This figure is only an estimate; it should be determined by the needs of the dog, who will require fewer calories if he is overweight. If your dog is very active, he will require more food. If the dog is pregnant or nursing, she will require a lot more. Additionally, sick animals, such as those with cancer or kidney disease, will probably require more calories. Because puppies grow so quickly, feeding them can be a little challenging. To learn more, consult your veterinarian because you don’t want to unintentionally overfeed or underfeed your pet.
You must determine how many calories are in the dog food you intend to feed once you have determined your dog’s ideal weight and the recommended daily calorie intake. This number is frequently printed on the side of the bag, usually below the list of ingredients and the protein, fat, and other percentages. It may look like this:
Calorie Content: 3557 kcal ME/kg; 353 kcal ME/ cup
This means that this dog food has 3,557 calories (kilocalories of metabolizable [usable] energy) per kilogram and 353 calories per standard measuring cup. This works the same way for canned food as well. As a result, if our 10-pound dog in the example above requires 350 calories per day, one cup of this food should be sufficient for him to eat throughout the day. If you are unable to locate this information, you may need to visit or call the website of the dog food manufacturer.
FAQ
How many calories should my dog eat chart?
Dogs’ daily calorie needsBody weight in poundsPuppies up to 4 months Intact adult111573219412332641684330198.
How many calories does my 100 pound dog need?
dog needs about 366 calories, a 40 lb. dog 616, a 60 lb. dog 835 and 100 lb. giant dogs need about 1225 calories each day.
How many calories should a 70 lb dog eat?
Large-breed animals Large-breed animals can weigh up to 70 pounds. Recognize that these dogs don’t engage in much activity and need 1270 calories per day to maintain their weight.
How many calories should a dog eat per meal?
Generally speaking, a healthy 10-pound dog with an average amount of activity will need about 350 calories per day to maintain his weight. This figure is only an estimate; it should be determined by the needs of the dog, who will require fewer calories if he is overweight.