Feeding guide for your dog

3 February 2017 | Dog Advice

Feeding guide for your dog

A healthy diet is key to keeping your dog healthy so feeding them the optimum amount for dinner is very crucial to having a healthy dog. If they're given amounts that are too small then they can go on to develop all sorts of nutritional shortfalls . Too much feeding can result in obesity, which often leads to further health conditions such as:

  • Skin disorders
  • Forms of cancer
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Osteoarthritis

Unfortunately for many owners, the figuring out and understanding the amount your dog needs to be eating is never a simple task. Often, working out the correct amount of food is determined by food types your dog should be fed, the amount of times they eat a day, the dogs metabolic rate, their daily exercise, size, and many other factors.

Unless otherwise stated, these amounts should be fed to your dog within a 24hr period. Majority of adult dogs require to be fed at least two times a day so the recommended amount of food will need to be divided into different meals for the duration of the day. Puppies on the other hand will need at least three or more daily feedings.

You will need to fuse this information of your pets condition to determine the initial food quantity you should give your dog.

It's also worth using a condition points system for the body or scale to really determine the quantity of food you are giving. You should make sure to keep an eye on your pet every two to four weeks to record your findings. If they start to gain weight or lose their body weight or fat, you will need to adjust their portion sizes accordingly. Generally, dogs with medically good weight will have the following:

  • Should look  “Tucked-up” from side perspective. This generally means that the chest of the dog is nearer to ground than their belly if he/she is standing.
  • Their ribs should not really be visible but can be felt with minimum pressure on the ribs area.
  • Their abdomen should actually be smaller in width in relation to the chest and hips.

You will need to bear in mind that when you change your dog's food or diet you will need to consider the above steps again.

It is important that you question your vet about your pets health or their diet anytime you make changes or you see signs of weight gain or loss. The vet can definitely guide you to work out the amount of food your dog needs be eating depending on their health and breed.

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Dog Advice Feeding Guide

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