How much should I feed my dog? A practical feeding guide

Getting portion sizes right is one of the most useful things you can do for your dog's health. Underfeeding leaves a dog short of energy and nutrients, but overfeeding is far more common and leads to weight gain. This guide explains what to feed, how much, how often, and how to tell whether you have it right.

What should I feed my dog?

PDSA advises choosing a food that is:

• Complete. A complete food contains all the nutrients a dog needs in the right amounts. Foods labelled "complementary", such as many treats and toppers, don't, so they can't be fed on their own.
• Commercially made. Homemade diets are very hard to balance, so PDSA recommends a commercial food.
• Right for their life stage. Puppy, adult and senior foods are made for different nutritional needs.

Wet food, dry food or a mix of both are all fine unless your vet advises otherwise. If you mix them, work out the portions from both packs so the total stays right. PDSA also suggests checking that the manufacturer is a member of UK Pet Food, the industry trade body.

How much should I feed my dog?

Start with the feeding guide on the pack. These amounts are only a guide, because every dog is different. The BVA notes that pack guidelines are not a minimum and should be adjusted up or down to suit your dog.

To get portions right:

• Feed for your dog's ideal weight. If your dog needs to lose or gain weight, PDSA advises feeding for their target weight, which may not be their current weight.
• Weigh the food. Digital kitchen scales are more accurate than a measuring cup.
• Don't leave food down all day. PDSA says free feeding can lead to overeating for most dogs.
• Count every extra. Treats, chews and table scraps all add calories. PDSA suggests treats make up no more than 10% of the daily food allowance, and that you reduce meals by the same amount.
• Allow for neutering. Neutered dogs are likely to need fewer calories, so their portions or food may need to change.

Fresh, clean water should always be available.

How many meals a day should a dog have?

The puppy timings above come from Blue Cross. For adult dogs, PDSA vets recommend splitting the daily amount into two equal meals. That means less time hungry between meals and less temptation to beg. Some small dogs and puppies may do better with up to four meals a day, which can help prevent low blood sugar.

Remember that feeding twice a day means dividing the daily amount in two, not doubling it. Blue Cross also advises avoiding strenuous exercise straight after a meal, which can lead to vomiting and potentially bloat. Bloat is an emergency: contact a vet straight away if your dog has a swollen tummy, keeps trying to be sick without bringing anything up, or seems restless and in pain.

When to change life-stage food

Blue Cross suggests a labelled puppy food until around a year old, or as your vet advises. Large and giant breeds may need puppy food for longer. The right age to move to a senior food varies with your dog's size, breed and health, so ask your vet when to make the switch.

How do I know if my dog is a healthy weight?

Weighing your dog is useful, but body shape matters more. PDSA's body condition check takes a minute:

1. Look from the side and from above. You should see a waist.
2. Run your hands along their sides. You should feel the ribs with a light touch, but not see them. Lean breeds such as Whippets and Greyhounds are the exception.
3. Feel along the back. You should feel the spine and hip bones without them sticking out.
4. Feel under the tummy. It should tuck up, not bulge or sag.
5. Feel the base of the tail. There shouldn't be a build-up of fat.

Vets often use a 9-point body condition score, where 4 to 5 is ideal. UK Pet Food's Size-O-Meter chart is a printable alternative you can keep at home. PDSA suggests checking your dog's shape every few weeks. Blue Cross suggests weighing your dog every one to two months.

Why weight matters

PDSA lists many health problems linked to obesity in dogs, including arthritis, diabetes, back and cruciate ligament problems, breathing problems, certain types of cancer, heatstroke and a shorter life. PDSA also notes that some breeds seem more likely to put on weight, including Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Pugs, Cocker Spaniels and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

If your dog needs to lose weight

Speak to your vet first. Weight gain is usually down to too much food and too little exercise, but conditions such as an underactive thyroid can also cause it. Aim for slow, steady weight loss rather than a crash diet, and ask your vet to set a safe target and rate for your dog. Very overweight dogs may need a special weight loss diet, because cutting their normal food too far can leave them short of nutrients.

Changing your dog's food

Sudden changes can cause tummy upsets or refusal to eat. PDSA recommends switching over about two weeks:

• Days 1 to 3: offer a small amount of the new food alongside the usual meal.
• Days 4 to 10: mix in a little of the new food and slowly increase it while reducing the old.
• Days 10 to 14: once your dog is eating the mix well, phase out the old food.

Foods and extras to avoid

PDSA's vets advise never feeding dogs chocolate, grapes, raisins, currants or sultanas, onions, garlic or leeks, macadamia nuts, alcohol, caffeine, mouldy food or anything containing the sweetener xylitol. PDSA also advises against giving bones, which can get stuck or splinter and damage the gut.