How Often Should I Feed My Dog?
When you first get a new dog, one of the things that you will need to learn about is feeding your pet. This is actually pretty simple; however, there are some factors that can make it a bit complicated for first-time dog owners. There is also quite a wide range in terms of how much food and water your pup should be consuming on any given day.
A Brief Outline:
1. A dog's metabolism is very different from humans, so they need to eat more often than we do
2. The best way to figure out how often your dog should be fed is by observing its weight and activity level
3. If you have a puppy, feed them 3-4 times per day until they are about six months old
4. Once the pup has reached adulthood (about 6 months), switch to feeding twice daily or once every 12 hours
Adult Dogs:
Feeding your adult dog twice a day is a good starting block with consistent eating times beneficial for your dog’s daily routine.
A dog's metabolism is very different from a human’s, so they need to eat more than you think. Depending on their size and age, your pup might consume anywhere between 500 calories up to 2500 calories per day. It's important that dogs are getting the right amount of food because over or under-feeding can lead to serious health issues like obesity or osteoporosis.
How Many Calories?
It’s a good idea to determine the weight of your dog and from there, work out how many calories your pup actually requires.
Doing so will help ensure you’re providing just the right amount of nutrients your dog craves.
Calculating how much energy your dog needs a day is tricky, but not impossible.
The DER formula uses the following equation:
=(70x kg Bodyweight^.75) and then multiplies by factors that best fit your pup's age and activity level:
Moderate Active, Neutered Dog (1.6x)
Moderate Active, Intact Dog (1.8x)
Active Dog (2x)
Highly Active (3x)
Weight Loss (1x)
Senior (1.1x)
Moderate Active, Intact Dog (1.8x)
Active Dog (2x)
Highly Active (3x)
Weight Loss (1x)
Senior (1.1x)
One way to determine these numbers is to consult with your vet, who will have more information about what works for each individual dog.
What About Puppies?
Puppies grow rapidly, so you'll need to feed them more often than your adult dog. Puppies also require much more nutrition and will need some supplements to make sure they're getting everything they need. Nutrition for puppies is very important!
Typically, expect to feed your puppy 4-6 times a day for the first four months and then reduce to 3 times a day until 6 months old.
Did you know that puppies grow twenty times faster than adult dogs?!
Are You Feeding Your Dog Too Much?
If you find your dog is demanding too much food, it may be a sign that his/her current food provider isn’t keeping them sustained for long periods of time. This overfeeding will, of course, lead to a number of health issues, including obesity.
How Lecker Bites Can Help
Our incredible freeze-dried dog food can provide your dog with its complete dietary requirements!
Whether it’s a complete meal or a tasty snack, our raw food is low in fat and high in protein which is great for owners looking to maintain their dog’s weight but also ensures they’re fuller for longer.
Take a look around our online store and discover the tastiest of dog food that will ensure happy, healthy dogs, all year round!