Although many factors are responsible for a dog’s good health, the intake of proper and correct proportion of food priors the list. When it comes to the selection of food products for dogs, there is a variety available. But you also have to maintain a fixed proportion as overfeeding your dog might result in obesity which will attract many heart problems and other health issues. So, how much food to feed My dog? You could consult your vet about feeding schedule for dogs, and they will provide you with a chart that lists the right amount of food in proportion to the dog’s age and weight.
Dog Feeding Chart
These food scheduling charts for pets are simple and helpful guidelines in the food packages and are also given by the vets. The basic guidelines that are present in a dog safe food chart involve how much to feed a dog by weight and age.
The chart that is present on the dog food packets can be listed as follows –
| Adult Dogs and their Size(lbs) | Amount of Food Required. (Measurement in Cups) |
| 3-12 | Around 1 cup max |
| 13-20 | From 1 cup to ⅓ cup approx |
| 21-35 | From 1 cup to 2 cups max |
| 26-50 | From 2 cups to 2.13 cups max |
| 51-75 | From 2.13 to 3.13 cups max |
| 76-100 | From 3.13 to 4.13 cups max |
| 100 and above | 4.13 cups and above but at most 6 cups |
Now when you feed your dog, you have to look over a few of the things so that the health of your dog is not compromised.
First, if the amount of exercise and the food taken are not proportional, it will be harmful to the dog. In most cases, the proportion of food intake is much higher than any physical activity the dog performs. This will lead to overweight and obesity, which then attracts diseases such as fatty liver, heart blockage, and other kinds of problems.
What Factors Impact your Dog’s Diet?
After going throught the dog feeding chart, let us now know the nutrition of every individual dog is different. This difference is created due to many factors. For example, a few of the factors affecting a dog’s food intake can be listed –
- Age.
- Breed.
- Body weight composition and physical build.
- The kinds of activity they perform.
- Allergies.
Age of Dogs
Age plays a significant key when dietary practices are examined. Food intake is higher in puppies and growing dogs compared to older dogs as the physical activity of dogs gets reduced as they grow up. They eventually prefer a bed and will get all curled up in it. The kind of food that you are feeding is also quite important. Nutrition is particularly important in puppies and growing dogs as nutrition concern itself with muscle growth and other physical and mental development.
Dogs Breed
The amount of food you give to your dog will vary from dog to dog. Some breeds are large, whereas some are pretty small. The food intake will be greater for the large and small breed dogs, which is relatively small.
Large dogs such as Dobermans and Labradors must be fed at least 4-5 cups of healthy dog food like the best frozen dog food daily. On the other hand, small dog breeds, such as Pomeranians, corgis, and beagles, do not require such a huge intake of food.
Body Weight Composition & Physical Build
If the physical build of a dog is huge and majestic, it must be fed with a good amount of food items. A dog’s body mass and physical build are directly proportionate to food intake. The larger and heavier the dog is, the greater the food intake. The muscle build of dogs must be healthy and developed by the time they are 2-3 years old. Dog nutrition is very important for your pet for developing better and stronger bones & muscles.
Physical Activity of the Dogs
If you consider the diet of an athlete, then you will come to know that the food intake and the nutritional values present in their food are very high. Similarly, suppose your dog is engaged in many outdoor activities, such as running and wandering for hours in the woods. In that case, you must ensure that your dog’s food intake remains proportional to its physical activity.
You will notice that if you do not give your dog exercise regularly, it will become lethargic, resulting in an increase in the dog’s body weight followed by health problems.
Food Allergies in Dogs
Allergies from various foods in canines are very common, and therefore cannot consume every kind of food item and nutrition. There are a few food items that naturally causes allergies in dogs, such as cinnamon. Food allergies vary from food to food as well. So you need to explore the food items your dog is not allergic to.
How Much Food to Feed my Dog?
How often should I feed my dog? You can set the timetable for your dog’s diet at your convenience. You should feed your dog breakfast, lunch, and dinner to ensure healthy growth. You could give meals to your canine buddy when you sit for your meals. There is no problem with matching your mealtimes with theirs. But make sure you are regular with the mealtime. This will set the timetable for your dogs, and you can use it to train them as well. You can give them snacks in the evening if the gap between the meals feels too much. Offer them something light and not very heavy.
What Happens If I Feed my Dog Too Much?
The most important thing you need to ensure while feeding your dog is that you do not overfeed them. This will result in major health problems in the long term. But in the short run, overfeeding your dog will result in vomiting and bloating. Bloating is a condition where an excess amount of food in the dog’s stomach makes the stomach’s inner lining expand, which puts pressure on the organs around it—extreme cases of bloating result in bursts of nerves and damage to the heart.
Symptoms of bloating in dogs are generally visible clearly. Here are a few signs of bloating –
- Big inflated stomach.
- Restlessness.
- Breath shortness.
- Empty vomit.
It can be very tempting, but you cannot pamper your dog with extra food every time as it is not good for their health. Obesity in dogs can cause various heart problems and might even cause joint pain. An overweight dog will have a lot of difficulties while walking. Diabetes is another risk factor involved with the obesity of a dog.
If you need more clarification about the proper amount of food your dog needs, you can consult your vet or read the instructions on the canine food packets.
How to Set a Feeding Schedule for Dogs?
Setting a feeding timetable for your pets is very much necessary. It brings discipline to your dog’s life and is very important for training. You can provide your dog with three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you feel that three meals are too much, you can also go for two meals a day. But make sure the gap between the meals is manageable. Maintaining mealtime helps in setting the best feeding times for dogs. Give them food at a particular time every day without fault. A day or two could be excused, but try to maintain consistency.
Keeping an eye on the time while your dog is eating is also important. Make sure your dog only takes a little bit of time to eat, and mealtime is available only for a fixed period.
Any change in the mealtime should be done slowly. Do not make haste when shifting their habits, as it screws up the training you have done so far. Enabling good behavior in dogs is also very important for the activity. Dogs are lovable animals, and you should always appreciate them when their behavior is good.
Conclusion
A healthy dogs life span is much longer than that of an obese dog, and therefore you should always keep your beloved pet healthy. It can be very hard at times to restrict your dog’s food intake as you love them so much and pamper them all the time. We guess you’ve got answer to the how many times a day should a dog eat with our exclusive information. But remember, by overfeeding your dog, you only make it worse for him. If you are confused about how much to feed a dog, then the best thing to do is consult a vet. You can also just read the packet’s instructions if it is urgent.