How much should I feed my Dog or Cat?
The answer isn't always straightforward, so let's chat about it!
Why Measuring Food Matters
One word: obesity. Obesity can shorten your pet's life and/or exacerbate other medical problems, like joint issues. The best and often easiest way to control your pet's weight is through nutrition. Of course exercise plays a role, but proper food portions and nutrition are key!
How to Figure Out Your Pet's Ideal Portion
The food your pet needs is rarely dictated by a chart on the back of a bag. A feeding recommendation chart is just that, a guideline. The chart on the back of the bag is a good place to start. Next, it's time to feel your dog or cat's ribs! Ideally, you should be able to barely feel your dog's ribs without pushing down. Feeling ribs with a little layer of fat over them = ideal weight for most breeds. (We say "most" because breeds like greyhounds will always be slim-looking). If you can barely feel your dog or cat's ribs with a bit of fat over them, reducing their daily food portion may be called for after chatting with your veterinarian. If your dog's ribs are prominent, you may need to feed more calories each day.
Here's where that chart may not be accurate:
For example, one of our staff dog's feeding needs varies greatly from the recommended amount! He's a moderately active 50lb dog, and according to the raw food brand he eats, the recommendation for him is 20 ounces of food per day. To maintain a healthy weight, this dog actually only eats 8 ounces of food per day - a great example of how every pet's nutritional needs are different! (That means a 13.5lb box of food lasts a month instead of only half a month - wow, that's a big difference!!)
Puppies, Kittens, and Older Pets
Different aged pets will have different nutrition needs. Puppies and kittens usually eat plenty as they are growing!
Premium Dry Foods and Raw/Fresh Foods
Here's something cool!: your cat or dog will eat LESS food on premium dry food! When feeding your pet a raw or fresh food diet, they will need even less food than on a dry diet. Why is this? The answer is simple: premium dry diets have more meat content, fewer fillers, and no by-products. This means your pet is getting more of what their body needs than if they were eating a food filled with corn, wheat, soy, or containing low concentrations of meat. Raw and fresh foods have NO fillers, which means they only have the good stuff that your pet's body needs. When we feed more of what the body needs and less of what it doesn't, our pets don't need to consume a large volume of food to fulfill their nutritional needs!
Your Best Nutritional Bet?
Feeding whole foods, as minimally processed as possible, is the best "bet" for any breathing being. Based on the temperature outside, the amount of physical and mental exertion your pet has experienced that day, their metabolism, and more come into play when deciding the correct amount to feed them. Remember that feeding a slightly different amount every day might happen! After all, as humans, we experience times when we aren't as hungry and others when we're ravenous! Our pets are the same, so taking their daily life into account rather than depending on "back of the bag" feeding charts and suggestions. As mentioned, while they're a helpful starting scale for pet parents, they aren't always accurate or correct.
Not sure what type of food or amount will meet your pet's nutritional needs best?
Come by the store and talk to one of our knowledgeable team members today!
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The Green Spot at the Shoppes at Aksarben in Omaha, Nebraska, is your number-one Spot for pet supply pet nutrition and pet-friendly events for dog moms and dog dads for more than 12 years! How can you get involved in our dynamic pet-parent community?