The verdict is in. And the results confirm what you’d always thought… Overweight dogs don’t live as long as normal weight dogs.
According to a recent study published in a respected veterinary journal1 overweight dogs suffer from a higher incidence of these life-shortening diseases…
- Hypothyroidism
- Oral disease
- Diabetes
- Pancreatitis
- Cancer
- Arthritis
So, how much should you feed your dog to ensure his health?
Well, don’t just blindly follow the directions on a dog food package. That’s because manufacturers like to “hedge” by suggesting an overly broad “range” of serving sizes.
For example, a bag of kibble might read… “for dogs from 5 to 15 pounds feed 1/2… to… 1-1/2 cups a day”.
Wow. That’s a monstrously wide range… a 200% variation! It’s simply not precise enough.
If you follow that advice you’ll be guessing. You could be significantly overfeeding… or underfeeding your dog.
Misjudging a serving size by even a small amount… and then feeding that same amount day-in and day-out… multiplies the error. And it could have a devastating effect on your dog’s health.
Don’t Guess… Follow These Three Easy Steps
When deciding how much to feed your dog… never guess. Be scientific. Always calculate and measure.
Use our Dog Food Calculator and follow these three simple steps…
- Step 1 – Enter your dog’s ideal weight
- Step 2 – Select your dog’s life stage and activity level
- Step 3 – Insert your dog food’s “calories per serving”
Then, use a measuring cup or a scale… and feed the calculated amount.
Of course, keep in mind… results are approximate. Certain breeds and conditions may require some adjustment. And please remember… the calculator assumes your dog is at or near his ideal weight.
So, be flexible. If your dog appears to be overweight… or underweight… substitute something closer to “ideal” for your weight entry.
By the way… the calculator is for adult dogs only. Puppies require their own special feeding program.
Once again… never guess. Always measure each serving. And check your dog’s weight once a month or so. Over time, you’ll be glad you did.
Learn how to determine your dog’s ideal weight.
Here’s an easy way to weigh your dog.
Use our Dog Food Calculator to reveal your pet’s recommended serving size.
- International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine, Vol 4:2, Nov 2, 2006, pp 177-186 ↩
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I have a 18 month female Terrier/Catahoula that weighs about 70 pounds. I feed her dry dog food twice a day 1 3/4 cup per serving. I would like to switch to homemade recipes, e.g. brown rice, chicken/turkey and potatoes. How much per serving is sufficient. Thank you.
Hi Jacqueline… That’s a very good question. But unfortunately, unless you know the exact number of calories per serving for the recipe you are preparing (a huge “variable”), it’s impossible to compute a suggested serving size. It’s a “trial and error” process.
Do you think Fido-vite are good for dogs?
Thank you,
Martha Brown
Hi Martha… Uh-oh. That sounds like a vitamin supplement. Sorry I can’t be more help as I only review dog foods.