How Much Should You Feed Your Dog?

The amount you feed your dog will vary greatly depending on the level of the age, size and activity, as well as on the type of food you eat.

As a general rule, puppies and young dogs burn more calories, so they need a greater amount of foods high in protein and fat. Older, less active dogs require fewer calories to stay healthy.

Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD, author of The Complete Guide to Natural Health Dr. Pitcairn for dogs and cats, I think the most reliable approach to eating what appears to be a reasonable amount and weight control.

"You should be able to feel your pet 's ribs easily as you slide your hand down the side of your body," says Pitcairn." If you can not, it may be too heavy, so start eating smaller amounts."

If you use a pet food care "guidelines for the power" on the bag or box. It was a list of different weights according to the amount of food to feed your dog to maintain that weight, and should be used only as a rough guide.

Many overweight dogs because their families follow the label instructions, which often indicates that the portion sizes are very large. After all, the faster the bag is empty, the sooner you will have to buy more food.

Starting at the lower end of recommended guidelines and then monitor your dog's body to a state of starvation and is a good way to proceed.

Different parts of different Pooches

Although it may sound contradictory, generally large breed dogs need less food and small breed dogs need more food when expressed in the volume of food per kilo of body weight. Dietary requirements of individual dogs vary according to your state of health, activity level and age.

Here are some guidelines for serving sizes at different stages of the life of your dog:

Puppies: Puppies are usually introduced to solid foods at three to four weeks old and fully weaned from the milk of his mother at eight weeks.

Puppies need a diet that is high in protein and other nutrients to support normal growth and development. If you eat pet food for your dog is taken, choose a brand that is specially formulated for puppies.

Puppies should be fed at least three times a day-morning, noon and night-until their food requirements per kilo of body weight began to stabilize in adulthood.

By the time a puppy is five or six months old, the feeding schedule can reduce to twice daily.

If you have a fussy puppy, you can add a little hot water to dry food to encourage him to eat. Cow's milk can act as a laxative and cause digestive problems for some puppies and adult dogs, so avoid giving this to your dog or just take a very small amount. If your dog does not eat all the food in one hour, remove the edible part.

The amount of food you feed your dog will vary depending on their size, activity, metabolism, and the environment. Feeding too much can cause a dog not only fat, but also can cause bone abnormalities and other health problems.

If your dog seems to be gaining too much weight, gradually reduce their food intake, but if his ribs showed, increasing the lot. If you are unsure about your exact weight or appearance, talk to your veterinarian for guidance.

Adult: When a dog, on average, one year old, who has reached full maturity and the introduction of" maintenance period" means that their nutritional needs will remain the same during his adult life, assuming you are not sick or performing extreme exercise..

Your weight should remain stable and must be well proportioned body-she must have observed waist and you should be able to feel the ribs with the fingers, under the thin layer of fat.

If you eat you adopt a commercial pet food for adult dogs, choose one that is specially formulated for adult dogs.

Like humans, dogs appetite can vary from day to day. This is not cause for alarm unless you lose your appetite lasts a few days or showed obvious signs of weight loss or pain. However, they have no desire to eat can be the first sign of many diseases, so food intake control your dog carefully.

You know your dog best, so if anything seems amiss, please take it to your veterinarian.

Active adults: Moderate exercise is very important for all dogs and help them stay fit and trim throughout their lives. However, some dogs, like some humans, they will do more intense exercise routine.

If your adopted dog is very active (for example, if you jog or walk regularly or participate in sports activities) energy needs will be greater than their sedentary peers over her.

Note, however, when the normally active dog less active (for example, during the winter months or when he suffered an injury such as a sprain or pulled muscle), decreased dietary requirements. In this case, experts recommend gradually shift to lower energy, less nutrient dense foods dog.

Very active dog should not be fed immediately before or immediately after strenuous exercise. This can lead to digestive problems or discomfort (such as vomiting or diarrhea), and can increase the risk of gastric swelling, a potentially fatal and often painful condition that is caused by the twisting of the stomach.

Although small meals can be provided in the morning, work hard dog should get most of your daily calories from an hour or more after their last training session every day. You can also feed the dogs or sweet snacks during peak periods to avoid hunger and fatigue. Let him rest intermittently and make sure you have access to clean water at all times.

Age: Like humans, dogs dietary needs change as they age. Older dogs have reduced energy requirements and therefore should not consume the same amount of food as they did when they were young.

If you eat food trade adopted older dogs to your pet, look for brands that offer reduced calories at the same time, including all the necessary nutrients.

Largest dog, like all dogs should be fed according to their level of health and activity in general. A dog is less active can put on weight quickly if you are not careful.