How much and how often should we feed our beloved fellow? It is hard to answer this question as the dog feeding time, and the amount of diet depends on plenty of factors and the unique food choices of your buddy. But it is imperative to schedule a dog feeding time and the amount of food to balance their cravings and health. This article gives you a brief overview of the amount and number of servings you should feed your dog in a day according to his age, weight, and breed.
Factors On Which Dog Feeding Time Depends
Age:
Age is the most crucial factor for determining the feeding schedules for your dog. Dog’s dietary requirements change as they grow from puppies to adults. Puppies need more food for their growing bodies than adults.
Bodyweight:
Check if your dog has optimal weight, is underweight or overweight, and make the feeding schedules accordingly. Keep checking their weight after every 2-3 weeks.
Metabolic Rate:
Metabolism plays a great deal in suggesting the nutritional demands of dogs. Before making a schedule for your dog feeding time, keep in mind that certain dog breeds have a higher metabolism than others.
Activity Level:
Dog feeding time depends on their activity level as well. Of course, a dog with higher activity levels requires more nutrients than a dog that spends all day lying on the couch.
Breed/Size of Dogs:
Small, medium and large dog breeds require different diet schedules. It is commonly known that the smaller a dog is, the higher the metabolic rates are.
Other Factors:
- Pregnancies
- Weather Changes
- Surgeries or Infections
- Nursing
Number of Servings Per Day
The nutritional requirement of a growing pup is about twice of an adult of the same breed. It is because adult and older dogs have a slower metabolism and lower activity levels. So, they require more significant portions of the meal but less frequently.
Pregnant and lactating dogs require more nutrients, so their servings per day should be increased accordingly. Overall, the number of servings for different ages of dogs are as follow:
- Puppies: 3-4 times a day
- Adults: 2 times a day
- Senior dogs: 1-2 times a day
- Pregnant dogs: 3-4 times a day
- Nursing Dogs: 2-3 times a day
Make sure to feed them after 8-12 hours a day.
Amounts of Servings Per Meal
Assuming that your dog has a typical activity level and an average metabolic rate, here is a simple guide for the amount of food served to your dog as dry kibble.
- Toy breeds (less than 10 pounds): ¼ to ½ cups
- Small breeds (10-20 pounds): ¾ to 1 2/3 cups
- Medium breeds (30-50 pounds): 1 3/4 to 2 2/3 cups
- Large Breeds (60+ pounds): 3 cups per 60 pounds, 3 1/2 cups per 70 pounds, 3 3/4 cups per 80 pounds, 4 1/4 cups per 90 pounds, 4 1/2 cups per 100 pounds, add additional 1/3 cups for dogs weighing more than 100 pounds.
If your dog is pregnant, you should gradually increase the amount of feed for your dog until the first six months. After that, increase the spread up to 20% than the standard diet.
If your dog is lactating, feed her 50% more food during the first week and 30% more during the 5th-6th weeks of nurturing.
Final Thoughts
These are all basic instructions for feeding your dog appropriately. Keep in mind, if your dog is going through any ailment or other condition, make sure to consult a vet for proper guidance. The best way to keep your fellow in good health is to give him quality food with appropriate dog feeding time.
