Mary Allen
Choosing the right dog food is of great importance for the health of the animal.
Many dog owners like to use wet food here. It is popular with dogs and provides extra fluids.
But the best dog food is useless if given in the wrong amount. At first glance, it would be easy to determine the right amount of food.
We will show you here what you should pay attention to when feeding the right amount of food.
Do not blindly follow the manufacturer’s instructions
The rule of thumb for the right amount of food is 2 to 3.5 percent of the dog’s body weight. This means that a dog weighing around 25 kilograms should be fed around 500 – 875 grams of food per day.
This general formula applies to wet food:
Maximum amount of food = 3.5 * dog weight in kg / 100
Wet food is still very popular today and has corresponding advantages. Dogs love it because it has the closest consistency and taste to raw food.
It is practically packed in cans and can therefore be stored well. Can sizes vary so there is a perfect size for every dog?
The manufacturers give a corresponding feeding recommendation on each pack. This value is a first indication of the amount that the dog should eat every day.
However, both this feeding recommendation and the general rule of thumb are only suggestions. Ultimately, you have to find out the correct amount for your dog yourself.
What is important when feeding?
Important factors for the correct amount of feed are:
- age of the dog
- activity of the animal
- health of the animal
- type of feed
- treats that are additionally fed
Older dogs require significantly fewer nutrients than adult dogs. A four-legged friend lying lazily on the couch has a lower energy requirement than a working dog.
The health of the animal also plays a major role in the amount of feed. Dogs that have had an illness also need significantly more nutrients than a perfectly healthy animal.
It is therefore very important that you take all these points into account when it comes to the amount of feed for your pet.
In addition, of course, there is also the type of wet food. Not all foods have the same nutrient composition and do not provide the same amount of energy.
Listen to your feelings and experience
High-quality dog food provides more energy than inferior food with lots of fillers. Therefore, your dog needs a significantly smaller amount of food if the food is of high quality.
If you change the lining, you can also trust your instincts. You know your dog better than anyone else and are good at assessing what he needs.
However, if it’s an animal you’ve just adopted, you’ll need to do a little testing. Start with an amount of food that seems right to you.
How to check if your dog is doing well
Watch your dog closely:
- How does your dog tolerate the amount of wet food?
- Does he eat the food quickly and is hungry again a short time later?
- Does the animal seem nervous and weak and try to organize more food for itself?
- Is your dog possibly leaving food in its bowl?
All of these clues will help you find the right amount of food. A well-fed dog is active and alert. He has a beautiful shiny coat and his eyes are clear and bright.
Read the dog’s ideal weight from the ribs
A dog is of the right weight when its waist is well defined and the ribs are well felt. In the case of particularly slim breeds, such as greyhounds, the last two ribs may even be visible.
However, if the coastal arches are visible, the dog is malnourished. If the ribs can hardly be felt or not at all, the animal is overweight.
The scale alone is not a good indicator of the perfect weight. Each animal is individual, even if they are dogs of the same breed. The nutrition plan for the animal should be just as individual.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much-wet food for a 5 kg dog?
While adult dogs need 2-3% of their body weight for food per day, the need for young animals is higher and is 4-6% of their body weight. For a 5 kg baby dog, that is 200 – 400 g. You divide this amount into four to five meals a day.
How much food does a 6 kg dog need?
The amount of food depends on the dog’s age, activity level, and the information provided by the food manufacturer. Adult dogs require 2 to 5 percent of their body weight in wet food every day. If you feed dry food, then you have to subtract the water content of 60 to 85 percent.
How many grams of feed per kg of dog?
As a rule, it can be assumed that an adult dog should consume around 2.5% of its body weight in grams per day. Example: Dog 15 kg x 2.5% = 375g.
How often wet food a day?
The general rule of thumb for healthy feeding is to divide your cat’s daily ration into portions that you offer throughout the day, giving the last portion late at night. If your cat gets wet food, feed it three to four sachets a day.
How much dog food per kilo?
As a rule of thumb, depending on the breed, around 12 grams of feed per kilogram of body weight is fine. A dog weighing 10 kilograms gets by with 150 grams of food a day, a dog weighing more than 70 kilograms needs 500 to 600 grams.
How do I calculate the right amount of food for my dog?
The rule of thumb for a middle-aged to an adult dog is:
Amount of dry food per day = approx. 3% of the dog’s body weight.
Amount of wet food per day = approx. 5% of the dog’s body weight.
Dog’s daily calorie requirement = basic requirement * (dog’s weight) raised to the power of 0.75.
How much food does a 25 kg dog need?
A dog weighing 25 kg, therefore, receives 500 – 875 g of food per day.
How much meat does a 30 kg dog need?
How high the individual requirement for raw meat for dogs should be is best calculated based on body weight. The basic rule says: Every dog needs around 2% of its body weight as daily food.
