In this day and age, there are a variety of feeding options for dogs. Keeping an overview is a challenging task. Between terms such as e.B. BARFen, dry and wet food and gluten-free and protein-rich,german shepherd competition it is important to know what amount of food your four-legged friend really needs. We have compiled useful information for you, how you can realistically estimate the amount of food for your dog and which factors are important.
How much food does my dog need?
First of all, it is not possible to answer this question in a general way. Rather, the calculation of the correct amount of food for your dog is determined by a variety of factors. We will guide you through the most important areas and explain what needs to be considered when designing.
If you give your dog ready-made food, it is a good start to first orient yourself on the package information. However, this is always a feeding recommendation and not a “dosage” accurate to the gram, as for example with medicines. In general, listen to your common sense when it comes to feeding. You know your dog best and live closely with him. Observe his figure, weight development, as well as his well-being. This makes it easier to evaluate whether you have set the right amount of food. The following tips will help you with this.
The amount of feed depends on the energy requirement
How many grams of dog food actually end up in the bowl depends on your dog’s actual energy needs. Among other things, the following questions are important for the calculation:
How big/heavy is your dog?
Which breed?
Does your dog get treats?
Is he underweight or overweight?
How much exercise does your dog have?
Is your dog pregnant or suckling?
Is your dog neutered?
When eating your dog, it’s imperative to maintain a balance between protein and energy. Also, an adequate supply of vitamins and minerals is fundamental to maintaining his health. While in the case of complete feed the exact nutritional information is already noted on the package, it is particularly important for feed materials to know the respective proportions exactly.
Calculating energy requirements: Here’s how it works!
There are automatic food calculators on the Internet that determine how much food your dog needs. With the following formula you can determine the energy requirement yourself in no time at all. The result represents the energy conservation needs of an adult dog in megajoules.
Energy requirement = 0.52 MJ x (body weight)kg0.75 = MJ per day
(according to Meyer and Zentek)
Using a concrete example of a 25-kilogram adult dog, the calculation looks as follows:
Energy requirement = 0.52 MJ x 25kg0.75 = 5.81 MJ per day
Tip:
There are also formulas for determining other demand values, such as for your dog’s protein requirements. Interested parties can find out in even more detail what amount and proportion of food your dog needs.
What should be considered in puppies and older dogs?
Puppies grow quickly and need the right nutrients during this time and more food in relation to body weight than adult dogs. Although puppies should be supplied with the necessary energy, but also not become overweight. Adjust the amount of food during this time to the needs of your puppy. The same applies to particularly sporty and pregnant/lactating. In this article, you will find useful information about puppy nutrition.
Older dogs need less energy intake because they may not be as active and their metabolism generally uses less energy. Also, remember to adjust the amount of feed here. If in doubt, ask your veterinarian, who can help you with this. Read more about your dog’s age-appropriate diet in our guide.
Is my dog overweight or underweight?
You can tell if your dog is of ideal weight when the ribs and back vertebrae are not yet visible individually. food for your gsd you can then feel them easily and without pressure. If you look at your dog from above, his waist should be clearly visible – but again, there are breed-specific differences.
If your dog is underweight, ribs and back vertebrae are clearly visible.
If your dog is probably overweight, however, the waist is difficult to recognize and you do not feel the ribs and backbone or are only heavy when petting.
The best way to recognize your dog’s weight development is through regular weighing.
Tip:
Keep in mind that even the small treats in between contain calories, and take this into account when calculating the amount of food for your pet.
