Why does my pet food's weight not match its measured cup volume?

There are only three pet food brands which are approved by veterinarians. These are science diet, royal canin and purina pro plan. Only these three Have undergone research to ensure they provide an adequate and nutritious diet for pets. This research is approved by veterinarians. Any other food brands may not be regulated or researched as thoroughly. For this reason I would only advise feeding one of those three. Here is a link to my best recommendation for an adult dog; Www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=27148 Most foods can be measured in measuring cups rather then weighed, for your convenience.

Yes that’s the calories in the can. On dry food it will have the kcal/cup. I usually recommend diet dry food with added vegetables to fill him up rather than wet food. I like dry food with 250kcaks/cup or less, and measure each meal. You can give canned pumpkin, green beans, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. Some dogs prefer the vegetables cooked and mixed in with a little fat free chicken broth. Hills has a metabolic diet that is very effective to use for a diet also. That is heavy for a dachshund so I’m glad you are putting him on a diet. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Oskar.

The feeding recommendations are averages for all dogs. They can vary widely based on metabolism and energy level. Based on the picture you posted of Oliver, his weight looks perfect. If you are feeding him 1 cup twice daily, but his weight stays at 16-17 pounds and your vet says he is a good weight, then I wouldn't change anything. But I find that most dogs need less than the recommendation on the bag as they get older and their metabolism and activity decreases, so be sure to monitor his weight carefully. I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, the calorie per cup measurement in any dog food means that if your dog needs to eat 500 calories per day then you'll be giving overall less amount of food to meet his caloric demand with the food that has more calories per cup. With either food, you will have to meet his daily caloric demand. What this means for you, is that you'll likely go through the dog food with less calories per-cup much quicker than the dog food that is more dense in calories per cup. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. My top recommendations of veterinary diets include Hill's Science Diet, Purina, and Royal Canin. These are well-known brands that are stocked in veterinary hospitals, and are AAFCO formulated to be balanced and appropriate. I recommend avoiding grain-free, boutique diets from other brands, as these are not regulated and often are do not have balanced nutrients. I hope this is helpful!

Food labels can be extremely confusing! The 1197 kcal/kg is a calculation of calories on a "dry matter" basis, which allows you to easily compare a compatible calorie count between different brands and types (wet or dry) of foods. Since canned foods have a very high water content, there is a much lower calorie count per can. To answer your question, yes, this means that there are 102 calories per can of food. Your vet will help you to determine Kitty's ideal body weight so that you can appropriately feed her for your weight loss goals. I hope this helps!

You are correct that it is difficult to find a good quality weight loss diet. Good quality meats and fats are high in calories. At the end of the day, weight loss is about calories. So, a weight loss food is beneficial because they can eat the same amount of food. But you can achieve the same decrease in calories by feeding less of the Acana that you are currently feeding. A 10-20% decrease in daily calories is exactly what I recommend for weight loss, so you could simply decrease from a level 2/3 cup to heaping 1/2 cup for a month. If Chloe is losing weight, then continue at that amount. If she is not losing weight, then decrease to a level 1/2 cup. Since she is a small dog, it should take her a number of months to lose the weight, so don't be discouraged if she only loses a few ounces in that first month. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.