My dog has a small appetite. How can I get him to eat more food?

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.

Small red dogs can safely be fed once or twice a day based on your schedule or how well they eat. A base starting point for feeding is about 1 cup of food for 20 pounds. This can be varied based on health status and activity level. For him being older I would try twice a day at 1/2 cup each. If he loses weight you know to increase some and vice vera. There is no way to know if his weight is appropriate without feeling him belly and back as the hair hides a lot. Your vet can examine him and tell you for sure and calculate exact calories needed

First, I think it is important to determine Malia's ideal weight for her size. If your vet says she is underweight, then you may need to make some changes. But if she a good weight at 32 pounds, then eating a couple cups of food a day should be adequate for her weight. My 30 pound dog only eats about 1 cup per day. Don't forget that it is much healthier for a dog to be a little lean. If Malia is underweight, then you may need to look at foods that are more dense in calories. You can consider some of the super premium foods like Natural Balance, Wellness Core or Orijen which tend to have more bio-available calories in each cup. You may also consider The Honest Kitchen which is a dehydrated food and dense in calories. https://www.thehonestkitchen.com/ Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

His amount should be indicated right on the bag of dog food. Each brand is a different kcal/cup. But for a dog this size you are looking anywhere from 1.5-2 cups/cans twice daily. I would also recommend haivng Fred's teeth looked at since he is having a hard time eating hard kibble. This could indicate he has dental disease and needs to get a cleaning done. Best of luck moving forward with Fred. Take care.

You can keep him on his regular diet, just feed less of it and increase his activity. The general guideline is 1 cup of dry food per 30lbs of body weight. You can divide it into 2 or 3 meals. Limit treats and do not offer any table food. If he continues to gain, consider an exam with your veterinarian. Blood work may diagnose endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism which can cause weight gain.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Axel. He does not appear to be under weight based on the picture that you have attached. A dog should have a very thin covering over the ribs where you can see the last couple. He should have a defined waist from both the top and side views. However, if he is very active you can considering transitioning him to a performance diet such as Purina ProPlan Sport. It will contain more calories per cup. I hope this information helps!

This sounds like a fairly large amount of food for a 7.6 lb dog - she may not be hungry. If she seems to be losing weight you should see your veterinarian to make sure there is nothing medically wrong that is making her not want to eat. Otherwise I think you can measure out how much food she needs in a day and just leave it for her to eat. She'll eat eventually when she is hungry.