Senior dog: How much and how often should I feed him for his weight?

The general rule of thumb for a maintenance diet is 1 cup of food per 30lbs body weight divided into two meals. This would mean Benji needs about 1/3 cup daily (small dogs don't need as many calories as bigger ones). Different foods will require different amounts as will each dog. More active dogs require more food. You can start with half a cup of food twice daily and see how Benji does with this amount. If he seems hungry after, increase the amount. If he doesn't finish meals, decrease the amount. Monitor his weight and body condition and adjust food as needed to prevent obesity.

Based on the photos e does not appear under weight. Most dogs are over weight so in comparison the fit dogs actually look thin For him to stay the same weight as he is you an feed 1.5 cups of food twice a day and still mix in the canned food he likes, about 1/4-1/3 a can at a time. If he does not finish the meal the. You may have to divide it into 3-4 feedings a day to get him to eat enough. If he is very active and he is using all these calories the. You can increase it. If he gets too. Big then decrease the canned food portion

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.

Without knowing her breed of dog, I can't say if 17 pounds is a good weight or not for her. Some dogs do need to eat less based on their activity level, as they may be less active than others. With on a 17 pound dog, 2/3 cup of food per day is fine, especially if it's within her daily caloric range. I feed my Chow, who is 50.6 pounds, 1.5 cups of food per day, and she's a healthy weight. If she needs to lose weight, it sounds like you are doing it in a healthy and safe way, and I would keep going. Typically, dogs are affected by hypothyroidism, so if there was a problem with her thyroid, she would be gaining weight, not losing it.

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.

The general rule is to feed 1 cup of dry food per 30lbs body weight. Using this formula, Toki should get 1/4 cup of food twice daily. Alternatively, you could feed one Cesar's portion twice daily and discontinue the dry food. Allowing him to graze in the evening may lead to overeating and weight gain. You can adjust the amount of food based on his body weight and his BCS (body condition score). Your veterinarian can show you how to assess a BCS. Ideally, Toki should have an hourglass figure when looked at from above. From the side, he should have a pronounced abdominal tuck. He should not be rectangular. You should be able to easily feel his ribs under a thin layer of fat as well.

That depends on the food that you are feeding! Different types of dog food will contain a different number of calories per cup of food. I recommend starting with the feeding recommendations found on the bag of food you are using. There will usually be a grid that has the body weight and daily food amount. I recommend dividing the daily food amount into 2 feedings, AM and PM. Some dogs have a higher or lower metabolism than the average dog, so after feeding for a month, I re-evaluate and see if we need to increase or decrease that feeding amount to get them to their ideal body weight.