Feeding a dog is one of the issues that most concern those who have one or more dogs in their lives. Not surprisingly, your health and physical well-being depend on your diet. What kind of food is the most appropriate? How many times a day should I feed him? How much quantity do you need? Doubts are recurring and it is not always easy to find an exact answer.
It is essential that our dog receives the necessary amount of nutrients to be healthy. If we choose a poor quality food or give too little dose, we can cause a lack of these nutrients.
On the contrary, exceeding the amount of food would lead to weight gain. And dogs, just like humans, are at risk of certain diseases resulting from obesity and being overweight. So it becomes imperative to guess how much food we put in his bowl each day.
It is not possible to establish a specific answer to this question, since the necessary dose depends on many factors in each case. The size, breed and age of the dog determine its nutritional needs. But you also have to take into account his lifestyle and if he suffers from certain pathologies.
As a general rule, both the containers of feed and wet canned food or packages of natural homemade food already prepared indicate the recommended dose based on the size and age of the dog. But this information is not infallible.
In general, it is recommended that the dog eat between 2 and 2.5% of its body weight per day. But this guideline is limited to dry feed, the same pattern does not apply to the homemade diet or other methods such as the BARF diet.
Therefore, it is best to go to the vet to evaluate the particular case of your pet and its nutritional needs. It will be the professional who analyzes the needs of your dog, its age, size and physical activity. In addition, they will weigh you and observe your physical complexion to find out if you are below your ideal weight, at a normal weight or need to lose weight.
In addition, other peculiarities must be taken into account, since a dog that goes for a walk at a gentle pace does not need the same intake as another that spends the day running, jumping and playing. In the same way, puppies have a greater nutritional need, since they are in the middle of the growth process. A pregnant or lactating bitch also requires more food.
By contrast, elderly or recently sterilized dogs need less food. Since although your appetite increases, your metabolism slows down and your energy demand decreases by being less active.
