On the back of almost all dog food bags is a recommended daily serving for a dog. The question we get many times is “How accurate is the recommended daily serving size?” “Is it the same for puppies as for adults?” In the video and blog below we go into extra detail with guidelines for feeding your puppy.
The Dangers of an Obese Dog
Obesity is a common problem in puppies and adult dogs. 56% of adult dogs in the USA are considered obese. In puppies it is important not to have extra weight on them because that can result in extra pressure and strain on their muscles and joints as they are continually growing. Obesity can cause your puppy to develop many health problems like: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, heart problems, liver issues and even cancer. Many people believe dysplasia is simply genetic. That is perhaps only 50% true. Genetics are very important in regards to this issue but can be brought on with environmental conditions and lifestyle of your dog. If your dog is obese and carrying around 20% more weight than he/she needs to, they have a significantly higher risk of dysplasia and other health concerns.
Every Dog Has a Different Metabolism & Needs
On the back of every dog food bag are suggestions for how much to feed your dog. These are not absolutes and should just be taken as just that, suggestions. There are many factors that can affect how much to feed, your environment, your dogs lifestyle as well as its projected weight. If your dog is overweight and you are always feeding for the overweight size versus for what the size should be your dog simply will never lose that extra weight. Always feed for the appropriate weight for your dog.
A dogs metabolism rate is also based on their activity level. The more active your dog is, the higher their metabolism is and the more they can eat. Some dogs will need more and some will need less food everyday. We recommend and feed our puppies twice a day. The same schedule can be kept when they become adults, you could just as well feed your dog once a day. We recommend consulting with your veterinarian when making changes to your dogs diet to find the best option tailored to your pup.
How to Tell if a Dog is at a Healthy Size
The greatest lesson we can teach you is to learn what a healthy puppy size looks like. Notice that I don’t say “Weight.” Weight is deceiving, it can change. As a puppy grows it changes all the time. You must be able to feel a dog’s side to determine if your dog is at a healthy size or not. You have to look THROUGH their coat and feel the actual fat that they have. Your dog could look great to you, but after further investigation could be too thin or too fat.
When examining your dog the ribs should be easily felt but not easily seen. When viewing your dog from the side they should have defined tuck where the rib cage ends going into the structure of their hips. If you have a long haired breed a good time to examine this in your dog is during bath time when the hair is wet and flat against their body. Just keep in mind a proper “look” and size will differentiate between every dog and breed.
The Choice is Yours
The weight of your dog is in your control. Giving your dog table scraps, guessing on how much food you should give, too many treats… can all cause your dog to be overweight. You and everyone in the household must be committed to keeping your dog healthy and living the best life your pup can have!
