How much should a dog eat per day?

One of the best ways to keep our pets healthy is to give them the right amount of food . 

If we give them less food than they need, they may suffer nutritional deficiencies; and doing the opposite can end up having dire consequences, such as ending up suffering from obesity . 

If this topic worries you and you want to know how much a dog should eat per day and how often , keep reading.

How much food does my dog ​​need per day?

Unfortunately there is no easy way to calculate exactly how much and how many times a day a dog should eat, and more in a personalized way based on the needs of each animal.

Therefore, determining the amount of food for a dog will depend on factors such as:

• Its size.
• The number of times you eat per day.
• The type of feeding.
• Your metabolism.
• The amount of exercise you do.

How much does a dog eat?

To start calculating how much your dog should eat, take a look at the feeding guide that appears on the label of his food. The information it contains will give you data similar to this:

• Mini or toy breed dogs : if your dog weighs around 2 or 3 kilograms, the ideal is that the daily amount ranges between 50 and 90 grams of food.
• Small breed dogs : Small breed dogs are those that weigh between 3 and 10 kilograms in weight. You will have to provide these little ones with a daily ration between 90 and 190 grams of feed.
• Medium breed dogs : medium breed dogs between 10 and 20 kilograms are considered medium breed dogs. In this case, the recommended daily amount is 190 to 310 grams of feed.
• Large breed dogs : they range from 20 to 40 kilograms in weight. Their daily ration ranges between 500 and 590 grams of feed.

• Giant breed dogs : large dogs weigh more than 50 kilograms and will need a dose of between 590 and 800 grams.

The amounts we have just noted are recommended for a healthy dog ​​over a 24-hour period. 

Remember that you can always combine dry feeding with wet feeding . Use the cans as a supplement to brighten your diet. And again, always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, keeping in mind that these amounts are daily. Don’t put that amount in every meal! Split it!

It is also important to keep in mind that if we give him the daily amount recommended by the manufacturer, your dog will have 100% of the energy he needs per day; But if you also give him treats and treats, it is most likely that your dog will tend to gain weight.

How many times a day should a dog eat?

Once we have solved the dilemma of the daily ration of food that you should give your best friend, it is time to determine how many times a day he should eat, and the answer will vary depending on: 

• The size.
• The age of the dog.
• Your specific habits and needs.

Don’t forget that dogs don’t have to have food on their plate permanently!

How much does a puppy eat? How many times a day should he eat?

If your question is how much food a puppy should eat, how often, and how many grams a puppy eats, you will have to base it on a series of age ranges .

• If your puppy is in the middle of the transition stage between weaning and switching to solid food (around 8 weeks), you should give him between 4 and 6 meals a day.
• Between 8 weeks and 3 months you can reduce their portion to 4 meals a day. 
• When he is 4 months old and until he is 6 months old, start giving him 2 to 3 meals a day.
• And finally, from 6 months onwards, two meals a day (depending on the breed) will be enough.

And regarding how many grams a puppy eats, it is advisable to follow the feeding guide for its own food and give it the proportion adjusted to its age group. In this way, we will safely control how much a puppy eats and how many times it should eat.

Small breed dogs

You should avoid leaving the bowl full all day for these little ones as they tend to eat everything with great anxiety. 

For their part, the owners make the mistake of feeding them again and due to this rule of three they can become overweight. 

It is best to divide your daily ration into four or five times a day.

Medium breed dogs

If you are wondering how many times a day a medium breed dog should eat, most of these dogs in adulthood should eat twice a day , so logically you will have to divide the daily amount in two.

Large breed dogs

As with medium dogs, the ideal is to divide their ration into two doses . You have to try to avoid binge eating. And never give them more food than what the manufacturer’s label says.

How much does a senior dog eat?

These dogs, due to their age, usually lead a calmer and more sedentary life , so it is advisable to switch to a specific food for older dogs, which provides the necessary calories and nutrients. In addition, we must control that they do not become overweight. It is important to monitor how much a dog should eat in its senior stage, always adjusting to what the brand recommends.