How Many Calories Does Your Dog Breed Need?
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-How Many Calories Does Your Dog Breed Need
While you treat your four-legged friend just like another family member, it is indeed essential to take care of their health. If you think that calculating calories is just math meant for humans, then you are wrong. Just as you need measured food and a healthy lifestyle to live a quality life, your dog also needs exactly the same for you.
Are you worried about what goes into your dog’s diet? Most of your dog’s health is decided by the food it takes as well as the quantity. You must have noticed that on most dog food packaging, the recommended amount per serving is mentioned, but we as loving pet parents, sometimes overdo it to make our pets happy.
About 54% of the pet dogs in the USA are overweight. If you don’t check up on their calorie and nutrition intake per day, your dog can suffer serious health conditions too. While your dog gains extra pounds you may have to put your dog on diet as well.
Why is calorie count important for your pet?
Underfeeding and overfeeding are both considered harmful to your pet. It can lead to unhealthy weight gain or weight loss. Your dog can develop fatigue and can gain extra weight which will make it tough for them to move around.
When you calculate the daily calorie of your pet, it ensures that they are getting not only the best quality food with all the essential nutrients but also a balanced diet according to their needs.
Our sire Treasure Valley Flint Steele or “Flynn”
How to calculate calories for your dog?
It can be tiring to find out the calorie count for your dog. But several factors influence math. To make it simple for you we will see the different factors that are considered while calculating the right calorie for your furry friend.
Most dog parents are aware of the simple maths that a dog needs 20 to 30 calories per pound of their body weight regularly. This makes the calculation simple. However, there are a lot more factors that can directly influence the calculation. The right serving of calories will enable your dog to maintain stable body weight and discourage unnatural weight loss of weight gain.
Age of your dog
Breed of the dog
The activity level of the dog
Whether the dog is spayed or neutered
Other health conditions
Going further with calorie counting for dog food
Treating your dog is the way you show your affection, but overdoing it can be harmful. Dogs of the same breed and with almost the same other conditions may have different calorie requirements. For example, two miniature Golden Retrievers of the same age and same health conditions may have different calorie requirements based on their daily exercise and activity level. Typically the less active mini retriever may need 30%fewer calories than its active counterpart.
Along with calorie intake, one must be conscious of the nutritional value of the food you offer to your dog. Most dog food brands have a dedicated range for puppies, adult dogs, and senior dogs. While your dog reaches a certain age, it must be fed accordingly.
Here is a tentative calorie chart for you concerning your dog’s activeness, body weight, and breed. If you are interested to know more about what exactly you should feed your furry friend then consult an experienced veterinarian near you.
Daily calorie requirements for active dogs
Small breed up to 10lb require 404 calories per day
Medium breed up to 30lb requires 922 calories per day
Medium breed up to 50lb need 1,353 calories per day
Large Breed weighing up to 70lb needs 1,740 calories per day
Giant Breed dog weighing 90lb and above require 2,100 calories per day
Daily calorie requirements for inactive dogs
Small breed up to 10lb requires 296 calories per day
Medium-sized dog breed up to 30lb needs 674 calories per day
Medium dog breeds up to 50 lb requires 989calories per day
Large dog breeds up to 70 lb requires 1,272 calories in a day
Giant breeds up to 90 lb require 1,540 calories a day
How to ensure the exact calorie for your dog every time you serve?
Well, to keep your dog in good shape and to maintain a healthy weight, it is essential that you do rigorous math and do not go on average calculation. Here are a few ways by which you can ensure the right calorie intake and proper nutrition for your dog regularly.
Use online calculators- You can get more accurate calculations while you consider the specific dog breed. If it seems intimidating to you, then take the help of online calculators that calculate the exact calorie you must provide to your canine friend regularly.
Read the packaging instructions carefully- Every branded dog food offer recommended portion size and calorie count for each portion served printed on the packaging. Read the label properly to find a guide to serve your dog with a healthy yet nutritional diet.
Buy dog food according to your dog’s age- Dogs need nutrition that varies according to their age. Therefore, consider buying the right food according to your dog’s age.
Measure each portion- Is it possible to calculate calories each day? Why not use a digital weighing scale to measure each portion of food you serve. Measure it for a day or two especially, when you change the food and keep a note of it. It will enable you to serve the same portion regularly without being worried about the calorie count.
Monitor your dog's health and weight regularly- The motto behind serving the right calorie is to keep our pets healthy and active. Take note of their activity and sudden weight change.
To elevate the care that you show towards your pet, consider visiting a veterinarian at regular intervals. If you have any query related to specific calorie needs according to the special health conditions of your pet, you must consult a veterinarian to maintain the good health of your dog for the future.
Enjoy an active and healthy life with your doggy.
We are pleased to introduce this Author, Jackie Brown.
Pet expert Jackie Brown has spent 20 years following her passion for animals as a writer and editor in the pet publishing industry.
Prior to starting her career in publishing, Jackie spent eight years working in veterinary hospitals where she assisted veterinarians as they treated dogs, cats, rabbits, pocket pets, reptiles, birds and one memorable lion cub