The rise in dog obesity is increasing, with up to 40% of dogs in some areas carrying too much weight. If a dog is overweight, it increases the risk of them developing debilitating health conditions such as arthritis and diabetes, and can shorten their lifespan by up to two years. Feeding your dog appropriately throughout his life will help prevent excessive weight gain, and he will be much healthier.
Most commercial dog foods recommend how much to feed your dog on their packaging, taking into account his age and activity level, however these should only be used as a starting point. Most dogs don’t need as much food as they suggest, and if you blindly follow their guidelines, you may find your dog’s waistline expanding.
If you enjoy mathematics, you can calculate your dog’s daily energy needs and from that, figure out how much food he needs to meet them. This is a lot of work. It also isn’t very accurate, with an individual dog’s requirements varying by up to 50% of your calculated amount.
The best way of working out how much to feed your dog is to look at his body condition score (BCS).
The body condition score ranges from 1 to 9, and is used to indicate how close a dog is to the ideal body condition. It takes into account how easy it is to see or feel his ribs, and how much fat is covering his torso. It also considers whether or not he has an obvious tuck in the tummy when viewed from the side, or a waistline when looked at from above. This is an effective way of working out how much to feed a dog, whether he is fed commercial kibble or a home made diet.
Dogs with a BCS of 1-3 are too thin. Their bones can be easily seen and they have very little body fat. These dogs need more food than they are currently eating.
On the other hand, a score of 6-9 indicates that a dog is getting plenty of food, and really should be fed less. It’s not easy to feel their ribs, and they often have very obvious fat deposits over their back and the base of their tail. They have no waistline or abdominal tuck, and can be quite round.
The ideal body condition score is 4 or 5 out of 9. These dogs have a good covering over their bones, but it’s easy to feel their ribs. They have an obvious waistline and their abdomen is neatly tucked up. This is what you should aim for when feeding your dog.
Puppies should be fed the same way: start by offering them the recommended amount on the puppy food pack, then adjust that amount based on their body condition. Too much food and a rapid growth rate has been associated with the development of orthopedic conditions such as OCD and hip dysplasia.
When a dog is neutered, or a bitch is spayed, it affects their metabolism such that they don’t need as many calories. The amount that is put in their dinner bowl should firstly be reduced by one third, and then adjusted up or down depending on whether they lose or gain weight. Similarly, dogs need less calories after around 5 years of age, so their food should be reduced by a similar amount.
It’s not difficult to work out how much to feed your dog. He will tell you exactly how much he needs. Look at him, feel his body, and you’ll know if you’re putting the right amount of food in his bowl.
