How much wet food should a 7kg dog eat
How Much Food To Feed Your Dog: Fact Checked By Our Vet
How Much Food To Feed Your Dog: Fact Checked By Our Vet
Written By Eloisa Thomas| Canine Coach, Double M.A in Anthropology.Edited & Fact Checked By Renae Soppe | B.A Journalism & Science.Last Updated: 7th January 2024
Many new dog owners wonder how much food to feed a dog.
Depending on their size, age and activity level, your pup will need more or less food per day. They may even need a different number of servings per day.
Your dogs feeding needs depend on many factors so it isnt possible to give a blanket answer that will work for everyone. But we can try! In attempting to do so, we teamed up with canine nutrition experts to compile this guide.
Here are some simple guidelines you can follow on how much food to feed a dog every day to ensure your dog is getting enough food!
Check out our YouTube video on How Much Food To Feed Your Dog
How Much Should I Feed My Dog?
If youre wondering how much to feed a dog per day by weight, youre on the right track. While there isnt a one-size-fits-all answer, starting with their weight is usually your best bet.
Related:How Much Wet Food Should You Feed Your Dog?Related: How Much Raw Food Should You Feed Your Dog?
In general, the amount you need to feed a dog is related both to their age and their ideal weight. In all cases, you should try to offer your pup the best dog food adapted to their needs. High-quality dog food has all the nutrients your furry friend needs to stay healthy and happy.
PRO TIP:Your dog should eat according to their size, weight, activity level, age and the type of food youre feeding them.
As a rule of thumb, dogs need about 1/3 cup of dry food per day for every 5 kilograms of weight. Keep in mind puppies may need 2x or even 3x as much, depending on the breed and age.
A good starting point is reading the label of your chosen food. Weigh your dog and follow the manufacturers guidelines for a couple of days. If you see your dog leaves food in their bowl or seems hungry even after eating, adjust the quantities as needed.Related:How Long Does It Take For A Dog To Digest Food?
How much should you feed a small dog?
Toy breeds and small dogs eat less food than their larger counterparts. If you have a Chihuahua, Shih Tzu or Pekingese, these are considered toy or mini breeds. Or if you're like me and have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, small Poodle, Boston Terrier or French Bulldogs, then keep in mind that these are small dogs.
Here are some general guidelines on how much food you should give your small dog [2]:
- Mini breeds under 1.5 kilograms need about 1/3 cup or 140 calories per day
- Small dogs around 5 kilograms need around cup or 340 calories per day.
- Dogs that are about 10 kilograms will need 1 cup of dry food per day.
PRO TIP:Small and toy breed puppies are prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels). If left untreated, your puppy will show lethargy, weakness and even seizures. Its very important you offer your small breed puppy several small meals a day to keep their sugar stable. When in doubt, offer a small energy-dense treat like a piece of fruit. Bananas work well!
How much should you feed a large or giant dog?
Medium, large and giant dogs eat a lot of food. However, you should be careful to avoid overfeeding. Your pup will be much healthier if they stay at a healthy bodyweight. According to PetMD, heres how much you should feed your dog:
- Medium dogs, 15 kilograms: 1 cups of dry food per day, or around 780 calories.
- Medium dogs, 25 kilograms: 2 cups of dry food per day, or around 1100 calories.
- Large dogs, 30 kilograms: 3 cups of dry food, or around 1300 calories.
- Giant breeds, 40 kilograms or more: 4 to 4 cups of dry food per day, or around 1800 calories.
Keep in mind your dogs calorie needs may vary as much as 25% more or less than the recommended amount Jennifer Coates, DVM [2]
How Often Should You Feed A Dog?
In general, veterinarians recommend that adult dogs eat 2 meals a day. Larger and giant breeds that are prone to bloat do better eating several smaller meals a day. In that case, a third meal might be the best option.
The amounts showed above are the total food and calories a dog should have per day.
You can break that in as many meals as youd like or as advised by your vet.
Of course, keep in mind that puppies eat more frequently than adult dogs.
PRO TIP:To keep messes at bay, place a plastic dog feeding mat to catch crumbs and debris. Your floors will thank you!
Should Large & Small Breeds Eat The Same Food?
Not really!
Large and small breeds have different metabolisms and health needs. As such, our team of experts note that high-quality dog food for their size offers proper nutrition adapted to those requirements.
Small breed dogs have a fast metabolism and need a diet thats slightly high in calories. On top of that, small dogs have significantly smaller jaws and their kibble should fit their mouths. Just imagine having to eat food the size of a brick, all in one bite! Thats how a small dog feels when you offer regular kibble. I discovered this the same day I brought home my adopted toy poodle. After all, small-bite kibble is designed for small jaws, like his!
Large and small dog breeds have different metabolism and need specific food adapted to their energy needs.
On the other hand, large breed dogs tend to have joint issues and are more prone to bloating. As such, they need food with extra supplements (like glucosamine) and specific calcium levels. Large dog breed food is a little less energy dense than small breed dog food, to fit the slower metabolism of large and giant breeds.
PRO TIP:Large breed puppies need to grow slowly to avoid calcium deficiency and ensure their joints stay strong as adults. When in doubt, its better to slightly underfeed a giant-breed puppy than offer too much food too soon. Talk to your veterinarian to adjust your puppys feeding schedule as needed.
How Much Should I Feed My Puppy?
Puppies grow fast and their feeding needs change daily. If you have the time, weighing your puppy every day will offer a good starting point to calculate how much food to offer. However, most owners dont have the time or the proper scale to weigh their little ones.
When theyre very young, puppies should drink their mothers milk freely. Once the mum starts weaning them, our experts recommend you offer regular puppy food adapted to their adult size. Below youll find how much to feed a puppy based on weight, as advised by veterinarians:
| Daily calorie needs of small breed puppies (based on adult weight) |
| Daily calorie needs of medium-sized puppies (based on adult weight) |
| Daily calorie needs of large and giant puppies (based on adult weight) |
How Often Should You Feed A Puppy?
Wondering whether or not is it ok to feed a puppy twice a day? Here are some general guidelines offered by our expert team of canine nutritionists:
If you have a mama dog with puppies, you can start offering free-grazing puppy food as early as three weeks old. If you feel your puppies are overeating, limit the free-grazing to a couple of hours twice a day.
However, once they are weaned, or if you get a puppy thats 2 months old or older, put food out at regular intervals. In general, four times a day is ideal.
PRO TIP:Stick to regular intervals when feeding puppies. If youre feeding 4x per day, offer food every 6 hours. That probably means youll be feeding puppies late at night and early morning, but it will keep them properly fed and healthy.
When your puppy reaches 4 months old and is starting to teeth, theyll do great eating 3 times a day and should be eating the best puppy food available in Australia. Then, once theyre 6 months old, you can switch them to an adult schedule and offer just 2 meals a day.
How Much Should I Feed A Dog With Specific Health Issues?
These recommendations are general guidelines aimed at healthy dogs. If your pup has other health issues like kidney or liver problems, obesity or gastritis, their meal schedule and food amounts may change.
As long as the dog food is nutritionally complete and balanced and has the AAFCO [Association of American Feed Control Officials] guidelines on it, you'll be fine. Marty Becker, veterinarian at North Idaho Animal Hospital. [3]
Related:What is AAFCO? The Association of American Feed Control OfficialsRelated:What Is the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia (PFIAA)?Related:AAFCO vs PFIAA: Dog Food Standards Comparison AustraliaIn such cases, our team notes that your best option is consulting with a trusted veterinarian. They will evaluate your dog and recommend a feeding plan suited to their needs.
Related: How To Fatten Up My Dog?
PRO TIP:If your dog has special health needs, ask your vet about choosing food tailored to their needs instead of regular food. Nowadays you can find specialty foods created to fit weight-loss plans, sensitive stomachs and even low-sodium diets.
Our Other Must Read Dog Nutrition Articles
Should large and small puppies eat the same food? Whats the difference between small and large dog food?
While small breed and large breed puppies can eat the same food, its best if they dont. The difference between small and large dog food goes beyond the size of the kibble.In fact, small breed dog food is more energy dense created to fuel their fast metabolism. On the other hand, large breed dogs have a slower metabolism and need food with a lower calorie count. If you dont offer the right food and amounts, your small puppy can be underfed or your large pup will grow too fast.Offering your dog high-quality food adapted to their size and metabolism is the best way to ensure a healthy life further down the road.
Can puppies and adult dogs eat the same food?
No.Puppies are growing, and because of that they usually need a calorie-dense diet. If you feed that same food to an adult dog, they will probably gain weight.In addition, puppies also need more calcium than adult dogs. As such, puppy food has specific nutrients (like calcium and vitamin D) to support the growing body of a normal puppy. In contrast, an adult dog eating too much calcium wont absorb it and instead, it can cause constipation.
References
- Are you feeding your dog the right amount?. PetMD. Available here. https://www.petmd.com/blogs/nutritionnuggets/dr-coates/2015/july/are-you-feeding-your-dog-right-amount-32905
- Puppy feeding guide. Nom Nom Now. Available here. https://www.nomnomnow.com/learn/puppy-care/puppy-feeding-guide#puppy-feeding-chart
- Interview with Vet Marty Becker, Author 'Your Dog: The Owner's Manual'. AARP. Available here. https://www.aarp.org/relationships/pets/info-05-2011/interview-marty-becker-veterinarian-author-speaks.html
How Much Wet Food Should You Feed a Dog? Vet-Approved Feeding Guide
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Learn moreEnsuring that youre feeding your dog the right amount of food is an essential part of being a dog owner. Too much can make your dog obese, and not enough will make them malnourished. Canned dog food has its benefits, but how much wet food should you feed your dog?
There isnt an overall general rule, but most dog food manufacturers recommend feeding the average dog 3 ounces of food for every 3 to 3 pounds of their body weight every day.
Here, we discuss this in more detail, and theres also a feeding chart to help you determine what will work best for your dog.
What Are the Differences Between Dry and Wet Food?
First, lets look at the differences betweenwet food and dry food, so you can have a better idea of why canned food might be good for your dog.
How the two are made and processed is part of the difference. Wet food is made by grinding meat or protein sources together, and then a gravy with veggies, grains, vitamins, and minerals is added. The food is then cooked, sterilized, and canned!
Dry food is made in a similar way, but instead of gravy, the mixture is made into a dough that is cooked. Its then extruded through specifically shaped holes, which makes the kibble. Its dried and then sprayed with vitamins, minerals, fats, and oils, and then its packaged.
Why Feed Your Dog Wet Food?
Wet food can provide several benefits that dry food doesnt:
- Moisture:Canned dog food has a high moisture content, which can help dogs that might not drink as much water as they should. There are also health conditions likekidney disease and certainurinary issuesthat require extra hydration.
- Less chewing: Senior dogs or any dogs with dental problems will find wet food much easier to eat than kibble.
- Tasty: Most dogs love the stuff! Canned food smells and tastes good, and its sometimes easier to get dogs to eat wet food when they have experienced aloss of appetite. Its also easier to eat.
- Filling: Wet food is low in carbohydrates and high in fat and protein, and it can make dogs feel fuller for longer. This also helps when dogs need to lose weight and to prevent weight gain.
While this doesnt mean that you should immediately replace your dogs kibble, you could consider feeding your dog wet food in addition to dry food.
How Much Wet Food Should You Feed Your Dog?
There isnt a solid answer here because how much you should feed your dog depends on their age, size, current weight, and activity level.
Most manufacturers recommend feeding a dog 3 ounces of food for every 3 to 3 pounds of body weight every day. This amount can be given at one meal or split up into two meals.
First, consider how many times a day youll feed your dog. Therecommended amountis to feed your dog at least two times a day, with no more than 12 hours in between. You dont want to go more than 12 hours between meals, as it can lead to stomach upset.
Also, many dog food manufacturers provide a feeding guide with their products, so you can follow this using your dogs current stats.
The following is a general daily feeding guide:
| Weight | Canned Food Only | Canned Food + Dry Food |
| 4 lbs | 2/3 can | 1/4 can + 1/3 cup |
| 12 lbs | 1 1/3 can | 1/2 can + 2/3 cup |
| 20 lbs | 2 cans | 2/3 can + 3/4 cup |
| 35 lbs | 22/3 cans | 1 can + 1 1/4 cups |
| 50 lbs | 3 1/2 cans | 1 1/4 cans + 1 2/3 cups |
| 75 lbs | 4 1/2 cans | 1 1/2 cans + 2 cups |
| 100 lbs | 5 1/2 cans | 2 cans + 2 1/2 cups |
Remember, every dog is unique, and all the different varieties of canned food will have different ingredients and calories. You can start using a guide like this one, but be sure to adjust the amounts accordingly in order to keep your dog at an ideal weight.
You can also complement this information by using our calculator tool here, and ensure your dogs happiness and wellness:
The exact amount of calories an individual animal needs to maintain a healthy weight is variable and influenced by many factors including genetics, age, breed, and activity level. This tool is meant to be used only as a guideline for healthy individuals and does not substitute veterinary advice
Determining Your Dogs Ideal Weight
Before you determine how much to feed your dog, you need to figure out your dogs ideal weight.
You can use PetMDsHealthy Weight Toolby answering a few questions. The results will let you know if your dog is underweight or overweight.
You can also try acalorie counter, which gives you a specific number of calories that your dog should eat daily. You can also take a look atthis chart,which provides the calorie ranges of a healthy adult dog.
Youll want your dog to have an hourglass shape when looking at them from above. The abdomen should be narrow compared to the hips and chest, and from the side, the dogs chest should be closer to the floor than their stomach. Finally, the dogs ribs shouldnt be noticeable, but you should be able to feel them.
You can always talk to your vet if you arent sure how much food you should be giving your dog.
Keep Track of Your Dogs Weight
Its a good idea to keep track of your dogs weight;you can use a diary or an app to make it easier. About every 2 to 4 weeks, check your dogs weight, as this can help you see if your dog is losing or gaining weight. If you notice a significant change, its best to talk to your vet.
Remember, if you end up changing your dogs food, youll need to check the calorie amount and reassess how much you should be feeding your dog daily.
Mixing Dry and Wet Food
Mixing wet and dry food is a great way to get your dog to eat kibble if this is something that your pup normally isnt a fan of. Just adding a few tablespoons of wet food to the dry food can make it more appetizing.
Ensure that both the canned and dry foods are high quality and will provide your dog with a balanced diet. Both foods should address your dogs current needsyou dont want to give your dog kibble for a small breed and canned for a large breed, for example.
Final Thoughts
You should speak to your vet if youre at all concerned about your dogs weight or diet. Even the best charts and feeding guides might not fit your particular dogs dietary needs.
Veterinarians can help determine what the right amount of food should be for your pup, and along the way, youll be able to fine-tune your dogs diet. As you get to know your dogs quirks, likes, and dislikes around food, you should be able to figure out the right amount of wet food to give your dog.
Featured Image Credit: Kristesoro, Shutterstock
