Dr. Harrison is part of The Spruce Pets veterinary review board. Obesity in dogs is one of the biggest health concerns that veterinarians and pet guardians battle. Some common diseases associated with weight gain include hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's disease). Is your dog eating enough? If youve got a dog that participates in sports like flyball and weight pull, or a working dog like a police or cadaver dog, your dog needs more calories than the average pet. On the 9-point scale, a score of 4 to 5 would be ideal for most breeds, while 3 can be normal in sighthounds (Greyhounds, Whippets, Salukis, etc. ? The exact amount of calories a dog needs to maintain a healthy weight is variable and influenced by many factors including genetics, age, breed, and activity level. Once you have determined your dog's life stage and activity level, use your dog's weight in pounds to find the appropriate caloric intake. Offer fresh water instead of food. Calories are simply a measurement of energy. Run this number by your veterinarian to verify they are in agreement. Dogs that have not been spayed or neutered retain the hormones and muscle-building ability that fixed dogs have lost, which means they have a higher metabolism, thus needing more food. Like humans and all other animals, dogs need a certain number of calories to maintain energy and body mass. Search our database of over 13360 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians. Based on your pets degree of excess weight, you may choose a target weight higher than the ideal weight to start. In healthy pets, coat and skin quality also can be affected by the amount of protein (and a number of other nutrients) consumed. Most dogs love crunchy treats so make it a healthy and low-calorie choice. Whether you have concerns about your dog, cat, or other pet, trained vets have the answers! This is dependent on the level of activity your dog is participating in and may vary from day to day. To determine a dog's caloric needs, the dog's resting energy requirement (RER) and maintenance energy requirement (MER) must be calculated from the dog's weight in kilograms, or kg. To take in fewer calories than you burn, the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends cutting 500 to 750 calories a day to lose 1 to 1.5 pounds (0.5 to 0.7 kilograms) a week. She stays active with yoga and obtained her 200-hour yoga teacher certification in 2020. If your dog is a healthy weight, then thats the ideal weight youll use in the equation. Assess your individual dog's average daily activity. This is also a source of excess calories. Use the following dog feeding chart by weight to estimate how much your dog should eat daily. In cases that fail to respond to this number of calories, the total will need to be reduced by your veterinarian. Once a dog is spayed or neutered, hormone levels drop significantly, taking metabolism with them. She resides in Arkansas with her boyfriend of five years. She has a soft spot for special needs animals and has a three-legged senior dog and an internet famous cat with acromegaly and cerebellar hypoplasia. For example, a 100-pound dog should lose about a pound a week or four pounds per month. Give a couple of pieces of vegetables such as baby carrots, frozen sliced carrots, broccoli, green beans, celery, or asparagus. For both conditions, you'll want a low-sodium food. In addition to calories, you must consider protein, fat, and water content as well as the appropriate amount of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Most men need 2,000-3,000 calories. There are so many factors that play into how many calories your dog needs in a day, so calculating the totals and talking with your vet is very important. This will be on the back, in the AAFCO nutritional statement. Is your pup finishing other pets food? Cut back on treats. It all depends on factors like your pups breed, age, and daily activity level. Lets take a look at some general daily caloric needs for dogs and cats, and basic principles to help your pet maintain a healthy weight. The most important step in your dogs weight loss journey is consistency. One also can use the charts below to estimate resting calorie needs. Too many dogs start on a diet and fail to lose weight simply because the diet was not the problem - a disease was. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. In addition, your vet will need to assess your dog's overall health and make sure there is not an underlying disease affecting your dog's weight. However, these diets are often not as effective as veterinary weight loss diets if a dog needs to lose a significant amount of weight or if your dog has other medical conditions. Breeding & Reproduction Guide, Goldfish Aquaponics 101: Feeding, Stocking, & Care Guide. In addition to reevaluating whats in your dogs food, consider the habits youre establishing. instead of the calorie- and preservative-laden options you see in most stores. This means a 20 pound dog will need a minimum of 365 calories per day, not taking into account their energy level. Some overweight dogs will have sacks of fat located between their legs or on the top of their hips. The number of calories burned during a session of Pilates depends on the type and intensity of the workout you do. And while its always best to consult your vet, here are some general guidelines for a dog who has an average activity level, with actual needs based on specifics like breed, life-stage and body condition: Curious about how much you should be feeding your dog? Let Pet Plate help. Based on your dog's degree of excess weight, your veterinarian may recommend a target weight higher than the ideal weight to start. There are two steps to calculationing your dog's daily calorie needs. This is another source of excess calories. One of the best ways to determine how much you should feed your dog is by looking at your dogs weight or ideal weight if they are overweight and referencing a dog feeding chart. If the needle wont budge even though you have cut back calories and increased exercise, try feeding a therapeutic weight control dog food, like Metabolic diet, instead of your dogs regular maintenance diet. Large Breeds: (60-100 pounds) 3 to 4 1/2 cups per day, plus 1/3 cup for every 10 pounds over 100 pounds. You should also consider the calorie content of any safe human food you may feed your dog, as these add to your dog's daily intake. The best dog food should include a mix of: Wondering where the carbs are? After the dog loses this weight, a re-evaluation will be made to determine whether further weight loss is needed. They should also have a visible waistline and ribs that are not easily seen but can be felt through their coat without pressure. You can also examine their ribs. Puppy over 4 mos. For many dogs, the best way to feed will be by feeding a specific diet food in several meals per day. If you are unsure about how much food to give your dog, it is always better to err on the side of caution and feed them a little less rather than more. So while you might think your pudgy pooch looks cute, its important to get their weight in check. Ideally, a dog should lose about three to five percent of their body weight each month. It is up to us as good stewards to protect them from harm and not inadvertently contribute to their premature death or development of debilitating diseases. By If there is a decimal, round down to the closest measurable number, such as , or . Do not give meat treats or carbohydrate treats such as bread or pasta. Set up your myVCA account today. Do not dramatically cut back your dogs food, as this can upset your dogs metabolism, making weight loss more difficult. Check out our sister site, Live Eat Learn! Even a few extra pounds can lead to health problems down the road, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Consult the feeding chart on the back of your dog's food packaging. Your dog needs more or less calories depending on how much energy they use in a day. This reduced fat formula (25% less than than normal formula) doesn't skimp on protein, with lean turkey, turkey meal, and chicken meal as the first 3 ingredients. As a pet parent, itll be your responsibility to monitor your pups weight and make changes if needed. Does your dog have a swinging or sagging stomach? Considering the type of dog food, dog food portion size, and how much food your dog needs by weight can make a huge difference in dog weight management. Again, you should always consult with your veterinarian for accurate weight expectations, especially if you have a mixed breed. You should never put your dog on a diet without the assistance of your veterinary healthcare team. RELATED READ: Diet for Overweight Dogs: Weight loss & Management. Many puzzle toys use treats, but you can always swap these out with kibble or soft, healthy treats, like our. ", "name": "Assess your dog’s activity." Overfeeding can lead to obesity, which can cause health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and joint pain. Newborn puppies need a lot of calories! Want to make things even easier? Underweight dogs that are malnourished can suffer permanent organ damage, skin problems, hair loss, pressure sores, and lethargy. Your estimated daily calorie needs (rounded to the nearest 50 calories) are: See how your daily calorie needs change if you alter your activity level: calories Inactive calories Somewhat Active calories Active calories Very Active People judge the intensity of their activities differently. Sometimes, when it comes to weight loss for dogs, the answer is easy: reduce calories, increase exercise, and BOOMthe pounds come off. Sometimes, making only a slight change can deliver significant improvements. This could be a source of excess calories. This tool is meant to be used only as a guideline for healthy individuals and does not substitute veterinary advice. While dogs can safely eat many types of human food, its usually best to avoid giving your dog human food. for your dog than fast, extreme weight loss. If you have followed all of these instructions and been religious about the weight-loss program and still arent seeing results, then maybe your dogs hormones are to blame. A 60-pound dog is about 27 kg. 601 Vernon L. Tharp Street For many dogs, variety is important, and what is exciting or interesting today may be boring tomorrow. This is dependent on the level of activity your dog is participating in and may vary from day to day. Or maybe youve got an overzealous eater who needs some boundaries put in place. People are often surprised at how far their enterprising pooches will go to find food. Once you know your dogs ideal weight, you can start to reduce the food and treats youre giving them, along with making other healthy lifestyle swaps to help them lose weight. 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