How Much Food to Give Your Dog? Recommended Doses for Each Size and Age
Apparently, appetite comes with eating, even for our canine friends. However, this is not always a good thing... Unlike cats, dogs are able to eat large quantities of food all at once thanks to the elasticity of their gastric walls. However, this often translates into obesity problems that can jeopardize their health. Find out in this article how to avoid them by offering your furry friend balanced portions.
The amount of food a dog can eat daily varies based on several factors, such as size (small, medium or large), age, sex, movement, particular conditions (for example pregnancy or breastfeeding), metabolism .
In this article we see:
- How much food to give an adult dog
- Check out our table
- And what about puppies?
- Doses for 2 month old puppies
- Doses for 3 month old puppies
- Doses for 4 month old puppies
- And from 5 onwards?
- Quantity is not enough: pay attention to quality
- How much homemade food to give to the dog
- Choose Aldog® kibble
How much food to give an adult dog
Although there are many variables and it is always best to seek the advice of a veterinarian, we can still follow some guidelines to help us decide how much food to give our dog .
Adult dogs typically need one or two meals a day .
Let's make a first distinction between wet food and dry food . Since they are two different types of food , the quantities to be given to the dog also vary, let's see how:
- Wet food : an adult dog of medium size should consume approximately 30 to 40 grams per day calculated for each kilo of its weight.
- Dry food : since it is a more concentrated complete food, the ideal portion is lowered to approximately 10 grams per day for each kilo of the dog's weight.
Speaking of dry food, Aldog® Molosso , Aldog® Maintenance , Aldog® Nordic Sea are some of the kibbles specifically formulated for adult dogs. Below, here are the rations to follow based on size, valid for Aldog® food:
- small adult dogs between 2 kg and 8 kg : from 50 to 190 g per day
- medium-sized adult dogs between 9 kg and 25 kg : from 155 to 340 g per day
- large dogs over 25 kg : from 345 to 1030 g per day
We also get help from the information on the kibble packages or cans : the nutritional tables, in fact, indicate approximately how much food to give the dog based on weight, age and physical activity.
In particular, we must carefully read two pieces of information: the metabolizable energy ME, that is the nutritional value – the higher it is, the smaller the quantity of food to put in the bowl – and the Kilocalories per Kg , that is the value of the metabolizable energy.
Adult Dog Food Doses: Find Them Out in This Table
In the following table, we give you a general overview of the right doses of food to give to your four-legged friend in adulthood based on his weight . Remember that a dog is considered an adult starting from the completion of his first year of age .
How Much Dry Food Should Your Dog Eat*
| Peso del cane | Dosi giornaliere di cibo |
|---|---|
| 5 kg | 50-70 grammi |
| 10 kg | 100-140 grammi |
| 15 kg | 150-210 grammi |
| 20 kg | 200-280 grammi |
| 25 kg | 250-350 grammi |
| 30 kg | 300-420 grammi |
| 35 kg | 350-490 grammi |
| 40 kg | 400-560 grammi |
| 45 kg | 450-630 grammi |
| 50 kg | 500-700 grammi |
And how much wet food?*
| Peso del cane | Dosi giornaliere di cibo |
|---|---|
| 5 kg | 150-200 grammi |
| 10 kg | 300-400 grammi |
| 15 kg | 450-600 grammi |
| 20 kg | 600-800 grammi |
| 25 kg | 750-1000 grammi |
| 30 kg | 900-1200 grammi |
| 35 kg | 1050-1400 grammi |
| 40 kg | 1200-1600 grammi |
| 45 kg | 1350-1800 grammi |
| 50 kg | 1500-2000 grammi |
And what about puppies?
A separate chapter on how much food to give to a puppy: in this first phase of life, in fact, the puppy needs a type of diet that promotes correct metabolism and develops the bone and muscular system.
When feeding your puppy, you need to consider the weight he will have as an adult : Aldog® Puppy-Junior Pork and Aldog® Puppy-Junior Artica are the ideal foods for puppies from 2 to 12 months of age . Both single-protein , one based on pork and one based on salmon , these products are specifically formulated to ensure optimal growth of your puppy, thanks to the presence of FOS prebiotics for the bacterial flora , chondroitin , glucosamine and methylsulfonylmethane for the development and support of the joints.
Let's see some indications on how much food we can give to the puppy dog after weaning - the rations are based on the size and age of the dogs , and refer to Aldog® foods.
How many grams of kibble should a 2 month old puppy eat?
Let's see the recommended doses for a 2 month old puppy based on its size*:
| Taglia del cucciolo | Dose giornaliera consigliata |
|---|---|
| Piccola (2-8 kg) | 30-90 grammi |
| Media (8-25 kg) | 90-200 grammi |
| Grande (oltre i 25 kg) | 200-350 grammi |
How many grams of kibble should a 3 month old puppy eat?
And a 3 month old puppy?*
| Taglia del cucciolo | Dose giornaliera consigliata |
|---|---|
| Piccola (2-8 kg) | 40-110 grammi |
| Media (8-25 kg) | 110-240 grammi |
| Grande (oltre i 25 kg) | 240-400 grammi |
*La grammatura da somministrare varia in base al prodotto acquistato.
And how much food should you give your dog from 5 months onwards?
Once the delicate post-weaning phase is over, how should we manage our puppies' meals? We'll explain it to you here:
#1 Small puppies between 2kg and 8kg
Let's finally see how much food to give to a 4 month old puppy:
- From 6 to 8 months: between 55 and 185 g – max 2 meals per day
- From 10 to 12 months: between 50 and 185 g – max 2 meals per day
#2 Medium sized puppies between 8kg and 25kg
- From 6 to 8 months: between 190 and 370 g – max 2 meals per day
- From 10 to 12 months: between 180 and 260 g – max 2 meals per day
#3 Large breed puppies over 25 kg
- From 6 to 8 months: between 380 and 890 g – max 2 meals per day
- From 10 to 12 months: between 360 and 855 g – max 2 meals per day
As with adult food, it remains important to read the labels and nutritional tables on the food packages and, if necessary, consult your veterinarian.
Quantity is not enough: pay attention to quality
Now that we have clarified how much food to give to the puppy and adult dog, it is important to underline a crucial factor for the nutrition of your four-legged friend: the quantity of food counts for very little if you do not pay the right attention to its quality!
The selection of first choice ingredients plays an equally important role in the dog's diet. Choosing kibble rich in essential nutrients can significantly influence the amount of food needed.
Higher quality kibble is often more nutritious and digestible , meaning your dog gets the exact amount of nutrients he needs without having to consume large amounts of food. Additionally, a well-balanced formula can help meet your dog’s specific nutritional needs based on his age , activity level , and any special dietary requirements .
For kibble to be considered of excellent quality, it is essential that it is made with natural ingredients from traceable supply chains and that it contains a rich variety of mineral salts , vitamins, prebiotics and a significant quantity of meat , in order to guarantee your dog a complete and nutritious diet .
How much homemade food to give to the dog?
It's a different story if we prepare homemade delicacies for our four-legged friend every day. In this case, we really have to be very careful about how much homemade food we give our dog , because each meal should contain a carbohydrate base and a food with animal proteins.
Dogs, in fact, are carnivorous animals and have a harder time digesting vegetables and cereals – unless they are flaked or double-cooked like those in Aldog® kibble –.
A dog's diet can certainly be homemade, but it must be managed correctly : it is not enough to go by eye, but it is necessary to follow a real diet , before adhering to which, it is always better to also hear the opinion of the vet .
Play it safe, choose Aldog® kibble
As you have seen, regulating how much food to give to your dog or puppy is not complicated, but not so simple either. To be calm and cut to the chase, it is better to choose a complete food such as Aldog® dog biscuits :
healthy and balanced
They are natural dog biscuits free from colourings and preservatives
- light and easy to digest
- meat- based and low in grains
- specifics depending on the size and age of the dog
- with ingredients from a controlled Italian supply chain
- grain-free even for dogs intolerant to gluten
- available in mini, medium and maxi sizes and in different formats