Many people struggle when it comes to feeding their pet and one of the most common questions we get is “How much should I feed my dog or cat?” Here are some pet health tips to help you out.
The good news is that the right answer for how much to feed most pets can be summarised with some simple rules:
Invest in a nutritionally balanced diet
Stick to something that’s nutritionally balanced – ask one of our Pet Doctors team for a recommendation for what will fit with your pet. We have a variety of pet foods available in store that can be prescribed to fit your pet health requirements.
Measure, Measure, Measure and be consistent
This is essential if you want to get your pet’s portion just right. Stick to the same brand and formula.
Assess if you’re feeding too much or too little
Bringing your pet into Pet Doctors will allow us to be able to help you decide if your pet has a healthy body condition score and whether you will need to adjust as necessary.
Don’t Forget That Treats Count
Treats are food too, and are usually more dense in calories, so keep those treats to a minimum or seek low calorie, healthy alternatives like liver treats.
Take in to account the exercise levels and the age of your pet
Younger and more active pets may have a higher calorie requirement than a quieter, senior pet. Similarly, active breeds will need to consume more to meet their energy requirements. A good way to think of it is this.
Maintaining body weight – Calories going in must equal calories going out
Increasing body weight – Calories going in must be greater than calories going out
Decreasing body weight – Calories going in must be smaller than calories going out
Remember that Pet Doctors is the best place to seek advice when it comes to getting advice on pet health and always keep in mind that every animal is different… take these two dogs for example!
