Dry dog food can be a great source of nutrition for your pet, available in various flavours and textures ensuring it is palatable for all breeds. Some dry dog food is even tailored to your dog’s specific needs, no matter their age, size or intolerances. However, portion control is a big concern amongst some dog owners, with some owners uncertain about how much they should be feeding their dog. Too much or too little can cause health issues for your pooch, so getting the right number of calories in your dog food is essential.
In this guide, we will explore how much dry food you should be feeding your dog, how you can calculate this amount, and the various dry dog food brands available to help you manage your dog’s weight. We will also discuss how mixing your dry food with wet food can benefit your dog, and how we can assist.
Discover how effective portion control can benefit your dog
Work out the best portion of dry dog food for your pooch
Explore our dry dog food brands in stock at Fetch
Mixing wet and dry dog food can add an extra tasty touch
See how we can help you and your dog
Why is Portion Control for Dogs so Important?
Controlling how many calories your dog takes in is important in keeping your dog healthy and managing their weight. Active dogs will often need more protein to make up for the calories they are burning, whereas older dogs may not need as much. Reasons for effective portion control include:
- Prevents Health Problems: Obesity in dogs can lead to serious health problems such as diabetes, joint issues, heart disease, respiratory issues, and decreased liver function. Managing food portions helps in preventing these conditions.
- Ensures Nutritional Balance: Feeding the correct portion ensures that dogs receive the right amount of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals necessary for their specific size, age, and activity level. Overfeeding or underfeeding can lead to nutritional imbalances.
- Improves Energy Levels: Properly portioned meals provide consistent energy levels throughout the day. Overfeeding can cause lethargy, while underfeeding can lead to weakness and decreased activity levels.
- Reduces Veterinary Costs: Preventing obesity and related health issues through portion control can result in fewer visits to the veterinarian, reducing medical expenses and ensuring better overall health for the dog.
- Improves Digestion: Giving your dog a larger portion of food than they need can overwhelm the digestive system and lead to loose stools as the body tries to expel nutrients that it doesn’t need.
If you’re struggling to get your dog’s food portions under control, consider a wellbeing consultation from our nutritional specialists here at Fetch, who can advise on the best dietary options to help your dog live a nutritionally balanced life.
How Do You Calculate Dog Food Portions?
How much dry dog food you should feed your dog depends on various factors, such as their breed, size and any existing health conditions. A working dog may also need a different calorie intake when compared to a less active dog. The type of food they are fed also comes with various feeding guidelines; our DARF cold pressed dog food range displays feeding guidelines based on the average weight of your dog. Although many different factors can affect dry dog food portion control, consider our table below as a starting point when feeding your dog DARF cold pressed dog food:
| Weight in KG | Daily Feeding Amount in G |
|---|---|
| 1-10 | 150 |
| 11-25 | 300 |
| 26-40 | 500 |
| 40+ | 700 |
Before making your final decision, consider the feeding guidelines on the food, and consider calorie content if it is displayed on the packaging.
What is the Best Dry Dog Food for Weight Management?
We stock a wide range of dog food brands at Fetch perfect for managing your dog’s weight and keeping their calorie count low.
- DARF light cold pressed dog food: DARF light comes in many tasty flavours your dog is sure to love, and is packed full of protein (at least 50% of all ingredients), vegetables and essential vitamins and minerals. DARF dog food comes in pellet form, making it much easier for your dog to digest than regular dog food. It is also available for puppies, adults and senior dogs alike, and is available on a subscription basis to give you peace of mind.
- Nourish Rite light: like DARF, Nourish Rite light is available for dogs of all ages, and can be bought on a subscription basis. Nourish Rite light provides lean meats such as chicken and turkey to help your dog build muscle mass without gaining too much fat, and contains no artificial ingredients.
- Sana: a high quality air dried option packed full of all the essential vitamins, Sana has a high protein content. The salmon flavour contains 80% salmon, as well as carrots, apples, peas and zucchini, ideal for providing your dog with a balanced diet.
- Canagan: as well as being a great choice for helping your dog manage their weight and calorie count, Canagan have special dry dog food options for certain needs, such as dental issues. We recommend introducing Canagan gradually when feeding for the first time, and if your dog is overweight, reduce food intake by 10%.
There are various dry dog food options that can also help your dog with issues such as joint health and development. You can read our previous guide on dry dog food for weight loss in our advice hub here.
Can Mixing Dry Dog Food with Wet Dog Food Help my Dog?
Mixing dry dog food with wet food can help your dog manage their weight if done correctly, although both options are perfectly fine when provided separately. Before mixing, make a gradual transition to avoid digestive upset and disturbing your dog’s gut health. It is also worth measuring your dog’s calorie intake, if possible, and monitoring their portion sizes to make sure you aren’t under or overfeeding.
Portions must be adjusted based on your dog’s activity levels too, and it also helps to weigh your dog regularly to keep track of their weight.
You can view our full collection of wet dog food here.
Dry Dog Food at Fetch
At Fetch, we stock various dry dog food brands all with the capability of being portioned to help your dog control both weight gain and loss. We can provide a wellbeing consultation to help you provide effective portion control for your dog, helping them become healthier and enjoy a balanced diet.
To find out more, visit us on our website here.
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