How to calculate the portion of wet food for a dog?

How to calculate the portion of wet food for a dog? - briefly

To determine the appropriate portion of wet food for your dog, consider both their body weight and the specific nutritional guidelines provided by the manufacturer on the packaging. As a general rule, an average-sized adult dog typically requires about 2-3% of their total body weight in food per day, with wet food often providing more calories than dry food.

How to calculate the portion of wet food for a dog? - in detail

To determine the appropriate portion of wet food for your dog, follow these steps:

  1. Understand Your Dog's Needs: Begin by consulting with your veterinarian to ensure you understand your dog's specific dietary requirements. Factors such as age, weight, activity level, and overall health condition should be considered.

  2. Calculate Daily Caloric Requirements: Use the following formula to estimate your dog's daily caloric needs:

    • Resting Energy Requirement (RER) = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75
    • Multiply RER by a factor depending on the dog’s life stage and activity level:
      • Growth (puppy): 3.0
      • Maintenance (adult, average activity): 1.6
      • Senior or low activity: 1.2

  3. Determine Caloric Content of Wet Food: Check the label on the wet food packaging for the caloric content per can. This is usually provided in kilocalories (kcal) per can.

  4. Calculate Portion Size: Divide your dog's daily caloric requirements by the caloric content per can to determine how many cans of wet food you should feed your dog each day:

    • Daily portion size = Daily caloric requirement / Caloric content per can

  5. Adjust for Feeding Frequency: If you prefer to feed your dog multiple times a day, divide the daily portion size by the number of feeding sessions. For example, if you feed twice a day, divide the daily portion size by 2.

  6. Monitor and Adjust: Regularly monitor your dog's weight and condition. Adjust the portion size as needed based on your veterinarian’s advice to maintain optimal health.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your dog receives a balanced and appropriate portion of wet food tailored to their specific needs.