Is 2 cups of food a day enough for a dog
How to Accurately Measure Dog Food Portions
With more pet food options available than ever before, many owners feel unsure about how much they should be feeding their dogs. In fact, over 50% of pets are considered overweight, which suggests that the majority of us arent quite getting it right. This article will discuss pet food labels and interpreting feeding guidelines, as well as how to accurately measure out the correct portion for your dog.
Understanding dog food labeling
A complete and balanced dog food must include feeding guidelines on the label, but its important to remember that they are exactly that a guide. Every dog is a unique individual and will have different nutritional requirements depending on factors like breed, current weight, activity levels, health, and if theyve been neutered. An active working breed like a Border Collie herding sheep, for example, is going to need more energy from their diet than a whippet that prefers to snooze on the sofa!
The calorie content will also vary immensely between different dog foods so just because 1 cup of your dogs current food is the right amount to feed, it doesnt mean this will be the same if you switch your dog to a new food.
How to work out how much to feed your dog
1. Use your dogs ideal body weight as a guide
Most feeding guidelines will list a recommended amount of food for your dogs body weight. The weight to which you should be feeding is your dogs ideal body weight and not their current weight if they are under, or more commonly, overweight.
Your veterinarian will help you work out your pets ideal body weight using the body condition scoring system. As a general rule, a pet in ideal body condition will have minimal fat coverage over the ribcage and the ribs will be easy to feel. They will also have a visible waist or narrowing between their ribs and their hips.
2. Adjust for your dogs activity level
Many pet food labels will also list a range of weights and a corresponding range for the suggested amount to feed. These ranges can be extremely wide, especially for large breed dogs, so it can be difficult to know quite how much you should be feeding.
This is where individual variation comes into play. If your dog is at the lower end of the weight range, they should also be fed an amount at the lower end of the recommended feeding range. If your dog is a bit of a couch potato and puts on weight easily, they should also be fed towards the lower end of the range, compared to a highly active dog.
3. Divide between the number of meals
Its also important to remember that the suggested amount of food on most dog food labels is for the entire day (24 hours). As most adult dogs eat two meals a day, the recommended amount needs to be divided into two meals.
4. Let your veterinary team work out how much food you should feed
A more accurate way of calculating the amount of food your dog needs is to have your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist calculate their individual daily calorie requirement. Most pet foods will also specify the number of calories per cup on the label and this can be used to work out how many cups of food per day your dog needs. The Pet Nutrition Alliance has a free calorie calculator but its important to use this alongside advice from your veterinarian, and only for healthy dogs that are currently an ideal bodyweight.
5. Regularly reassess
Once you think youre feeding your dog the right amount, weigh them after two weeks to see if their weight is changing. If theyre on track, weigh again a month later to check again. You can then adjust their food up or down as needed to make sure theyre the right weight.
How to accurately measure your dog food portions
As previously discussed, its important to make sure youre using a level standard 8oz measuring cup and not just filling up any old cup or container!
How much is a cup of dog food?
Just like a cup of coffee, size really does matter! Most feeding guidelines are referring to a level standardized 8oz. measuring cup that hasnt been under or overfilled. Using a coffee cup or any non-standardized measuring container means you could be feeding your dog a lot more (or less) than you think! Even if youre using a measuring cup that was sent with the food youre using, its still inaccurate.
Is using a cup the most accurate way to measure out a dogs food?
Studies have shown that even using standardized measuring containers, we humans arent very good at accurately measuring out portion sizes. In a recent study, up to 80% of pet owners were found to consistently overestimate portion size, even when using a standardized measuring container. Greater levels of inaccuracy were seen when measuring out smaller amounts of pet food, which is particularly important to keep in mind when feeding small breed dogs like chihuahuas.
Weigh your dogs food instead!
In fact, the most accurate way to measure out your dogs food is by weighing it out in grams using a set of kitchen scales. Though this might seem unnecessary and time-consuming, its actually relatively simple and helps your pet maintain a healthy bodyweight by feeding them the correct portion size consistently.
When weighing out your dogs food make sure the kitchen scales are placed on a level surface and the containers weight is zeroed or tared before you begin to add the food to measure it out.
How to work out how many grams of food your dog needs
1. If you already know how many cups per day your dog needs of their current diet.
Many manufacturers will list the number of grams that make up a standardized cup on the label or product website. The number of grams per standardized cup will be different for every dog food and will depend on things like kibble size, shape, and weight.
You can then use this to calculate the expected number of grams your dog needs per day.
For example:
A 20 lb dog requires 1 and 1/2 cups of ABC dog food per day.
The manufacturer states that 1 cup of ABC dog food weighs 92g
- Multiply the required number of cups per day by the number of grams per cup
= 1.5 cups X 92 g = 138 g of ABC dog food per day
- Divide this by the number of meals per day. This dog is fed 2 meals per day.= 138g / 2 meals
So this dog needs 69 grams of ABC dog food for each meal.
2. Using your dogs required daily calorie intake.
Your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist is the best person to calculate your dogs calorie requirements and will take into account their individual variations and needs. You will need to know how many calories there are per gram of your pets current food, which should be available on the label or manufacturers website.
For example:
A 20 lb dog in ideal body condition with a required calorie intake of 514 kilocalories per day, according to their veterinarian.
The manufacturer states that DOGGY Dog Food contains 3616 kilocalories per kilogram equal to 3.6 kilocalories per gram.
- Divide the required calorie intake per day (514) by the number of calories per gram (3.6)
= 514 kCal/3.6 kCal per gram = This dog needs 143 grams of DOGGY Dog Food per day.
- Divide this by the number of meals per day. This dog gets 2 meals per day.= 143 g / 2 meals = this dog needs 71 grams of DOGGY Dog Food per meal.
If the math makes your head spin, dont be afraid to ask your veterinary clinic for assistance they will be only too happy to help you!
The importance of portion size
Nutrition contributes significantly to the health of our dogs and getting the portion size right plays a huge part in maintaining a healthy bodyweight. With over 50% of pets in the United States currently overweight, making sure youre feeding your dog the right amount has never been so important.
Dogs that are overweight or obese are prone to many health conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, difficulty breathing (especially flat-faced brachycephalic breeds like pugs), and hormonal disorders.
Obesity also has a major impact on your dogs quality of life and is known to shorten their life expectancy. Sticking to the correct portion size and accurately weighing out your pets food can help them maintain a healthy bodyweight for life!
READ NEXT: When to switch puppies to 2 meals a day
Can I still give my dog treats?
Its not wrong to treat your dogs its an important part of your bond. However, remember that treats (including table scraps!) can add up significantly to our dogs daily calorie intake. What might seem like a few little snacks here and there could be blowing out our carefully constructed diet!
Make sure that treats make up no more than 10% of your pets total daily calorie intake, and adjust the amount of dry food that they get accordingly. If youre worried about the number of treats youre feeding your dog, keep a daily food diary and show it to your vet.
Conclusion
Obesity is extremely common in pets and comes with major health complications. Understanding how much to feed your dog is crucial to helping them maintain a healthy bodyweight for life. Accurately measuring out portions using kitchen scales is the best way to achieve a consistent feeding plan and minimizes the risk of overfeeding.
How Much Should a Lab Eat | Labrador Feeding Chart by Age
Labrador Retrievers are known for their friendly, affectionate nature, but they also have big appetites!
As a responsible pet owner, its important to understand: how much should a lab eat, when to switch from puppy food to dog food Labrador, and what to feed your Lab to keep them at a healthy weight and maintain their overall well-being.
For your convenience, we have prepared a Labrador feeding chart by age and jotted down the major factors to look at before feeding your furry pal.
Keep reading to get all the information, you need to make informed decisions about your Labradors diet.
How Much to Feed Labrador Puppy-Feeding Chart
Like other breeds, in the first few weeks, Labrador puppies rely on their mothers milk, which helps to boost their immune system. After 4th week, you can start offering him high-quality puppy-formulated food. It is recommended to feed them at least thrice or four times a day. Their body is at a growing stage, it needs more healthy food for better development.As per AKC, Growing pups should be fed puppy food, a diet specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs for normal development. Feeding adult food will rob your puppy of important nutrients.
Furthermore, its important to feed your Labrador puppy the correct amount of food, so that you dont overfeed them. We have prepared a Labrador puppy feeding chart, which will give you the proper food and calorie ratio.
For instance, if you are raising a young Labrador puppy, its suggested to first check the weight and then select the feeding ratio. If he weighs around 6-15 pounds, then 1 2/3 cups daily is more than enough, with 649 kcal per day.
Note:- Divide per day feeding ratio into four equal intervals and then feed your pup. This will help you to keep a track of the calorie ratio, and you will not overfeed your Labrador puppy.
Adult Labrador Feeding Ratio
Your Labrador nutrient requirements change with age, when they reach adulthood you need to switch their food. It is suggested to start feeding your Lab, adult dog food when he turns one year old.
Along with switching food, you need to change their feeding ratio because as their activity level increases, the demand for food also increases. For your better preference, we have prepared an adult Labrador feeding chart, which will help you to feed him the correct amount of food.
An Adult Labrador with high activity will need more food than one with less activity. For instance, your adult Lab, whose weight is around 65-70 pounds, requires 11 2/3 cups daily with 4529 kcal per day. On the other hand, if he is not an active one then you need to feed him 1811 kcal per day.
Note:- Always seek advice from the vet before switching your pups food. It is suggested to go for high-quality food that is specially formulated for larger breeds.
Senior Labrador Feeding Ratio
When your Labrador turns 7 years old, he enters the senior hood zone. His body structure, eating habits, and activity level all vary with time. You cannot feed him adult dog food, now you have to switch to senior dog food. This is because now his body will require more protein to maintain their joints and muscle health.
For your reference, we have prepared a PDF of a senior Labrador feeding chart, which is bifurcated into weight and activity level.
For instance, your oldie Lab whose weight is around 71-75 pounds, and is moderately active by nature, In such a scenario, it is suggested to feed 3 1/2 cups daily with a total calorie intake ratio of 1338 kcal per day.
On the other hand, if your oldie Lab is not an active one, then it is advisable to cut down the calorie ratio. Without any physical activities, his body wont be able to digest food easily, and this will lead to health issues in the future.
Labrador Feeding Tips
So far you read about the Labrador feeding chart, and how the feeding ratio varies as per their life stage, weight, and activity level. Now, lets have a look at the feeding tips, which will help you to select the appropriate dog food for your furry pal.
Before following the feeding guide, its important to have knowledge regarding the nutrients, weight, activity, level, and foods to avoid.
So, you can select the appropriate dog food for your Lab, as per his health. And feed him the correct amount of food.
Lets quickly explore the important factors:
1. Nutrients Guidelines
One should know how to check the nutrient list while purchasing dog food for their pup. This is because providing high-quality dog food to your Labrador is very important, selecting an appropriate food solves half of your problem.
PetMD states, Nutritional dilated cardiomyopathy (nutritional DCM) is a heart disease Labrador Retrievers may acquire by eating a grain-free diet that contains peas, legumes, or lentils among the top five ingredients. DCM causes the heart to become dilated and unable to function properly.
It has been noticed that few Labradors are allergic to grains, so its recommended to feed grain-free food. But still, you need to check out the ingredients list. There are a few food products, which include peas, lentils, and other ingredients, which are not good for his health and lead to severe health issues in the future.
Here is the essential nutrient list which should be there in your Labs food in an appropriate ratio.
- Meat Protein
- Omega-3
- Omega-6
- Carbohydrates in moderate amount
- Grain-free
- Glucosamine and Chondroitin
- Vitamins and Minerals
Note:- Make sure you are feeding high-quality food enriched with all these essential nutrients. Follow the Labrador feeding chart, it will help you to feed your pup the correct amount of food and calories.
2. Weight Consideration
The ideal weight of an adult male Labrador is around 65-80 pounds, and an adult female Labrador is 60-80 pounds. Its important to maintain your Lab weight because they are prone to obesity. If you do not keep an eye on their feeding habits, then there are chances they will gain unwanted fats.
Furthermore, it has also been noticed that they are one of the greediest breeds, they have the habit of demanding treats. It is advisable not to feed them frequently, it will create health issues.
We recommended you check your Labradors weight and accordingly select the feeding ratio from our given chart. For example, if you are raising an adult Labrador, who weighs around 65-70 pounds, it is recommended to feed him 4529 kcal per day.
Note:- Your Labs feeding ratio solely depends on his age, weight, and activity level. So, you have to keep a track of his weight and calorie intake ratio. This will help you to give your furry pal a healthy and happy lifestyle for a longer period of time.
3. Activity Level
Well, focusing on the activity level is one of the major factors to look upon while feeding your Labrador, it helps you to select the appropriate food ratio as per their body requirement.
Let me explain it to you with an example, suppose you are raising an adult Lab, whose weight is around 71-75 pounds. Your furry pal is a super active one, loves to go for a walk, carries out all the physical activities, etc. In such a scenario, it is recommended to feed, him, 4778 kcal per day.
The more active your Lab is, the more he will require calories to meet his bodys needs for better development. Plus, adult Labradors metabolism works effectively, they can digest food easily if fed in the correct ratio.
Note:- It is suggested to take your Labrador for a walk at least twice a day, and regular exercise is a must for them. This will not only keep him active, but also his metabolism will work effectively, and could easily digest the food.
4. Foods to Avoid
Its very natural to share your meal with the furry pal, but you have to be careful because you cannot feed everything to your dog. Their body cannot take all types of ingredients.
Heres a list of ingredients, which you should avoid feeding your Labrador.
- Nuts
- Chocolate
- Onion and Garlic
- Alcohol
- Milk
- Ice cream
- Cheese
- Caffeine
- Yeasty Dough
Make a habit of checking the ingredient list, and avoid toxic ingredients which can harm your furry pals health. Once you are cleared with the ingredients, select the appropriate one for your Lab and feed him.
You can refer to our Labrador feeding chart. It will give you an idea regarding the food and calorie ratio so that you wont jumble up and end up overfeeding your furry pal.
Note:- Consult the vet before selecting commercial dog food for your Lab because they will guide you on which ingredients are more suitable to your furry pals body, and can easily be digestible.
FAQs
How much food should I feed my Labrador?
Generally, it is recommended to feed 11 1/2 cups daily to your healthy adult Labrador, but this feeding ratio varies. It solely depends on your Labs life stage, weight, and activity level. For instance, if you are raising an adult Lab but is not an active one, then it is suggested not to feed him more calories. As his body wont be able to easily digest it, which will lead to weight gain and other health issues in the future.
Why labs are always hungry?
It has been noticed, Labrador is the greediest one, they keep demanding tempting treats. Its not like they are always hungry, out of their eating habits they want more and more food. Even after feeding him an ample amount of meals, if he is demanding treats, then dont give him. This is because it will lead to overfeeding will gain weight and health complications.
Is rice good for Labrador?
Yes, rice is good for Labrador. Many dog food brands include brown rice in their meal. If you feed rice to your Labrador, its good, it will make his immune system and metabolism stronger and will work effectively. However, always feed him in limits because overfeeding is not good for his health.
Is boiled egg good for Lab?
Eggs are good for dogs, it contains protein, vitamin, and fatty acid, which is good for their health. You can feed boiled eggs to your Labrador, it will boost his immune system, and make metabolism more effective. In fact, eggs are good for large breeds.
Well, Its a Wrap!
Now, we know feeding a Labrador involves choosing high-quality food, and feeding them the correct amount of food. Furthermore, keep a track of their weight, and activity level, and accordingly feed them. This will prevent you from overfeeding him.
Labradors are the greediest breed, even if their stomach is full, they will demand more treats. So, you have to be very careful, while feeding him, and make sure your pup carries out daily exercises.
By following these guidelines, you can help your Lab maintain a healthy weight and enjoy a long and happy life.
Feel free to download our Labrador feeding chart, for your future reference.
REFERENCE:
- Heinze, C. V. R. (2022, August 17). All About Ash. Clinical Nutrition Service at Cummings School. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2022/08/all-about-ash/
2. John, J. D. (2023, March 3). What is Ash in Dog Food? And Its Importance. DogLikesBest. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://www.doglikesbest.com/what-is-ash-in-dog-food
3. John, J., DVM. (2023, March 7). How Much Should a Lab Eat | Labrador Feeding Chart by Age | DogLikesBest. DogLikesBest. Retrieved March 7, 2023, from https://www.doglikesbest.com/labrador-feeding-chart/
Julia is a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist, practicing veterinarian in a non-profit animal hospital and feline sanctuary located in Rochester, NY. She is also a full-time veterinary advisor at DogLikesBest. She focuses on writing healthcare-related topics including dog foods, treats, veterinary diets, food for specific healthcare features, etc. Moreover, any article on DogNeedsBest that has to concern feline health in any way, goes under her scrutiny before being published.
