Should I feed my dog 2 cups twice a day
How Much Sundays Should I Feed My Dog?
Were very proud of the fact that Sundays is unlike any other dog food youve fed before. But we also know that this can make the early days of feeding a little confusing.
For starters, its
air-dried. This not only means that the food is shelf stable, but also that it is nutrient dense. Because every bite is so packed with nutrition, youre likely going to feed lessand in some cases much lessthan you are used to.
We want to make caring for your dog as easy as possible. So, take a look at these helpful feeding tips before you get started and fully transition your pup to their new favorite food.
How Do I Measure the Serving Size?
A cup of Sundays is different from your usual measuring cup. A US baking up holds 8 ounces of liquid. But when you fill a baking cup with Sundays, it measures to about 3.5 oz worth of food.
Heres another way to look at it: a teaspoon of fine salt is twice as heavy as a teaspoon of coarse salt because the larger granules means larger air gaps. So the full size pieces of Sundays are like diamond kosher salt in
this example, whereas the smaller pieces could be compared to the fine table salt.
You can use a dog food scoop or baking cup to measure out your dogs portion size. But a
food scalewill give you the most accurate measurement.
How Much Should I Feed My Dog?
Youll get custom feeding instructions for your dog based on their age, weight, breed, and activity level once you complete
the quiz. But as a general guideline we recommend that you feed approximately cup for every 10lbs of your dogs body weight, twice per day.
- How much should I feed my 10 pound dog?
- cup twice a day ( cup per day total)
- How much should I feed my 30 pound dog?
- cup twice a day (1 cups per day total)
- How much should I feed my 50 pound dog?
- 1 cups twice a day (2 cups per day total)
- How much should I feed my 70 pound dog?
- 1 cups twice a day (3 cups per day total)
- How much should I feed my 90 pound dog?
- 2 cups twice a day (4 cups per day total)
You can always refer back to your dogs feeding instructions by logging into your Sundays account or by visiting sundaysfordogs.com/howmuch.
How-To Transition to Sundays for Dogs
We suggest that you follow our gradual transition guidelines for the smoothest adjustment and to avoid tummy upset. Take a look at the recommended guide below:
Days 1&2: 25% Sundays, 75% old food
Days 3&4: 50% Sundays, 50% old food
Days 5&6: 75% Sundays, 25% old food
Day 7: 100% Sundays
And remember, our customer care team is here to help! Every dog is different, so your pup may need a slightly different schedule or feeding portion than what is recommended on the box. Were just a call or click away to help you and your pup find success with Sundays!
The Pros And Cons Of Feeding Your Dog Once A Day
The most common feeding schedule for adult dogs is one or two meals daily. I recommend that most people feed their dogs twice a day. But feeding your dog once a day can work well in some circumstances.
The best feeding schedule for your individual dog will depend partly on the type of food you give them. And my advice is based on my own forty years experience of feeding both kibble and raw, to dozens of different dogs.You can check out what I feed my own dogs each day in this article
Considerations
Is it cruel to feed a dog once a day?
The short answer is no. Traditionally almost all adult dogs were fed once a day. This was the norm when I was a kid. The rationale behind this schedule is that dogs are carnivores, and it is natural for them to eat a large amount of food in one go, and then fast for many hours, before eating again.
In those days most dogs were fed on a mixture of canned (wet) dog food, and dog biscuits together with scraps leftover from human meals.
However, most modern dogs are fed on kibble. And with dry food, feeding once a day has some disadvantages. Lets dig into those, and help you decide how often to feed your dog.
Natural feeding patterns
Its true that your dog is genetically almost identical to the wolves from which they descend. Wild wolves or other dog species hunting in groups may bring down a large prey animal, and feast on it. Then not eat for a day or two.
Its also true that dogs have been catching much smaller prey and scavenging from humans for thousands of years, and have adapted well to eating smaller and more frequent meals.
Pros and cons large vs smaller meals
Feeding once a day is convenient. And with a raw diet, it can be safe and satisfactory for most medium to large dogs
The natural diet of a dog, raw meaty bones, organs, eggs, and even invertebrates such as worms and beetles, are all processed very quickly by a dogs digestive system. Its designed perfectly for the job. And because there are no fillers or carbs in this food, it isnt very bulky. Everything is digested with little waste.
With kibble, feeding once a day only, can be problematic for some dogs. Its all to do with the portion size. And of course once daily meals are twice as big as twice daily meals.
Big dogs
It can be risky to feed a large or deep chested dog their whole days ration of kibble in one hit. Thats because these types of dog are more prone to suffering from bloat.
When we feed our dogs on kibble, we are asking the dogs digestion to take on a task that it isnt quite designed for. Along with the protein, fat and minerals that your dog needs, are a lot of bulky fillers.
While the food looks and feels light and compact when you pour it into the bowl, at that point it is completely dehydrated. It starts to swell up inside your dog as soon as they start to drink.
Its worth thinking about what happens to the bowl of kibble your dog just ate, when they head over to their water dish. Try dropping a few pieces into a glass of water to see how much they expand!
Your dog needs that water so dont ration it. But be aware that they can end up with a lot of heavy food sitting in their stomach, and this may increase their risk of suffering from bloat.
Little dogs
Small dogs often need a minimum of two meals per day, in order to feel well. My own Jack Russell terrier will often vomit if she misses her breakfast, and this is quite common in little dogs.
Some small dogs also find it hard to consume enough in one sitting to keep their weight up. So feeding twice a day may be necessary for many dogs weighing much less than around 20lbs.
This rule applies with both raw food and kibble.
Puppies
All puppies need feeding more frequently than adult dogs.
Most kibble fed puppies need at least four meals a day until they are three months old, then three meals a day until six months.
Some raw fed puppies can drop a portion a bit sooner.
Food should be fun
Aside from the health and safety issues around eating kibble, food is a source of great pleasure in our lives, and dogs feel the same way. They enjoy their meals. And look forward to the next one.
Most dogs eat kibble quite fast. Its unusual for a dog to take more than five minutes over their meal. And twenty four hours is a long time for a kibble fed dog to go between meals, especially when the last meal was over so quickly!
Raw meaty bones take a lot of time to consume, and can keep a dog occupied happily for half an hour or more. But even so I think there is a lot of pleasure to be gained if this experience happens twice in each day rather than once.
Which is best? One meal or two?
Your adult dog will most likely thrive whether you divide their daily ration into one meal or two. However, if your dog is large or deep chested, and fed on kibble, I recommend you feed twice daily, dividing that ration into a morning and evening feed.
Obviously, twice daily meals doesnt mean twice the quantity. You feed the same daily ration but divide it into smaller portions
I do think it means twice the fun though!
And while once daily feeding is suitable for all but the smallest raw fed dogs, I feed all my dogs raw, and, twice daily
Let me know what you decide to do!
Im always interested to hear from readers about how they feed their dogs, so do drop a comment in the box below!
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Are You Feeding Your Dog the Right Amount?
Why the Right Dog Food Amount Matters
If you feed your dog too little, they can suffer from nutritional deficiencies.
However, If you feed your dog too much, it will eventually result in obesity and its related health issues, like:
Giving your dog the right amount of quality dog food can help support your pets overall health and keep them feeling their best.
How to Find the Right Amount of Dog Food for Your Dog
You need to account for several factors when determining exactly how much your dog should be eating.
Consider the Important Factors
The correct meal size depends on factors like:
Type of food
Number of meals
Body weight
Metabolic rate
Amount of exercise
Look at the Feeding Guide on the Bag
To start the process, take a look at the feeding guide on your dog foods label. They are usually presented as a table that looks something like this:
Unless stated otherwise, these amounts give you the total that is recommended for your dog over a 24-hour period.
Most adult dogs should eat two meals a day, and puppies often require threeor more feedings, so youll need to divide the amount in the table by the number of meals you are offering.
Take Your Dogs Lifestyle Into Account
Combine this information with your knowledge of your dogs lifestyle to come up with the initial amount of food to offer your dog.
For example, if I had a relatively inactive 35-pound Corgi who had a tendency to gain weight, I might start with a little less food than the table recommends. On the other hand, if my dog was a 35-pound Border Collie who never sits still, I would feed a little more.
Consider Using a Calorie Calculator
Another option is to try using a calorie calculator for dogs, but keep in mind that while these often spit out a precise number, your dogs actual needs may be as much as 25% more or less.
Determine Your Dogs Body Condition Score
Whichever method you pick, youll have to use a scale orbody condition scoring systemto fine-tune the amount of food you offer.
Your veterinarian can help you decipher your dogs body condition score (BCS) and determine an appropriate calorie amount.
In general, dogs who are at a healthy weight:
Have an hourglass figure when you look down on them from above. The abdomen should be narrower than the chest and hips.
Are tucked up when you look at them from the side. This means that their chest is closer to the ground than their belly when standing.
Have ribs that are not readily visible but are easily felt with only light pressure.
Keep a Record of Your Dogs Weight Change
Check your dogs weight every 2-4 weeks and keep a diary of your results. If your dog is inappropriately gaining or losing weight, adjust your portion sizes appropriately. Make sure to discuss these changes with your veterinarian so they can ensure that there are no underlying conditions.
Reassess the Portion Size if You Switch Foods
Every time you change dog food formulas, you will have to go through this entire process again, because the number of calories in the food will be different.
Always Talk With Your Veterinarian
Talk to your veterinarian if you have any questions about your dogs health or diet. They can help you determine exactly how much food to offer based on the specifics of your dogs case.
Featured Image: iStock.com/Chalabala
