How Much Does Your Dog Eat? A Guide by Weight, Age and Activity
The amount is the question we are asked most. There is no single number, because it changes with weight, age, activity and even the weather. Here is the calculation step by step, and how to adjust without guesswork.
Start from the table on the bag
Every reputable bag carries a table by body weight. That is a starting point, not a verdict.
Why it is not a verdict
The table assumes a moderately active dog in a temperate climate. Your dog may be more or less active, and our summer is not temperate.
Use it for the first two weeks
Give the stated amount and observe. Then adjust based on what you saw.
The factors that shift the number
Four things genuinely matter.
Age
A puppy needs roughly twice an adult's requirement relative to weight. A dog past seven needs about ten to twenty percent less.
Activity
A dog taken on two long walks daily is not the same as one walked for fifteen minutes. The gap can reach a third of the amount.
Neutering
Metabolic rate drops after neutering. The amount usually needs a modest reduction to hold weight steady.
Weather
Appetite falls naturally in heat and rises in cold.
Calculate it instead of guessing
Our calculator takes weight, age and activity, returns the daily requirement and suggests a suitable product: petzybites.com/dog-calories-calculator
The rib test: more accurate than the scale
The scale gives a number; the ribs tell the truth.
The method
Run your hand along your dog's side with light pressure.
What you want to find
Ribs felt easily without being visible, and a clear waist behind the ribs when viewed from above.
If you cannot feel the ribs
The portion is too large. Reduce it by ten percent and watch for two weeks.
If the ribs are clearly visible
The portion is too small. Increase by ten percent.
Split the meals properly
Splitting is not a detail.
Puppies
Four meals to four months, three to six months, then two.
Adults
Two meals a day is better than one. It reduces extreme hunger and helps digestion.
Large breeds
At least two meals matters. A single large meal raises the risk of gastric torsion in deep-chested breeds.
Do not feed right before or after exertion
Leave an hour either side of vigorous exercise.
Treats count
This is where many people lose the calculation.
The rule
Treats should not exceed a tenth of daily calories.
Subtract them from the meal
If you gave many treats in a day, reduce the evening meal by the same amount.
Table scraps
Not a treat. Salt, spices, onion and garlic are harmful, and onion and garlic are toxic.
Signs the amount is wrong
Watch for these.
Constant hunger and scavenging
Usually the amount is below requirement, or the food is low in energy density.
Lethargy and weight gain
The amount exceeds requirement, or activity has dropped.
Large, loose stools
Either the portion is too big or the food is poorly digested.
Our brands, made in Egypt
Petzy Bites is an Egyptian factory in the industrial zone of Banha. We produce our own brands for the Egyptian market: 101 Bites and Doggo for dogs, Bessa, MshMsh and CatCoty for cats, formulated to international standards with a lot number on every batch.
Where to buy
In our store at 101bite.com/store, priced in Egyptian pounds with delivery inside Egypt, or through the retail points we serve in Cairo, Giza and other governorates.
Thinking of manufacturing your own brand
We manufacture for third parties with a minimum order of three tons. Request a quote at petzybites.com/private-label
