How much homemade food to feed dog by weight?
Feeding your dog homemade food requires careful consideration so that it can receive a balanced diet. And this amount largely depends on their weight, activity level, age, and overall health.
In general, this amount would be 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups per day for small dogs, 2 cups to 3 cups of food per day for medium dog, 4 cups to 5 cups of food per day for large dogs and 5 cups to 6 cups of food per day for giant dogs.
Benefits of Homemade Dog Food
As a veterinarian, I can describe several benefits of feeding homemade dog food because of my long timer experience in this field. Those are:
Quality: High-quality and fresh homemade food ensures all the best possible nutrition for your dog’s according to their needs.
Avoiding Allergens: These types of homemade dog food normally do not contain allergic or sensitive to, such as certain proteins, grains, or additives.
Tailored Diet: Additionally, homemade dog foods allow you to customize your dog’s diet according to their specific health requirements, age, and activity level.
Specific Health Needs: Furthermore, you can address particular health conditions such as kidney disease, diabetes, or obesity by serving an appropriate ingredient to your dogs.
Easier on the Digestive System: Because of its easy digestion, this is the appropriate choice for those which have sensitive stomachs.
Improved Nutrient Absorption: And, this fresh and whole food can enhance nutrient absorption. Thus, it leads to better overall health.
Tastier Meals: Homemade food more appetizing than commercial kibble. That’s way; it is the best dog food for picky eaters.
Homemade Dog Food Recipe Calculator
Several factors must be considered for ensuring adequate nutrition without overeating or undereating. I earnestly request you to deeply consider those factors if you want to best homemade dog food.
Dog’s Weight: Dog’s current weight is highly considerable factors before making a homemade recipe for your dog. You should ensure a perfect amount of food according to your desire regarding gain or lose weight of dogs.
Activity Level: Active dogs which are engaged in working, sporting and high exercise levels require more calories. So, you should reserve a sufficient amount of food for your active dogs. On the other hand, a sedentary dog which has limited mobility requires fewer calories.
Age: Age is another important consideration before choosing a homemade recipe for your dogs. Basically, puppies require more calories per pound of body weight in comparison adult dogs. Adult dogs need maintenance calories to sustain their weight while fewer calories are required specific nutrients to support aging joints and other health concerns.
Breed: As different breeds have varying metabolic rates and nutritional needs, caloric requirement are varied depending on dog’s age.
Health Status: Dogs which have health issues such as diabetes, kidney disease, or allergies may require specialized diets.
Balanced Ingredients
Determine Daily Caloric Needs: The amount of food a dog needs based on age, activity level, and health. You can use below mentioned formula:
Resting Energy Requirement (RER) = 70 x (body weight in kg) ^0.75
Protein: Chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, pork, or fish are the compulsory ingredients that ensure necessary protein. Eggs are an excellent source of protein and other nutrients undoubtedly. So, you must include eggs in your dog’s food.
Carbohydrates: Brown or white rice is another important ingredients that can provide energy. Besides, potatoes would be essential ingredients.
Vegetables: Furthermore, you can add leafy Greens, Carrots and Peas for ensuring fiber, vitamins and confirming easy digestion.
Fats: Fish oil, olive oil, or flaxseed oil is the main source of essential fatty acids. So, you must ensure these types of fish related ingredients.
Calcium: Ground Eggshells and bone is a largest calcium source that is highly needed for your loving dogs. Therefore, you keep watch of including these eggshells and bone.
Fiber: Additionally, canned pumkin and Wheat bran helps largely in easy diegestion because of its extra fiber. So, it is compulsory to ensure sufficient fiber before defining food as a balanced diet.
Tips for Preparing Homemade Dog Food
I forcibly request you to read this section, if you want to make an ideal nutritive homemade dog food for your loving pet. This section undoubtedly helps you.
Consult with a Veterinarian or a Pet Nutritionist: Firstly, you consult with a veterinarian and pet nutritionists before starting your making process. Actually, this conversation allows you to understand your dog’s specific nutritional needs based on age, weight, breed, and health conditions.
Understand Nutritional Requirements: Dogs requires a balance diet with the combination of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. That’s way; you firstly collect chicken, beef, turkey, fish, eggs, rice, sweet potatoes, oats, fish oil, flaxseed oil, chicken fat before making dog food.
Choose Quality Ingredients: Ensuring fresh and high-quality ingredients is the precondition of balanced diet. So, you must try to avoid by-products and preservatives in your making food. Also, you avoid toxic foods like chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, and certain nuts.
Cook Properly: For killing harmful bacteria of meat, you must cook meat thoroughly and properly. Besides, you strictly avoid using of salt, sugar, or spices which can be harmful to dogs.
Maintain Proper Proportions: Following the recommended proportions by incorporating 40% protein, 50% vegetables, and 10% carbohydrates.
Incorporate Variety: Additionally, you must rotate proteins and vegetables to provide a variety of nutrients. This also prevents food boredom largely.
Supplement Wisely: Incorporation supplements is also essential during making homemade meals. Calcium, fish oil and multivitamins are the recommended supplement from veterinarian.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How much homemade dog food to feed 70 lb dog?
Daily amount of food is calculated by considering 2-3% of the dog’s body weight.
This calculation: 70 lb x 0.02 = 1.4 lb (22.4 oz) to 70 lb x 0.03 = 2.1 lb (33.6 oz) per day.
2. How much homemade dog food to feed 50 lb dog?
The amount of homemade food required for 50 lb dog is calculated by follow as:
50 lb x 0.02 = 1.0 lb (16 oz) to 50 lb x 0.03 = 1.5 lb (24 oz) per day.
3. How much raw food to feed dog by weight?
Here, I mention of exact amount of raw food for 50 lb (23 kg) dog. This is:
50 lb x 0.02 = 1.0 lb (16 oz) to 50 lb x 0.03 = 1.5 lb (24 oz) per day.
4. How much fresh food should I feed my dog by weight?
The amount of fresh food for your dogs can be calculated by using the same formula and by considering 2-3% of the dog’s body weight of dog.
For a 30 lb (14 kg) dog:
30 lb x 0.02 = 0.6 lb (9.6 oz) to 30 lb x 0.03 = 0.9 lb (14.4 oz) per day.
Conclusion
How much homemade food to feed dog by weight? If you used to serve homemade food to your dog, you should keep careful observation on balanced nutrition and proper portion sizes.
Besides, you can consult with a veterinarian or a pet nutritionist. Basically, they can give a guideline for making a perfect homemade food depending on dog’s specific needs.
