Too large a portion leads to excess weight and joint strain; too small a one — to deficiencies and weakness. Choosing the right daily food portion is one of the most important decisions a pet owner makes. There is no single number that fits every dog, but there are clear rules that let you estimate the portion for a specific pet.
What does the daily portion depend on?
- Body weight — the basic starting point of any calculation
- Age — a puppy eats proportionally more than an adult dog, a senior less
- Activity — a working or sporting dog needs far more energy than a couch companion
- Condition — an overweight dog requires calorie restriction
- Food calorie content — different products have different energy value per 100 g
Dry food — the starting point
Most manufacturers provide a feeding table by body weight on the packaging. As a rough guide, an adult dog of moderate activity eats about 1.5–2.5% of its body weight in dry food per day. For a 20 kg dog this works out to roughly 300–500 g per day, depending on the calorie content of the product.
Step-by-step example: a 20 kg dog
- Assume a daily energy requirement of about 1000 kcal (an adult, moderately active dog)
- The dry food has a calorie content of 360 kcal per 100 g
- Daily portion = 1000 ÷ 360 × 100 = about 278 g of food
- Split into two meals of about 139 g each
If the food had 400 kcal per 100 g, the portion would drop to 250 g. That is why you should always check the calorie content on the packaging — the dog's weight alone is not enough.
Wet food and mixed feeding
Wet food has a much lower calorie content per gram (about 70–100 kcal per 100 g), because it contains a lot of water. This means the portions are larger by weight. With mixed feeding, add up the calories from both sources so you do not exceed the daily limit.
How to tell whether the portion is right?
- The ribs are palpable under the fingers but not visible to the naked eye
- A waist is noticeable when you look at the dog from above
- The dog has energy, a shiny coat and a stable weight
Note: the values above are estimates. This is not veterinary advice — set the feeding plan for a dog with a disease, allergy or excess weight together with a veterinarian.
Calculate the exact food portion for your dog: Dog food calculator →