Feeding Amounts & Frequency
Basic Instructions:
Feeding amounts for an average adult dog will generally vary between 1.5% and 2.5% of body weight and for the average adult cat 2% to 3% of body weight. These a just guidelines. The appropriate percentage of body weight for daily food requirement depends on breed, activity level, and age. Puppies, kittens and pregnant or lactating females require more food (4% to 8%+ of body weight, depending on varying factors). Watch for weight gain or loss and adjust accordingly.
Weight of Pet - Daily Food Requirement (average activity level):
Dogs at 2% of body weight: Cats at 3 % of body weight:
10 lbs 1/4 lb or 1/2 cup 10 lbs 4.8 oz or about 2/3 cup
25 lbs 1/2 lb or 1 cup
50 lbs 1 lb or 2 cups
100 lbs 2 lbs or 4 cups
• Feed adult pets 2 times a day – 1/2 of daily amount for each meal.
• Feed puppies and pregnant/lactating females 3 to 4 times daily - divide daily
amount into 3 or 4 portions and feed one portion per meal.
A Raw Feeding Calculator, Daily Feeding Amount Examples,
and Measure Equivalents are provided below.
About Feeding Frequency:
We recommend feeding an average adult pet, regardless of weight, at least two times a day. Just like us, our companion animal’s energy comes from the food they ingest. As they take in the calories (energy stored in food) their body either transforms it or stores it. Feeding them more than once a day provides them a better opportunity to get the most out of the food they eat.
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“Scientific studies have demonstrated that dietary thermogenesis [the process of heat production in organisms that occurs in warm-blooded animals] is greater in dogs fed four meals daily than fed one large meal. The rise in metabolism amounted to 11% increase overall. Thermogenesis is also increased with a high protein dog food. Simply stated, higher levels of protein fed in smaller meals throughout the day actually helps to provide optimum cat and dog nutrition and to keep an animal thinner, more active and in better condition.”
William M. Barnett, DVM
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Daily Feeding Amount Examples: Print Chart
The following chart provides daily feeding amounts for the average adult dog. Most average activity adult cats will eat at least 2 1/2% of their body weight daily. For puppies, kittens and pregnant or lactating females please calculate accordingly. A handy Feed Calculator is also provided below to assist you with this or in the case where your pet falls between the weights listed here.
Weight
in
Pounds
|
Low Activity
1.5 % of body wt.
Daily Amounts
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Average Activity
2.0 % of body wt.
Daily Amounts
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High Activity
2.5 % of body wt.
Daily Amounts
|
Performance
3.0 % of body wt.
Daily Amounts
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12 .5 lbs
|
0.18 lb or
2.88 oz or 3/8 cup
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1/4 lb or
4.0 oz or 1/2 cup
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0.30 lb or
4.8 oz or 5/8 cup
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0.375 lb or
6.0 oz or 3/4 cup
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25 lbs
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3/8 lb or
6.0 oz or 3/4 cup
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1/2 lb or
8.0 oz or 1cup
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5/8 lb or
10.0 oz or 1 1/4 cups
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3/4 lb or
12.0 oz or 1 1/2 cups
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50 lbs
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3/4 lb or
12.0 oz
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1 lb or
16.0 oz
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1 1/4 lbs or
20.0 oz
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1 1/2 lbs or
24.0 oz
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75 lbs
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1 1/4 lbs or
20.0 oz
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1 1/2 lbs or
24.0 oz
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1 7/8 lbs or
30.0 oz
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2 1/4 lbs or
36.0 oz
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100 lbs
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1 1/2 lbs or
24.0 oz
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2 lbs or
32.0 oz
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2 1/2 lbs or
40.0 oz
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3 lbs or
48.0 oz
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125 lbs
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1 7/8 lbs or
30.0 oz
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2 1/2 lbs or
40.0 oz
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3 1/8 lbs or
50.0 oz
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3 3/4 lbs or
60.0 oz
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150 lbs""
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2 1/4 lbs or
36.0 oz
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3 lbs or
48.0 oz
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3 3/4 lbs or
60.0 oz
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4 1/2 lbs or
72.0 oz
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175 lbs""
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2 5/8 lbs or
42.0 oz
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3 1/2 lbs or
56.0 oz
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4 3/8 lbs or
70.0 oz
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5 1/4 lbs or
84.0 oz
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200 lbs""
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3 lbs or
48.0 oz
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4 lbs or
64.0 oz
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5 lbs or
80.0 oz
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6 lbs or
96.0 oz
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Overweight Pets:
If your dog or cat is overweight, feed a little less each week until your pet reaches his ideal weight. Dogs and cats fed a species appropriate - raw animal protein diet naturally shed pounds and fat turns to lean muscle.
** Giant Breeds: It would be rare to have a giant breed eating at high activity or performance level because most are just not that active and they generally have a lower metabolism than smaller breeds. Example: Our English Mastiff Hooch is 8 1/2 years old and weighs about 200 lbs. Hooch is a typical Mastiff, he’s a real “couch potato”. Aside from his two forty-minute daily walks, you can find him snoozing on his over-sized bed or laying around on the porch. Hooch only requires an average of 2 3/4 lbs. of raw food per day to maintain his trim, muscular form. Hooch has no desire to eat any more than this. You know your companion animal’s ideal weight and condition and whether or not they are satisfied or still hungry, so adjust accordingly.
Feed Calculator:
To further assist you in determining how much raw food your pet should be fed daily, enter your pet’s weight and the appropriate percentage of body weight below. As stated above, make sure you take into consideration condition (i.e. active, docile, puppy, pregnant, lactating, obese, etc.) when selecting percentage of weight. In general, 2% of body weight for an average adult dog and 2 1/2% for average adult cat will maintain existing weight. However, again you know your companion animal’s ideal weight and condition, so adjust accordingly.
Dogs: 1 1/2% to 2 1/2% to maintain body weight of an average adult with average activity level
Cats: 2% to 3% to maintain body weight of an average adult with average activity level
Puppies, kittens, and pregnant or lactating females require much more food.
(General guidelines: weaning to 1 year - 7% to 10% of body weight, 1 to 2 years - 4% to 6% of body weight,
lactating or pregnant females - 7% to 10% of body weight.) Feed 3 to 4 times a day
Measurement Equivalents
| Cups =
|
Fluid OZ =
|
TBSP =
|
TSP =
|
Milliliter
|
1 C
|
8 oz
|
16 Tbsp
|
48 Tsp
|
237 mil
|
3/4 C
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6 oz
|
12 Tbsp
|
36 Tsp
|
177 mil
|
2/3 C
|
5 oz
|
11 Tbsp
|
32 Tsp
|
158 mil
|
1/2 C
|
4 oz
|
8 Tbsp
|
24 Tsp
|
118 mil
|
1/3 C
|
3 oz
|
5 Tbsp
|
16 Tsp
|
79 mil
|
1/4 C
|
2 oz
|
4 Tbsp
|
12 Tsp
|
59 mil
|
1/8 C
|
1 oz
|
2 Tbsp
|
6 Tsp
|
30 mil
|
1/16 C
|
1/2 oz
|
1 Tbsp
|
3 Tsp
|
15 mil
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