How much food should a 5kg dog eat? Surprising Answer

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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:

  • Musculoskeletal problems like osteoarthritis, cruciate ligament ruptures, and intervertebral disk disease
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Labored breathing
  • Cushing’s disease
  • Skin disorders
  • Some types of cancer
  • Shortened life span
  • Reduced quality of life

    • Giving your dog the right amount of quality dog food can help support your pet’s overall health and keep them feeling their best.

    Take Your Dog’s Lifestyle Into Account

    Combine this information with your knowledge of your dog’s 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.

    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 dog’s actual needs may be as much as 25% more or less.

    How much should you feed a small dog?

    Toy breeds and small dogs eat less food than their larger counterparts. If you have a Chihuahua, Shih Tzu or Pekingese, these are considered “toy” or “mini” breeds. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, small Poodles, Boston Terriers and French Bulldogs are all “small” dogs.

    Here are some general guidelines on how much food you should give your small dog [2]:

  • Mini breeds under 1.5 kilograms need about 1/3 cup or 140 calories per day
  • Small dogs around 5 kilograms need around ¾ cup or 340 calories per day.
  • Dogs that are about 10 kilograms will need 1 ½ cup of dry food per day.

    • PRO TIP: Small and toy breed puppies are prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels). If left untreated, your puppy will show lethargy, weakness and even seizures. It’s very important you offer your small breed puppy several small meals a day to keep their sugar stable. When in doubt, offer a small energy-dense treat like a piece of fruit. Bananas work well!

    How much should I feed my dog? || Monkoodog

    We understand every dog is different. We recommend that in general your dog should consume around 2% to 3% of its body weight per day. Therefore a dog weighing 5kg should be eating approximately 100g of food per day.