how much do i feed my dog?

Question

9 pound shihtzu... how much do i feed him.. i dont want to over feed him...

i feed him the science diet stuff

Answer 1

It depends on his age and activity. Younger dogs need more calories. Older dogs less. Couch potatoes need less. A lively dog, more. The directions on the bag are guidelines only, and dog food companies want to sell lots of dog food, so they usually recommend way overfeeding. My ShihTzu weights about 12 lbs and eats 1/4 cup of dry twice a day. If your dog is very hungry and thin, feed him more! If he doesn't finish, and is overweight, cut back on the amount. You should be able to easily feel the ribs without pushing in. Check the "padding" over his ribcage. Some dogs don't have big appetites, and in this case you can leave dry food down for him all the time. Don't feed once a day...dogs utilize the nutrients from their food better if fed smaller meals more frequently.

Answer 2

First, feed him the best food possible. Believe me, there is a difference in grocery store dog food and pet food dog store. Read the back of the bag, the ingredients. The first 5 ingredients are the most important and should not contain any "by products". Eagle Pack, Solid Gold, Wellness are all very good foods. Is your dog a "grazer" or a "gobbler". If he is a grazer, then give him a cup of dry and let him eat when he's hungry. If he is a gobbler, and if he's an adult, feed him one time a day as directed on the back of the bag regarding size. Science Diet would not be my first, second or even 100th choice in dog food.

Answer 3

look on the bag it will tell you.