Veterinarians often talk about how important it is to fuel your dog with very healthy, quality dog food. Unfortunately, there is more to doggie diets than just what food you are feeding your pet. It is also very important that you regulate you dog's intake of food. You need to speak with a vet about just how much kibble your pet should be gobbling up.

Calculations need to take into account your animal's size, metabolic rate, amount of exercise that they naturally get, and the environment that they live in. Also, you will want to evaluate the caloric content of the foods your pet is eating. Mathematical formulas may be helpful in giving you a ballpark figure, and oftentimes there are charts on the back of dog foods explaining how much you should feed your dog.

While these charts can be helpful, they don't take into account whether or not the dog has a fast or slow metabolism and the amount of exercise that your pet gets. Active dogs will naturally need more food, whereas lazy and elderly dogs may need less. Veterinarians normally suggest that when you choose how much to feed your dog, you begin on the lower end of the range that is given on the back of the food.

Pet food manufacturers often inflate the amount that you should feed your dog because it is in their best economic interest. Also, most dogs can lose a few pounds without it affecting their health. If you have a scale, then it is highly recommended you weigh your dog every so often. This is the best way to regulate whether or not you are feeding your dog too much or too little.

Your pet should have an hourglass figure when you look down from above, and the abdomen should be narrower than the chest and hips. Also, your pet's chest should be closer to the ground than his belly when the dog is standing up. You will want to make sure that the ribs are not readily visible, but can be easily felt with light pressure. If you have more questions about how much your dog should eat, don't hesitate to contact the firm right away!