

If it’s possible with your schedule, divide the total daily calories into three feedings instead of two.
Pet weight loss calculator how to#
How to Ease The Pain When Helping Your Dog Lose Weight Put lunch on the menu When they have finally reached their ideal body weight, simply continue to feed that amount of dog food daily, as long as they continue to maintain this ideal weight (meaning, no further weight loss or gain). Continue to reweigh your dog every four weeks and continue to decrease the total calorie intake by an additional 10% until your dog’s ideal body weight is reached. If there is no significant weight loss after 1 to 2 months on their calculated RER, then I recommend cutting back your dog’s total calories by 10% (most veterinary nutritionists recommend a 10–20% calorie cutback). Continue until an ideal body weight is achieved The best thing about this approach is that you don’t have to change their diet or buy an expensive prescription weight loss formula. With this approach, most dogs will typically lose 1 to 2 pounds per month, achieving an ideal weight in six to eight months. Feed based on RER caloriesįor weight loss, simply feeding the calculated RER calories alone should be enough to reduce your dog’s weight over time. Here are the exact steps you need to take: 1. I prefer the “low and slow” approach to weight loss, which will be more sustainable for your dog in the long run. Get calculating How To Help Your Dog Lose Weight But this tool will tell you the right amount to feed your friend. If we could give our pets infinite treats, we would.

That way, you can make sure you’re feeding them the correct number of calories each day. Once you know how many calories your dog needs, check the label on their dog food bag to see how many calories are in a serving size. So, a 33 lb dog weighs 15 kg (33 divided by 2.2 = 15). To get your pet’s weight in kilograms, divide the number in pounds by 2.2. There are many formulas for determining your dog’s daily caloric needs, which are known as Resting Energy Requirements (RER), but I find this one to be the easiest to calculate:ĭaily calorie needs = 30 x + 70įor example, if your pet weighs 15 kg, the calculation would look like this: + 70 = 520 calories per day Animals also have a basic, instinctual drive to look at us whenever we are eating, which we interpret as hunger, leading to overfeeding. When starting a weight loss program for your dog, this is the first thing you need to figure out. Food “guess-timations” are frequently incorrect because you may be judging how much to feed your dog based on how hungry they appear to you. This is not the best indicator of caloric needs because let’s face it: your dog will gobble up whatever is placed in front of them. How Many Calories Should My Dog Have Each Day?
Pet weight loss calculator pro#
Plus, a few pro tips for how to make them feel less miserable in the process. Read on to learn how to determine your dog’s daily caloric needs and how to adjust their food intake to help them lose weight. Best of all, I have found that it works well for most dogs. It is straightforward, it does not require a change in their normal food, and it allows for tasty “treats” to reduce their feelings of hunger. There are countless recommendations, formulations, and opinions about how to help your dog lose weight but I have found the approach below to be the most effective. As a result, dogs who are overweight or obese tend to have shorter lives than those who maintain a normal weight. How can I not share a bite of whatever it is I’m eating? But here’s the thing: Overfeeding your dog can lead to obesity, which is linked to a host of serious health issues including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, joint problems, even cancer. There are many things that make a weight loss (or weight maintenance) program difficult but for me, it’s saying “no” to those pleading puppy-dog eyes.


Like so many pet parents, I am in a constant battle to keep my dog at a healthy weight.
