daily food intake

Question
I have a three year old miniture daschund, and I don't know how much food to feed her each day.  She seems to be loosing weight.

Could you recommend a daily menu for her?

Thanks,
Emily

Answer
Hi Emily,

You didn't say what brand you're currently feeding your dog, there should be feeding guidelines on the package of food.

I can't just tell you how much to feed your dog because depending on the quality and variety of the food, how much to feed will vary.

How much you feed your dog also depends on your dog's activity level. A young active dog is going to require more than an older more sedate animal. Generally speaking, a ten pound adult dog (the average size for a Miniature Dachshund), could be fed 1/3 to 1 cup of dry food, or 1/4 can + up to 3/4 cup of dry mixed with canned. Like I said, the amounts vary because of activity levels and brand.

You should be feeding your dog twice a day, and always have clean water available for her. If you think your dog is losing weight, feed her a little more at each feeding. If she continues to lose weight you should have her examined by your vet.

What brand of dog food you buy really depends upon your budget, so I can't suggest a particular brand. I can tell you how to go about selecting the best dog food you can afford. Read this web site:
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=labelinfo101

You can compare ingredients in brands of dog food here:
http://www.naturapet.com/tools/comparison.asp

If you decide to switch your dog's food, do so gradually over a period of 5-7 days. Changing a dog's diet too quickly can cause stomach upset and diarrhea.

Feel free to get back to me if I can be of further help.
Best of luck,
Patti