Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 5/25/2011

Question
I have a 1-1/2 year old chihuahua.  I'm wondering how much dry food he should be getting.  His ideal weight is around 8lb.  I've been feeding him 1/4 cup of kibble twice a day but I've noticed that the amount the bag says to feed is significantly more.  He isn't underweight at all so now I'm wondering how much he should really be getting.  The food is Nature's Recipe Adult and they say to feed 3/4 to 1-1/4 cup for dogs in the 5-10lb range which would put him right around 1 cup which is twice what I've been feeding him.  

I am doing clicker training with him so he gets treats throughout the day but I try to keep them healthy.  If anything, I've noticed that when he's learning something new and is getting a lot of treats his harness gets a bit snug.

My question is this...should I be going by the recommendation on the dog food bag or by the amount I've found on chihuahua websites?

Answer
One of the problems with most dog foods is that they really don't provide the optimal nutrition to meet your dogs energy needs, and they require more food to do that then is healthy to feed.

You are correct about the treats too, when you feed to many he will gain weight from them. We always recommend using pieces of his normal food set aside to use as training treats. The dog doesn't care what they are, he just knows they are food.

I would only feed him what you are now- and if he isn't doing well on that then don't feed more but get him on a food that has more complete nutrition and isn't made with random stuff that is on sale on the docks that day. Since Natures Recipe isn't a fixed-formulation food, that's how Del Monte buys the bulk of the ingredients that go into the food. They also dump a lot of their own food wastes into it, such as the tomato pomace etc.

One of the main reasons I have always fed and recommended Science Diet is their unfailing promise to always use a fixed-formulation and only buy foods that are grown right here in the USA by farmers they maintain. This ensures the highest quality foods and the most optimal nutrition in their foods. They ONLY make dog and cat food, not canned human foods as well. With over 50 yrs of veterinary research and formulations, they are the one food I trust and most vets trust as well.

In the Adult Light Small Bites formula the feeding guide says to feed between 5/8 and 3/4 of an 8 ounce cup a day. So you feed less, the dog gets more nutrition with a smaller amount of food and everyone is happy. He will also have a nice shiny coat and smaller stools.

If you decide to switch him, make sure you do it over a 7 day period to avoid digestive upsets.

Measure out his food daily, then set aside 10 pieces or so for his training. Put them into your training pouch and he will never care what you use.

So the bottom line is this: stay with what works for now but if you want better nutrition for him, get him on Science Diet Light Small Bites.

http://www.hillspet.com/products/sd-canine-adult-light-small-bites-dry.html

Let me know if you have any more questions.