Calories and Recommended Feeding Amount

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I am confused by the suggested feeding amounts for Fromm.  They seem to recommend more than other similar foods and even more than some lower calorie foods.

 

TOTW Wetlands -- 374 kcal/cup --  1 3/4 cup for a 30lb dog

 

Wellness CORE -- 421 kcal/cup -- 1 3/4 cup for a 35lb dog

 

Fromm Game Bird -- 409 kcal/cup -- 2 1/4 cup for a 30lb dog

 

Canidae Pure Elements -- 498 kcal/cup -- 1 cup for a 25lb dog

 

Based on the calories, Fromm's recommended feeding amounts just seem to high.  I don't normally feed my dogs the full recommended amount because Ollie usually ends up gaining weight if he gets the full amount.  Do those of you that feed Fromms go by the recommended amounts or have you settled on another amount?

[Jennifer and Jack]

So this is an old thread.. I tried to find what I was looking for but have not been able to. Jack is getting calories from many different food sources now and I just want to know straight up how many calories per pound he should be getting, He weighs about 14-15 pounds..

[Jennifer and Jack]

according to the dog food analysis he should eat 441 calories a day.... If they are accurate.....

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I get 450 kcal/day figuring it myself.

I use 30 kcal per pound for small dogs, 25 for medium dogs, 20 for large dogs, and 15 for giants. This is just a rough guideline, but it usually comes pretty close. 

[Jennifer and Jack]

Great so at least I have a target... I had no idea how many calories he should be eating ... I knew how many cups the bags recommended and he has never even come close to that.

Since getting proper treatment for his low cortisol, my boy likes to eat and this is the first time ever I have to consider how much I am feeding him...He is now at a normal weight.. finally no longer under weight after three years..... I just don't want him to go overweight... 

THanks for the great info.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Is there any adjustment to that guideline for puppies up to 1 yr?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

My formula is just for adult dogs. Here's a calorie calculator that includes puppies: http://goldendoodles.com/care/food_calculator.htm

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I feed Fromm's Game Bird. After bringing Oscar home and transitioning him over from the breeder's food, I, too, thought the package recommended feeding amounts were way off. Karen did calculations and came up with an amount that worked well for him. I think its a lot harder figuring out puppy food amounts than adult amounts. Puppies are growing and require more calories to thrive, while adult dogs' weights can be monitored and food amounts adjusted accordingly. Oscar (5-1/2 mos. - 44 lbs) gets about 3-1/2 cups a day (I'm starting to wonder if it may be too much as I'm starting to feel a layer of fat on his chest... he's still a puppy though, so its hard to tell -  Karen?). Lucy (3 yrs -55 lbs) gets about 2-1/2 cups a day.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'd cut him back to three cups a day and see how he does with that. Three and a half cups is 1430 k/cal per day, which is too much for him.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Thanks, Karen. According to the calculation with the link you provided the estimated amount of food is 3.2 cups, but that's given Oscar's current weight, which may be a bit over what he should be (although I can feel a layer of fat on his chest, I can feel his ribs fine, and he does have a defined waist looking from above... so maybe he's not as far off his ideal weight as I previously imagined). 3 cups sounds about right.