If you own a dog, you probably already know that every dog size has its own specific needs, especially when it comes to food. Alleva always choosing kibble that is best suited to your dog’s size. A dog’s energy requirements, nutrient absorption capacity, and overall digestive process vary from one individual to another and from one body type to another.

Which kibble should you choose for small and medium-sized dogs?

Small and medium-sized dogs are classified in this way based on the average weight of your dog’s breed. For example, if your dog is a pug—a breed that weighs an average of 8 to 10 kg—but your dog is overweight and weighs 15 kg, it will still fall intothe small dog category.

So how can we distinguish between the different categories?

• Up to 5 kg, they are "toy dogs,"
• 5 to 10 kg—that’s the smallest size,
• Between 10 and 25 kg—these are the medium sizes.

Dogs that fall into one of these three categories are often playful and energetic. They therefore need a high daily calorie intake because they expend a lot of energy and quickly burn through their calorie reserves.

Kibble for small dogs provides a higher energy content and is, of course, smaller in size, so that even dogs with small mouths and teeth can eat it without any trouble.

Calculate the daily ration

The daily dose to be administered depends on various factors:

• The dog's weight,
• at his age,
• its energy needs.

An older dog that doesn’t move around much will naturally need less energy than a puppy that plays and runs all day. The key is not to overfeed and not to force the dog to eat. Serve the amount indicated on the package based on your pet’s weight, and let the dog decide how much to eat and when to eat. This is one of the reasons why it’s best to choose dry kibble. It’s a dry food, and even in hot weather, it retains its smell without spoiling for several days. It stays appetizing and gives off a scent that’s appealing to dogs.

Extra-large kibble for a big appetite

If your dog weighs more than 25 kg, it falls squarely into the large breed category. But be careful—this doesn’t just mean it needs larger portions of food. In fact, large dogs often tend to be less active and, for this reason, are more prone to obesity than very small dogs. That’s why Alleva being careful when choosing kibble for large dogs, which have a slower metabolism and therefore don’t need the same energy intake as small dogs.

Large dogs, in fact, consume proportionally less food per kilogram of body weight, even though the total amount will necessarily be greater. In this case as well, it is clear that portions must be adjusted not only based on your dog’s weight, but also on its age and the amount of exercise it gets—and thus the energy it burns each day.

The article " The Best Dog Food Based on Your Dog's Size " first appeared on Alleva Dog and Cat Food Alleva Diusapet.fr.