Feeding Adult Dogs
The maintenance years — where most dogs quietly slide into being a bit too plump.
Adulthood is when consistent, measured feeding pays the largest dividends. Two meals daily, the same brand and amount each time, and regular body condition checks keep most dogs in optimal shape.
Daily feeding frequency
Two measured meals per day is the gold standard for adult dogs. It supports stable blood sugar, reduces bloat risk in deep-chested breeds, and gives you twice-daily appetite checks — often the earliest sign of a brewing health issue.
Portion sizing by weight & activity
The standard veterinary approach is to estimate Resting Energy Requirement (RER ≈ 70 × kg0.75 kcal/day) and then multiply by a life-stage / activity factor. Common starting factors include roughly 1.2–1.4 for inactive or neutered adults, ~1.6 for moderately active dogs, and 2–5 for working dogs depending on workload. Confirm the right number with your vet — and use our calorie calculator for an estimate.
Weight management
Surveys consistently report that a large share of adult pet dogs carry too much weight. The fix is rarely glamorous: measure every meal in grams, keep treats to a small share of daily calories (commonly cited as ≤10%), and weigh monthly. Don't crash-diet — slow, gradual loss is the goal, set with your vet.
Switching food brands safely
Sudden food changes are a common cause of acute diarrhoea. Transitioning over 7–10 days — mixing increasing amounts of the new food with decreasing amounts of the old — usually avoids GI upset.