I have free-fed dry Innova adult, which has 500 cal/cup, 1/2 C each per day, supplemented with human quality (human) food, whatever we had, a small portion. (lean meat, fish, veges, eggs, etc). My 2 adults are overweight but not obese, just a bit too heavy but have maintained stable weight for many years.
With Nicky's pancreatitis requiring 4 small feedings of ID, I figured it was time to start measured feedings, so have been feeding 1/2 C dry with 1 Tbsp canned all mushed together to each boy, twice a day. Eddie is getting 1 C/day, previously getting 1/2 c and he still is hungry when it's feeding time! Chipley is 26.5 lb, tall, not at all thin but a nice weight and I want to keep him that way, get a little off Eddie and Nicky while we're at it.
From what I'm reading the volume is about normal compared to what everyone else feeds.
I found a chart (Dr. Foster and Smith site) saying for their size, on average, 500 calories a day as a basic or reduction amount, with 1.6 X that amount for an active dog.
Assuming a balanced quality food, does that amount of volume and calories sound about right? I feel like an idiot, after all my life having dogs that self regulated and stayed a nice weight, I am doing measured feedings and I don't have a clue!
Poor Nicky, she is trying to get into the kibble bin, now that she is better that I/D is not to her liking, even with a bit of rice and chopped chicken mixed in. Hoping the vet will let us reintroduce normal food once she is recovered, or she may starve to death!
Thanks for any comments re volume, etc for feedings. So far, the boys eat side by side at about the same rate, then look at me like they are starving! Human treats are a thing of the past, except for a few bites of lean meat.
