How much to feed?

[k9hullio_sam]

So I have questions on how much to feed Mandi. Up untill a week ago, she was free fed, but I decided to switch to regular feedings (not exactly sure why). She maintained her weight being free fed, and the vet even commented on her being the ideal. She was doing great on a schedule, but now it was almost like she is still getting free fed. The past few days, she has been ravenous. She eats when I put food down, and all of it! I feel bad not giving her food, because she does have various active spurts throughout the day, and I sort of expect her to be hungry afterwards.

When she was free fed, she ate about a 1/2 cup of kibble a day. Right now, I give her 1/3 or a cup in the morning, and half of that at night (or try to). And that equals the 1/2 that she was eating on her own.

Yesterday, she ate the whole 1/3 of a cup in the morning, went to the vet and came back. When I was at work, she was standing at her bowl so my mom gave her another whole scoop, and she ate the whole thing. When I came home, I had to feed her to give her the medicine, and she ate another whole 1/2 a scoop that I put down.

What is going on? Is suddenly the food more delicious than it was before? Is all of a sudden she has lost all control over her appetite? I am so confused! Should I feed her when she is hungry (then I guess it would be just like free feeding but with me doing more work!)? She never used to ask to be fed, but there was always food in there too, I just never remember filling the bowl up this much! I don't want her to all of a sudden start gaining weight because I keep filling her up.
After her straining her back, she sort of has to be on a schedule since the supplement goes on her food and she can only take the pain meds with a full stomach.
So I guess I just don't know how much is enough. Any suggestions?

Oh, and she gets fed Wellness Core if that helps.

[Punkygirl0101]

I honestly couldn't answer your question, my dogs are free fed..and all of them but two of my girls have maintained an appropriate weight. Most of my dogs are very lean, and muscly and a good weight.

And the two that are overweight sleep in my mom's room with no food for up to 10 hours, and then eat as soon as they get into the family room where their feeder is. Its been working out great...most of them just eat a few bites throughout the day.

I personally feel if she was doing great on free feeding, and maintained a healthy weight..I think she is fine being free fed. Some dogs can be free fed, others just can't cause they eat too much.

[dogs4life]

You might want to time feedings until she gets used to scheduled meals or put food down only for 3x a day and let her eat until she either starts slowing down or walks off.

If your kibble is high in carbs, she will get hungry or hypoglycemic between meals, so you might need to feed her 3x a day as opposed to 2x per day.

[dogs4life]

Are you giving medication that could be elevating her appetite, like steroids?

I would feed until she starts slowing down, then take the food away. Sometimes Hank will pack in the extra nibble because he knows I'm taking it away soon. Just my thoughts.

[k9hullio_sam]

Alright, I will try that tonight!
I was looking at her, and I think she definetely is heavier than she was. I can still feel her ribs, and her sides still tucks up like it is supposed to, but it is less than it was. I don't know how long it takes to see that kind of a change though, I would think it would take longer than a week though?

The pain medicine is Deramaxx, and I looked up online the possible side effect and it said "decreased appetite" LOL.
The supplement is Vetri-Disc, and I don't think there really is side effects for it. She was 'hungry' before she was on any medications though, unless it is associated with her being sore??

[gaddylovesdogs]

Don't give in! My dogs would eat and eat and eat until they died of it. Occasionally they act hungry, but they maintain good weights and that's what important.

[k9hullio_sam]

Maybe I do just need to ignore her. After seeing how pudgy she is getting...

Tonight she didn't eat right away, so maybe she was just 'stress' eating with straining her back and everything? I just think it is weird because she was free fed, and not long ago...a week ago! I also can't imagine that she would eat more than she did on her own than when I am feeding her!

Thanks guys!

[Swiftwind]

We switched from free-feeding our dogs to feeding them a set amount at scheduled times. Abby gets 1/2 a cup of kibble once a day (she gets fed one quarter in the morning, and the other quarter at night), with a small teaspoon of canned food. Abby's about 2.5 kilos which is a healthy weight range for a Chihuahua. She's lost about 1 kilo since.

Harley is about 6 kilos and he gets fed 1 cup of kibble a day (half in the morning, half at night), and a generous teaspoon of canned food. He's also lost heaps of weight.

Both Harley and Abby would eat more if we put it in front of them, but that doesn't mean they necessarily NEED more food. It's just that they'd like it! A bit like humans.

[Doglover1988]

I do not free feed my dogs either. Maggie is 14 pounds I think and she gets 1/2 cup in the morning and about 1/4 cup at night. Gracie is 22 pounds and she gets 1/2 cup in the morning and 1/2 cup at night.

[Candy317]

Originally Posted by Swiftwind

We switched from free-feeding our dogs to feeding them a set amount at scheduled times. Abby gets 1/2 a cup of kibble once a day with a small teaspoon of canned food.


Both Harley and Abby would eat more if we put it in front of them, but that doesn't mean they necessarily NEED more food. It's just that they'd like it! A bit like humans.

Thats how my dogs are fed, but two spoonfuls of canned food. Sometimes in substitute of canned food when we don't have, I mix cooked food like eggs or chicken.

When we had the least expensive/poor kibble we free fed, not that we have the tad bit more expensive/rich kibble...we've montiored the food intake, since they don't really need as much of it, since its so rich in supplements and stuff....they might gain more weight if we free feed them with this food. And they just love it so much, not sure if they'll stop. With Pedigree they would be picky, eating the square ones [it had stuf in it, forget what] first, and then the balls and bones. It was like that with kibble n bits, they'll eat the red ones [which were the meat], and if they were hungry later on they'll eat the kibble, because that's all that was left. Kinda like how kids eat lucky charms, eat the sugary marshmellows first, and then the actual ceral.

[k9hullio_sam]

Well that makes me feel better like she was just being a pig for a while! lol
Ok, I have another question.

Do you increase their food if they do more? Like, do you increase (or decrese) their food with excersie?

[Rivsky]

Originally Posted by k9hullio_sam

Do you increase their food if they do more? Like, do you increase (or decrese) their food with excersie?

Yep sure do.

If we've had a big weekend of running around I'll often feed a bit more than I would usually. I don't tend to bother too much though if he's just had the one day of a bit more exercise.

Same as if we've been doing more training and less off lead running I'll cut back his dinner as well.

[k9hullio_sam]

Thanks! I will keep that in mind.

As part of our 'relaxing,' all that Mandi is doing is going for one real walk a day, and two tiny ones to use that bathroom. I think I am going to bring her with me to agility on Tuesday though, but not run her just so she can get out!