1. What is the Homemade Dog Food Portion Calculator?

The Homemade Dog Food Portion Calculator helps determine the appropriate daily portion size for homemade dog food based on your dog's energy requirements and the energy density of the food you're preparing.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the following formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Portion for homemade (grams/day)
• \( MER \) — Maintenance Energy Requirement (kcal/day)
• \( KC \) — Kilocalories per gram of food (kcal/gram)

Explanation: The formula calculates how many grams of food your dog needs daily by dividing their daily energy requirement by the energy density of the food.

3. Importance of Proper Portion Calculation

Details: Proper portion sizing is crucial for maintaining your dog's ideal weight and health. Overfeeding can lead to obesity, while underfeeding can cause malnutrition.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

• Determine your dog's MER (consult your vet or use a dog calorie calculator)
• Calculate or estimate the KC value of your homemade food (average is about 1 kcal/gram for wet food, 3-4 kcal/gram for dry)
• Enter both values to get the recommended daily portion

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How do I determine my dog's MER?
A: MER depends on weight, age, activity level, and health status. Your veterinarian can help calculate this, or you can use standard formulas based on weight.

Q2: How do I calculate the KC of my homemade food?
A: Add up the calories from all ingredients (using nutritional databases) and divide by the total weight in grams of the prepared food.

Q3: Should I feed this amount all at once?
A: Most dogs do better with 2-3 smaller meals per day rather than one large portion.

Q4: Do I need to adjust for treats?
A: Yes, treats should account for no more than 10% of daily calories. Reduce the main meal portion accordingly.

Q5: How often should I recalculate portions?
A: Recalculate whenever your dog's weight changes significantly, activity level changes, or you modify the recipe.