Small dogs require more food per-pound of body weight than large ones. The usual adult house dog weighing 12 to 14 pounds needs approximately one-third of a pound of dry food, 6 oz. of some moist food, or one can of complete dog food per day.

Growing puppies need about twice as many calories as the adult dog.
One generous meal of well-balanced, nourishing complete dog food is sufficient for the normal adult dog. If the owner prefers, there is no harm in feeding twice a day, just as long as the dog is not overfed. Frequent tidbits between meals are apt to reduce the appetite and may develop finicky eating habits.

Any food left at mealtime should be removed and discarded within a reasonable time after the dog loses interest; no other food should be provided until the next regular feeding time. If the dog becomes obese, the volume of food should be reduced even though he may beg for more. Mature spayed or castrated animals, old or very inactive dogs, may retain large appetites, but they require 25 to 50 per cent less food than younger more active dogs.

Ideally, dogs should be fed at the same time each day. Dogs appreciate regularity. Regular feeding often helps maintain steady appetites.

Provision for sufficient water is important. The requirement is self-regulated, depending on such factors as the type of food, environmental temperature, amount of exercise, and the temperament of the dog. The need can be satisfied by permitting the dog free access to water at all times. A dog should not be allowed large amounts of cold water immediately following violent exercise.

A sudden change of diet may upset the digestive system of a dog. If a new type of food is to be fed, it is advisable to make the change gradually by replacing some of the original diet with the new food over a period of a week or more before the latter becomes the total diet. By making a change in foods a gradual process, digestive upsets causing diarrhea or other temporary conditions can be avoided.

Dogs seem to thrive on monotony. Scientific tests indicate that the average dog prefers the food to which he has become accustomed the earliest and longest.

Numerous studies have established that a diet containing a sufficient amount of bulk to induce stool elimination is more beneficial to the dog than one producing hard stools and constipation. This is the reason all well-balanced prepared dog foods supply a small amount of fiber in the ration.

Dog foods represent a unique concept. Unlike foods prepared for human beings, the high quality commercially prepared dog food must be a complete diet. The commercial dog food manufacturer starts with the premise that the dog food being prepared is to be the sole diet of the animal; no other food will be required. Thus, the food plus water represents a complete, well-balanced diet.

Commercial Dog Foods
Dry Dog Foods
Meals, either in flakes or pellet-type foods, usually are quite complete nutritionally; the best of them may be adequate for the lifelong activities of dogs.

Biscuits and Kibbles
Biscuit-type foods are not usually fed as a complete diet, even though some brands are nutritionally complete. These foods may be used as snacks or training treats.

Semi-Moist Dog Foods
Nutritionally complete, semi-moist dog food supplies adequate amounts of the essential nutrients for bitches in gestation and lactation, as well as growing puppies, old dogs, and normal adult dogs.

Canned Dog Foods
A complete dog food which is a blend of meat or meat by-products with the addition of cereals, other plant products, vitamins, minerals, and fats can be found in canned dog food.

Canned Meats
Canned meats are not considered complete diets but are intended for mixing with complete dog foods for palatability.

Because the dog is classed as a carnivore, many persons assume that his ideal diet should consist solely of meat. The fact is that a dog fed entirely on meat would soon be undernourished and in poor condition.

Self Feeding
Self feeding is one of the newer practices that is gaining in popularity. The puppy or adult dog feeds himself from a container in which dry meal is always available. He can eat as much as he wants whenever he wants it. An available supply of fresh water is essential is a self-feeding program.

A dog maintains an even level of nutrients in his bloodstream by eating when he is hungry. A self feeding program minimizes boredom and reduces the damage dogs will do to furniture and rugs. If the owner is away from home during the scheduled feeding time, the dog can satisfy his hunger.

Some puppies or dogs may overeat and become fat on a self-feeding regimen, but most animals will eat the amount needed for appropriate weight gain and growth, particularly if this system is begun as soon as a pup is old enough to chew dry foods easily, rather than long after his feeding habits have become well established.

Partial self feeding is an alternative plan. With this method, puppies are fed one or even two regular feedings a day which are supplemented by self feeding.

Feeding Animals with Specific Diseases
Dogs that have medical problems require special consideration in their nutrition.

Kidney Disease
Foods given the animal with kidney disease must be nutritious, palatable, and of the highest quality. Proteins in the diet of the dog with kidney disease should consist of high quality commercial canned foods or semi-moist rations to which ground glandular organs of liver, kidney, pancreas, ground muscle meat, cottage cheese, and hard boiled eggs are added. Additional carbohydrates in the form of cooked cereals may also be advantageous. Cooked prepared cereals, such as oatmeal, farina, and boiled rice are energy-laden and helpful. Small amounts of polyun-saturated oils are useful as fat.

During a 24 hour period, it is desirable that these animals be given frequent small meals rather than one or two large meals. The food should be well salted; not only do these patients need sodium, but salt will stimulate water turnover in the body which is desirable.

Commercially prepared diets for the dog with kidney disease are available and can be obtained from your veterinarian.

Gastrointestinal Diseases
These dogs are not only unable to digest many foods properly, but also are somewhat nutritionally depleted because of vomiting or diarrhea. Foods given animals in this category must be bland, low in fiber, appetizing, nutritious, and well-supplemented with water-soluble vitamins.

Animals with gastrointestinal diseases should be fed small, frequent meals. In addition, only small amounts of water should be given at a time. Of course, the water ration may be given at fairly frequent intervals.

Canned special diets fulfilling the requirements of this category are commercially available to veterinarians. These are very convenient and efficient.

Pancreatic Insufficiency
These dogs require very special dietary consideration. In general, the diet should contain minimal amounts of fat, most of the caloric intake being supplied by moderate amounts of carbohydrate and protein. In addition, pancreatic enzymes must be administered as replacement therapy.

Diabetes
Dogs suffering from diabetes require very close supervision of their nutritional needs. A balance must be struck between quantity and character of food ingested, activity that the animal is allowed, and the amount of insulin to be administered.

At the onset, the dog must be hospitalized to establish the proper insulin dosage, as well as the amount of food and energy expenditure.

Obesity
Obesity is a common canine disease and represents a serious health hazard.

The reducing diet given to an obese dog should be low in fat, high in protein and moderate in carbohydrate with adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals. It is wise to give two or more feedings per day so that the animal will have minimum hunger problems. A reducing diet consists of less than the dog's normal basal requirements.

Sanitation Problems
A low-residue diet resulting in minimum bowel evacuation is desirable for animals with special problems such as fracture of the pelvis, abscess of the anal sacs and surgery in the anal area.
Foods that are rather completely digested should be used to produce a low-residue evacuation. Ground, glandular, or muscle meat, cottage cheese, boiled eggs and cooked cereals will fulfill the need under these circumstances.

Severe Cardiovascular Disturbances
Dogs suffering from severe cardiovascular disturbances require a diet low in sodium (salt) and moderately high in protein and carbohydrates.
There is a commercially available low-salt dog food.

Skin Problems
Nutritional problems will often be manifested by skin lesions. Internal parasites can cause skin problems by interfering with normal absorption of nutrients. Any animal with a skin problem should receive a high level, high quality, protein diet. Moderate amounts of fat in the form of polyunsaturated fats should be available, and carbohydrates in adequate amounts for energy are necessary. In addition, the diet should be very adequate in vitamins and minerals. Possible supplementation of a standard commercial diet is quite effective if the cause of the skin problem is definitely nutritional.

Liver Disease
Fat and protein metabolism are greatly influenced by liver function. For this reason, diet consideration as well as other therapy is very important in these dogs.

The diet fed to an animal with liver disease should contain minimal amounts of fat, only enough protein to replace normal loss and high amounts of carbohydrate, to supply energy requirements. In addition, therapeutic amounts of the B group of vitamins and required doses of the fat soluble group of vitamins should be given.