Feeding

[wings]

I have a question about feeding.... how much do they need??

Lela weighed 26.9kg when she came here last week, now she weighs 26.1kg. That seems quite a lot of weight to lose in a week. I am worried I am starving her. She always still seems hungry after having her bowl of food, and keeps looking for more...

She was getting 300 grams of Wainwrights biscuits a day, plus half a tin of fish or tinned dog food. After noticing the weight loss, I have now switched to 360 grams of Royal Canin Maxi (as recommended by our vet), plus half a tin of fish or tinned dog food.

Does this sound like the right amount and type of food? It is actually a little more than is recommend for her weight by Royal Canon.

We walk her about 2.5 hours a day, which I think is more than she did at her foster home. Perhaps she needs more food to keep up with the exercise demands? Mind you, she is only walking and sometimes trotting a little.... hardly proper exercise!

[Lisa]

I shouldnt worry about it too much Sandra there are so many different things it could be. There will be a little bit of stress involved aswell changing environments and yes the chances are she is getting more excercise as 2.5hrs is probably more than Jacqui was out.

Give her two meals a day, 2 coffee mugs each meal with a sardine or a table spoon of wet food mixed in. You will find also that since heading into foster etc she is still getting fit so her shape will still be changing.

Dont worry about it and just enjoy her.

[wings]

Thanks for the quick reply Lisa. It is good to know we are at least not obviously feeding her wrong. We'll keep an eye on her weight, and increase her feeds if she continues to lose weight.

[Nettie]

The feeding recommendations on bags of food are just guidelines not set in stone.