How Many Calories Should a Dog Eat a Day?
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Size of the Dog
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The first factor that determines how many calories your dog should have each day is the dog's size. For instance, a small chihuahua will need far fewer calories on any given day than a full-grown golden retriever. Much like humans, the dog's size and weight directly relate to how many calories it should eat per day.
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Energy and Activity
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Your dog's energy and level of activity play an equally important role in how many calories he needs in a day. Your dog's maintenance energy requirement (MER) is the amount of energy it requires to remain moderately active throughout the day. Unlike humans who often eat for taste, pleasure and social occasions, dogs typically eat when they need to and generally don't overeat if they're healthy.
Bottom Line
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The amount of calories your dog needs will vary greatly depending on its size and level of activity. Furthermore, not even two dogs within the same breed will require the same exact amount of calories.
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- Photo Credit dog image by Ramona smiers from Fotolia.com
