Most people land on a pet nutrition page for one of three reasons: their dog or cat is gaining weight, their food label feels like a puzzle, or they’re trying to work out whether treats, table scraps, and feeding schedules are quietly undoing an otherwise “good” diet.
Small daily choices add up. Extra calories hide in generous scoops, “just one more” treat, and foods that look wholesome on the packet but don’t suit your animal’s life stage or health. The aim here is simple: help you feed with confidence, using practical checks that are easy to repeat at home and easy to confirm with your vet when something doesn’t sit right.
Understanding your pet’s nutritional needs
A balanced diet isn’t a vibe; it’s a set of nutrients in the right amounts for a particular animal at a particular time. Age, body size, breed tendencies, desexing status, activity level, and health conditions all change what “enough” looks like. What suits a young, high-energy dog may be too rich for a sedentary senior. A growing kitten needs different building blocks again, including nutrients cats can’t make for themselves.
If you’re feeding a commercial food, look for one described as “complete and balanced” for your pet’s life stage, and use your pet’s body condition (not just the feeding guide) as the ongoing reality check.1, 2
Portion control: the quiet lever behind weight, joints, and long-term health
Portion size is where good intentions often come undone. A “little bit extra” each day can steadily push weight up, and excess weight can worsen mobility, heat tolerance, skin problems, and other chronic issues.
How to work out the right amount
Start with the manufacturer’s guide, then adjust using your pet’s body condition score (BCS) and trends on the scales. Your veterinarian can assess BCS and help you set a realistic target weight, especially if your pet is already overweight or has a medical condition that changes appetite or metabolism.1, 2
Measuring food accurately (without overthinking it)
- Use a standard measuring cup for dry food, and be consistent about which cup you use.
- If you’re trying to manage weight, consider weighing kibble with kitchen scales for a week or two. It quickly shows how much “a scoop” varies.
- Keep treats in the calorie budget. If treats increase, meals should usually decrease.
- Re-check portions when anything changes: desexing, a new food, less exercise, or a new health diagnosis.
Decoding pet food labels (what matters, and what doesn’t)
Pet food labels can look authoritative while still leaving plenty of room for confusion. Most owners focus on the ingredient list, but ingredients alone can’t tell you whether the diet is nutritionally appropriate, how digestible it is, or how well it suits your individual animal. A better approach is to use the label as a checklist: life stage suitability, “complete and balanced” wording, and clear manufacturer accountability (including who formulates the diet and what quality controls exist).3
How to read the ingredient list without getting misled
Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight, which can be influenced by water content and doesn’t directly reveal nutrient balance. Use it to spot obvious deal-breakers (for example, if your pet has a diagnosed sensitivity), but don’t treat the first ingredient as a guarantee of quality.3
Be cautious with vague, feel-good marketing terms. “Premium”, “gourmet”, and “natural” can sound reassuring while telling you very little about formulation standards or whether the food is suitable for your pet’s needs.
Feeding schedules: routine helps, but biology matters more
Regular feeding times help many households stay consistent, and consistency supports weight control because it reduces accidental double-feeding. Still, the “best” schedule depends on species and life stage.
Dogs: usually one to two meals, with some exceptions
For adult dogs, feeding once or twice daily is common. Some guidance recommends at least two meals a day, particularly for dogs at risk of bloat, and to avoid exercise immediately before or after eating.1
Cats: smaller, more frequent meals suit natural patterns
Cats tend to do better with multiple smaller meals across the day and night. If it’s practical, aim for several feeds (or use puzzle feeders/automatic feeders) rather than one or two large meals.2
Puppies and kittens: frequent meals while they grow
Young animals need more frequent meals because they’re growing fast and have smaller stomachs. A common starting point for puppies is around four meals a day, tapering down as they mature.4
Treats and snacks: useful, but easy to overdo
Treats are handy for training and for gentle daily rituals. They’re also one of the quickest ways to unintentionally overfeed. A widely used rule of thumb is to keep treats to around 10% (or less) of daily calories, then make the remaining diet do the nutritional heavy lifting.3
Safe and unsafe human foods for pets
Some human foods are tolerated in small amounts, but others are genuinely dangerous. For dogs, foods commonly listed as toxic or unsafe include chocolate, onions, garlic, grapes/raisins and macadamias. If you’re unsure about a particular food, treat it as a question for your vet before it becomes an emergency.5
Milk is a common culprit for gastrointestinal upset in dogs, even when it seems harmless.1
Special dietary needs and considerations
Food sensitivities and allergies do occur, but they’re often over-assumed. Signs can include persistent itching, recurrent ear or skin problems, and ongoing gastrointestinal upset. If you suspect a food issue, avoid jumping between multiple diets quickly; it makes patterns harder to spot and can create new stomach upsets.
Changing diets without upsetting the gut
Transition slowly over about a week, mixing increasing amounts of the new food with decreasing amounts of the old. If diarrhoea, vomiting, or marked appetite changes appear, pause and ask your vet for advice.
Why cats can’t eat like small dogs
Cats have specific nutritional requirements, and dog food is not suitable because it lacks key nutrients cats must get from their diet. If you have both species in the home, it’s worth actively managing bowls and feeding locations to prevent casual snacking across species.2, 6
Hydration and your pet’s health
Water supports digestion, nutrient transport, temperature regulation, and waste removal. Needs vary with weather, exercise, health status, and diet type (wet diets generally contribute more moisture than dry diets).
How much water is “normal”?
Daily fluid needs are often discussed in mL per kilogram, and veterinary references commonly estimate maintenance requirements using formulas based on body weight. Your vet can help interpret what’s normal for your pet, particularly if kidney disease, diabetes, vomiting, or diarrhoea are in the picture.7
Signs of dehydration to take seriously
- Dry or tacky gums
- Lethargy
- Sunken-looking eyes
- Persistent or heavy panting (especially at rest)
- Skin that doesn’t spring back quickly when gently lifted (less reliable in older pets or loose-skinned breeds)
If you suspect dehydration alongside vomiting, diarrhoea, collapse, or marked weakness, seek veterinary care promptly.8
Maintaining a balanced diet (the practical takeaway)
Most feeding problems aren’t dramatic. They’re slow and ordinary: a slightly generous scoop, a busy week with fewer walks, a cat eating in bored bursts, a treat bag that never quite runs out. The fix is usually just as ordinary—measure, monitor body condition, choose a diet suited to life stage, and re-check whenever circumstances change.
When in doubt, your vet’s assessment of body condition and overall health is the most useful anchor point, especially before making major changes or trying a home-cooked diet long-term.1, 3
References
- RSPCA Knowledgebase: What should I feed my dog?
- RSPCA Knowledgebase: What should I feed my cat?
- World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA): Global Nutrition Guidelines
- RSPCA Knowledgebase: What should I feed my puppy?
- RSPCA Pet Insurance: Food basics for puppies (dangerous foods list)
- Agriculture Victoria: Code of Practice for the Private Keeping of Cats
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Maintenance fluid plan in animals
- American Kennel Club: Warning signs of dehydration in dogs
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom