My 11 pound Maltese seems overweight how much food should I feed her per day

How much food you feed depends on a number of factors, what kind of food it is, the overall health of your dog, how much weight they need to lose and your dog's activity level. Mt favorite food for a healthy slow, controlled weight loss is Science Diet's Metabolic diet. It is very palatable and is an excellent choice for weight loss. To get a feeding schedule specifically for that food, it is best to visit your vet for a consult, measurements and a weigh-in to ensure the best results. You can use the following to calculate your pet's caloric requirements for weight loss.

Basic Calorie Calculator

Pets’ energy (Calorie) needs to maintain a healthy weight for their life stage depends upon several factors. First, the energy to perform essential body functions like digestion, respiration, heart functions, brain functions, etc. (Resting Energy Requirements or RER), which can be calculated by multiplying the animal’s body weight in kilograms raised to the ¾ power by 70, for example, a 10kg (22lb) adult neutered dog of healthy weight needs RER = 70(10kg)3/4 ≈ 400 Calories/day.

The RER is then multiplied by factors to estimate the pet’s total daily energy needs. (See Table 1). Individual pet needs can vary by as much as 50% from calculated values however, so these are only starting points for estimating the amount of food to be provided daily. The amount is then adjusted up or down as needed to maintain a healthy body condition score.

Table 1. Known life stages and corresponding factors used to estimate daily energy needs for dogs.

Neutered adult

=1.6 x RER

Intact adult

=1.8 x RER

Inactive/obese prone

=1.2-1.4 x RER

Weight loss

=1.0 x RER for ideal weight

Weight gain

=1.2-1.8 x RER for ideal weight

Active, working dogs

=2.0-5.0 x RER

Puppy 0-4 months

=3.0 x RER

Puppy 4 months to adult

= 2.0 x RER

How much food you feed depends on a number of factors, what kind of food it is, the overall health of your dog, how much weight they need to lose and your dog's activity level. Mt favorite food for a healthy slow, controlled weight loss is Science Diet's Metabolic diet. It is very palatable and is an excellent choice for weight loss. To get a feeding schedule specifically for that food, it is best to visit your vet for a consult, measurements and a weigh-in to ensure the best results. You can use the following to calculate your pet's caloric requirements for weight loss.

Basic Calorie Calculator

Pets’ energy (Calorie) needs to maintain a healthy weight for their life stage depends upon several factors. First, the energy to perform essential body functions like digestion, respiration, heart functions, brain functions, etc. (Resting Energy Requirements or RER), which can be calculated by multiplying the animal’s body weight in kilograms raised to the ¾ power by 70, for example, a 10kg (22lb) adult neutered dog of healthy weight needs RER = 70(10kg)3/4 ≈ 400 Calories/day.

The RER is then multiplied by factors to estimate the pet’s total daily energy needs. (See Table 1). Individual pet needs can vary by as much as 50% from calculated values however, so these are only starting points for estimating the amount of food to be provided daily. The amount is then adjusted up or down as needed to maintain a healthy body condition score.

Table 1. Known life stages and corresponding factors used to estimate daily energy needs for dogs.

Neutered adult

=1.6 x RER

Intact adult

=1.8 x RER

Inactive/obese prone

=1.2-1.4 x RER

Weight loss

=1.0 x RER for ideal weight

Weight gain

=1.2-1.8 x RER for ideal weight

Active, working dogs

=2.0-5.0 x RER

Puppy 0-4 months

=3.0 x RER

Puppy 4 months to adult

= 2.0 x RER

For the average adult dog, 1 cup of dry food per 30 pounds of body weight is a good starting point. Your dog should be eating about 1/3 cup of food TOTAL each day. Have your veterinarian examine your pet to rule out medical causes for weight gain. You should be able to feel the ribs under a light layer of fat. Your dog should have a waist when looked at from above and from the side view, her chest should tuck up towards her abdomen. Decrease the amount of treats or use fresh, raw vegetables(carrots or green beans) as treats. You can also decrease the amount of food and replace with raw or steamed green beans for bulk. Discuss a proper weight loss diet with your veterinarian before starting one for your pet.