How Much Fat Should Your Dog Be Eating?

When I first adopted my two Schnoodle gals, we had, shall I say, some rather messy mornings. While some dog owners suggested I crate train to encourage them to hold their “output” until they went for their morning walk, I sensed this was not something they could control.

And I was right.

During their initial vet visit, where I shared their daily diet (one carried over from their rescue), I was told they needed a lower-fat diet. They were prone to pancreatitis, and the food I had been giving them was far too fatty. Hence, the uncontrollable messes.

So, I rolled my pennies and splurged on a bag of super low-fat (5%), top-quality kibble that could only be purchased through a veterinarian’s office. It worked, and I instantly became a loyal (albeit broke) purchaser for the next six years.

Now, I would never have considered swapping out this miracle food for something else; however, out of the blue, there was a product shortage, and I was wait-listed for the next shipment. I never did get the nod and, in the meantime, after much trial and error, I switched my duo over to another well-known brand, that while not low-fat, was at least something they would eat. And as pet owners, we all know how important that can be when dealing with a picky pooch.

Oddly, there were no side effects. Had my girls grown out of their sensitivity to fat? As they age, and one battles with cancer, I decided to “improve” on their diet by including fresh grilled chicken as a topper. This, in place of the tasty canned or pre-packaged options I had been using.

And that’s where my query about fat content begins.

Although they love the taste and texture of skinless chicken breast chopped up and sitting atop their kibble, I notice that after six weeks on that, they’re losing weight. Being older, it concerns me and made me wonder about that fatty sweet spot. Is there an ideal level of fat our dogs should consume? I mean, what’s too much and when is it too little?

Is All Fat Bad for Dogs?

No! In fact, fat does more for dogs than simply packing on the pounds. It’s the energy catalyst that supports their ability to stay active each day. It also helps them absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), and when you introduce triglycerides, you’re encouraging a shiny coat, healthy skin, and relief from arthritis pain. Yes, those Omegas are a wonder fat for our pets, and a general rule of thumb is 20-75 mg of EPA and DHA per pound of dog. So, for a medium-sized dog of 30 pounds, you’re looking at a supplement of between 200 and 500 mg of this miracle oil.

But beyond Omegas, let’s look at how much fat your pooch should eat in their normal daily diet.

1. Age matters. While the average healthy adult dog should consume 10-15% fat in their daily diet, that can go as low as 5% for those prone to pancreatitis. And that 5% percentage is a minimum for any dog. As above, fat plays a role in their overall health, still needs to be part of their diet, and should never drop below that number.
2. The growth factor. Growing puppies (and those nursing) burn through calories faster than an average dog. For that reason, they need a much higher fat content in their diet, upwards of between 15 and 20%. Now, not all dog breeds grow at the same rate. Large dog breed puppies may not reach adulthood until they’re between 12 and 24 months. So, always research your dog’s breed before adjusting their fat consumption.
3. High Energy? No surprise that highly active dogs will use up calories and fats faster than a more sedate pooch. This, and the dog’s breed, should always be top of mind when choosing their food. My Mini Schnauzer is highly active, yet prone to pancreatitis, so a vet’s advice is always warranted.
4. Weight also matters. If you’re trying to slim down an overweight dog, limiting food or treat consumption is a first step. But lowering the fat content of their food will also be necessary. In those instances, something in the lower range – 5-10% is the way to go, not lower.

How To Figure Out the Fat Content in Food?

As per the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials), the nutrients in your pet’s food must be accurately displayed on packaging. Fat content is reported as “crude fat” and because kibble contains minimal moisture, the percentage you read will be a true reflection of what’s in that particular brand’s dry food. For example, Purina indicates the Crude Fat content of their chicken, rice, and vegetable kibble to be 11%.

However, when we look at canned food, it’s a little trickier. Identify the Moisture Percentage, and deduct that number from 100 for the dry matter percentage. You’ll use that to determine Crude Fat. For example, a common brand such as Pedigree lists the Moisture at 82% and the Crude Fat at 3.0%. To understand the wet food’s true fat value, you do some simple math: 100-82=18. Then divide the Crude Fat percentage of 3 by 18 and multiply by 100. In short: 3/18 x 100 = 16.66%. So, significantly higher than the dry food and perhaps the right choice for a dog needing greater fat content.

Regardless of the brand quality, always check with your vet whenever you decide to make a change to your dog’s diet. And remember, treats should represent no more than 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake, and an accurate calculation of their fat content needs to be tracked.