How we calculate your dog's portion size

We ask lots of questions about your dog when you sign up to Butternut. We're not just being nosy (although we do love talking about dogs), it's so that we make sure we are recommending the correct portion size.

The factors we take into consideration include:

• age
• weight
• body condition 
• activity level
• snacking habits

Every dog is different and so even two dogs of a similar breed and size can have different portion recommendations. You can read more about how to serve Butternut to your dog here. 

We then compare the information provided against our feeding guidelines. These have been created by our lead veterinary nutritionist, who is a professor in canine nutrition and chairs the Scientific Advisory Board of FEDIAF (the governing body that decides what should go into our pets’ food from a nutritional perspective).

Why is Butternut's recommended portion size different to my dog's previous food?

Our lead nutritionist's vast research into feeding recommendations found that most pet dogs are overfed, which has contributed to the huge obesity crisis affecting dogs in the UK today. 

As a result, we’ve tweaked our recommended daily calorie allowance to take this into consideration. We also adjust the recommendation based on the factors outlined above. For example, if a dog is having lots of snacks throughout the day we decrease their recommended portion size slightly (which not all pet food companies do), because we know they are getting extra calories from the snacks. Similarly, if a dog's body condition is on the slim side we increase their recommended portion size to help them reach their ideal weight. 

The calorie density and nutritional value of different foods and brands can also vary, so the portion sizes won't necessarily be the same. For example, kibble tends to be more calorie-dense than wet or cooked food so if you are transitioning your dog from kibble onto Butternut they will most likely be eating a bigger portion size than before.

Age is another big factor in determining portion size. If your dog is still a pup (i.e. under 18 months) they will need extra calories to support their growth. After this their portion size may decrease in order to maintain a healthy, adult weight. We ask that you update their weight on the 'My Dog' page of your online account each time you take them to the vet, so that we can make sure we're sending the right amount of food.

If you don't think our suggested portion size is right for your dog, you can change this on the 'My Plan' page of your account at any time.