Feeding Your Dog and Introducing OSCAR Pet Food

How to give your dog the best introduction to their new OSCAR diet

Created: 12/20/2024 Updated: 12/23/2024 - Shelley Simmons

diet, Diet & Nutrition, digestion, dogs, health, Health & Wellbeing, new pet, puppy, senior, weight control

Whether you're feeding OSCAR for the first time or transitioning between OSCAR food varieties, this blog provides essential advice to ensure a smooth transition for your dog. We'll cover how to change your dog’s food, how much to feed, how often to feed, and when you might need to change their diet based on age, weight, activity levels, and health.

Reasons to Change Your Dog’s Diet

Age

As your puppy matures, their dietary needs change. Smaller breeds can typically transition to adult food around 12 months, while larger breeds may need to wait until 18 months to 2 years. Senior dogs may benefit from specially formulated senior foods, which provide the nutrients necessary to support ageing joints, immune systems, and overall health.

Weight Management

If your dog has been neutered, gained or lost weight, or is prone to weight changes, adjusting their diet may be necessary. In some cases, simply reducing treat intake or ensuring accurate portion sizes can help. If your dog needs to gain or lose weight, switching to a food with appropriate caloric content is often a good solution.

Activity Levels

Working dogs, such as police, military, herding, or hunting dogs, have higher energy needs and may require food with more protein and calories. Conversely, when a working dog retires or becomes less active due to seasonal work or age, transitioning them to a lower energy food is essential to avoid weight gain.

Health Considerations

Certain health conditions require specific diets. For example, dogs with skin issues may benefit from a grain free diet rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, while dogs with kidney disease may need a veterinary prescribed diet with restricted nutrient levels. Always consult your vet when making significant dietary changes due to health conditions.

Working dog herding sheep

How Much to Feed Your Dog

Feeding your dog the correct amount is vital to maintaining their health and wellbeing. However, how much you should feed varies depending on several factors:

Age

As puppies grow, their energy requirements decrease, especially if they've been neutered. It’s important to follow feeding guides closely and weigh their food for accuracy. When switching to a new food, be sure to check the feeding guide for that specific product, as different foods have different calorie densities.

Sexual Status

After neutering, your dog’s metabolism may slow down while their appetite increases. This can lead to weight gain if not managed carefully. Monitor their weight and body condition, and adjust their diet as needed.

Activity Levels & Lifestyle

Dogs that are more sedentary or recovering from illness or surgery may require fewer calories. Active dogs, particularly those that work or exercise heavily, will need more food or a high calorie diet to maintain their energy levels.

Type of Food

Some foods are more calorie dense than others. Always check feeding guidelines for the specific food you are using to avoid overfeeding.

Weight

If your dog is overweight or underweight, OSCAR Pet Food can offer a tailored feeding plan. We recommend consulting your local Nutritional Advisor or Vet to ensure your dog’s diet is properly balanced for their needs.

Treats

When feeding your dog treats, it's important to ensure you’re not overfeeding. Treats should be factored into your dog’s overall daily calorie intake. To prevent excess calories, you can reduce your dog’s main meal portions to account for any treats given throughout the day.

The number of treats, and how often they’re given, depends on the type of treat and its calorie content. As a general rule, treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s total daily calorie intake. For dogs that are overweight or prone to weight gain, this percentage may need to be reduced further.

If you're unsure of how to adjust your dog’s diet to include treats, feel free to contact your local OSCAR Nutritional Advisor or reach out to our helpline for personalised advice.

Willow the cockerpoo eating

Temperament

Stressed or anxious animals may have a higher metabolism and burn more energy than a dog who is very relaxed.

Feeding guides – All OSCAR complete dry foods have an individual feeding guide that can be found under the price per day button which is on each food product page under the buy now button.

Add your dog's details and choose between Standard (up to 1 hour a day, overweight or sedentary) or Moderate activity level (1-3 hours activity and in idea weight) and it will calculate how much to feed your dog each day. You may need to adjust this slightly if you feed treats. Do not feed below the Standard recommendation without asking OSCAR for advice. Feeding too little of a food means your dog does not receive the full nutrients required each day and can lead them to becoming poorly.

Feeding guides are just guides and can only estimate the quantity of food required due to considerable variation between individuals. However, they do provide you with a starting point and we would recommend monitoring weight and BCS on a regular basis. Speak to your Local Nutritional Advisor or our Helpline for specific advice.

Price Per Day Calculator example: Eddie is a 6 year old medium sized dog (20kg) that does a standard amount of excercise, a bag of 15kg Chicken & Rice Dog Food would last 65 days , cost £1.10 a day, advised feeding is 230g per day

How Often to Feed Your Dog

For most adult dogs, feeding twice a day is ideal unless otherwise advised by a vet. Your dog should not go more than 12 hours without eating, as this can cause digestive issues. Consistent, regular mealtimes help maintain healthy digestion, avoid accidents, and keep your dog’s weight in check. A regular schedule also reduces stress, as dogs thrive on predictability.

For puppies, we recommend the following feeding schedule:

  • Up to 12 weeks: Minimum of 4 meals per day

  • Up to 16 weeks: Minimum of 3 meals per day

  • Up to 12 months: 2-3 meals per day

Ensure fresh drinking water is always available for your dog.

Transitioning to OSCAR Foods

Switching to a new food should always be done gradually to avoid digestive upset. Here’s how to make the switch smoothly:

  • Mix the new food with your dog’s current food over a period of 7-10 days, gradually increasing the proportion of the new food.

  • Feed your dog at least twice a day, splitting the daily portion evenly.

  • Monitor stool quality to ensure the transition is successful and you are feeding the right amount.

  • Follow the feeding guide for your dog’s ideal weight and use our Body Condition Score (BCS) chart to ensure they’re maintaining a healthy shape.

  • Feed for your dog's ideal weight.

  • Remember dogs are social eaters and may prefer company while eating.

  • Provide clean fresh water daily.

  • If your dog initially eats the new food but then loses interest try reducing the amount and then gradually increasing again for a slower transition.

Keeping Your Dog at Their Ideal Weight

Scales alone can’t always tell if your dog is at a healthy weight, especially for mixed breed dogs or those with a lot of variation within their breed. That’s where Body Condition Scoring (BCS) comes in helpful. BCS helps assess your dog’s physical condition by looking at their shape rather than relying solely on weight. By regularly monitoring your dog’s BCS, you can adjust their food intake as needed to keep them at an ideal weight.

OSCAR pet foods dog body condition score diagrams

Tips for Feeding Your Dog

  • Use digital scales: This ensures you're feeding the correct amount. Using a measuring cup or your hand can lead to inaccurate portions.

  • Monitor treat intake: Treats should account for no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake. Adjust their regular food portions to accommodate treats.

  • Use BCS Chart and weigh regularly: By regularly monitoring your dog’s BCS, you can adjust their food intake as needed to keep them at an ideal weight.

  • Monitor behaviour and exercise: Stressed or anxious dogs may burn more calories and require more food, while calm, sedentary dogs may require less.

Conclusion

At OSCAR Pet Food, we understand that every dog is unique, and their diet should reflect that. Whether you’re feeding OSCAR for the first time or transitioning to a new formula, ensuring your dog receives the right amount of food based on their individual needs is key to their long term health. If you're unsure about any aspect of feeding, your local OSCAR Nutritional Advisor or our Helpline can provide expert guidance tailored to your dog's needs.

For further guidance, check out our feeding guides and Body Condition Score charts, and feel free to reach out if you need personalised advice.

Transitioning foods visual guide: Day 1 - 2 OSCAR 20% Old Food 80%, Day 3 OSCAR 40% Old Food 60%, Day 4 - 5 OSCAR 60% Old Food 40%, Day 6 OSCAR 80% Old Food 20%, Day 7 OSCAR 100%

Do you need further advice?

If you need any further advice, please contact the OSCAR Helpline Team on our freephone number 0800 195 8000 or email helpline@oscars.co.uk.