You should feed Royal Canin based on your pet's age, weight, and activity, typically splitting the total daily amount into two or three meals for adult dogs and cats, while puppies and kittens need more frequent meals (3-4 times daily), following guidelines on the bag and using the Royal Canin feeding calculator for specific amounts, always using a scale for accuracy.
Initially, during weaning, your puppy will need four meals a day spread evenly from morning to evening. By the time they reach adulthood, they'll be able to cope with one or two meals daily. Smaller breed dogs reach adulthood sooner than others, so they can move to fewer meals a day at an earlier stage.
Based on the average extra calories per day, Royal Canin insights have uncovered that small dogs are overfed by 28% per day, medium dogs are overfed by 14% per day and large are overfed by 10% per day – just in treats alone!
Vets often recommend Royal Canin (and brands like Hill's Science Diet) because they invest heavily in research, use veterinary nutritionists, and provide extensive support and education to vet clinics, creating strong brand loyalty and perceived clinical efficacy, though some critics argue financial incentives, marketing, and the cost of these often grain-heavy foods are also significant factors. These brands meet rigorous standards, like those from World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), by conducting feeding trials and having board-certified nutritionists formulate diets for specific health needs, making them reliable for clinical situations, even if ingredient lists aren't always "whole food" focused.
For an adult dog between 30 to 50 lbs. – 1 ¾ to 2 ⅔ cups of food per serving. For an adult dog between 60 to 100 lbs. – 3 to 4 ½ cups of food per serving.
After 8 to 10 hours, an empty stomach begins to send signals to the brain that stimulate a hunger response. For this reason, at least two meals per day are best for your dog. A break in eating habits can be a warning sign of illness.
Symptoms of Overfeeding Your Dog
There's no single "number 1" healthiest dog food, as the best choice depends on your dog's age, breed, and health; however, look for foods meeting AAFCO standards (Association of American Feed Control Officials), with real meat as the first ingredient, and vet-recommended brands like Hill's Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan, and Royal Canin are often cited for balanced nutrition. Freshly prepared or raw diets can also be healthy but carry risks, so always consult your vet.
Royal Canin is involved in a significant class-action lawsuit, Royal Canin U.S.A., Inc. v. Wullschleger, concerning deceptive marketing of its "prescription" pet foods as medicinal when they allegedly contained no unique drugs, only premium ingredients, leading to inflated prices for pet owners. A key recent development was a January 2025 Supreme Court ruling clarifying that if a plaintiff removes federal claims from a case, the case must be sent back to state court, even if it was initially removed to federal court based on those federal claims. This case highlights ongoing consumer concerns about prescription pet food marketing and pricing.
This change should take around 5-7 days. Royal Canin are leaders in palatability.
For wet food, once opened, we recommend adding a thin layer of water to the top of the can prior to refrigeration and using the canned product within 48 hours. Any food that is left out at room temperature should be discarded after 2 hours.
For an adult dog, we advise feeding between 2% to 3% of their body weight per day of healthy, raw food. For example an adult dog weighing 10kg may require 200g – 300g per day.
The 777 Puppy Rule (or Rule of 7s) is a guideline for puppy socialization, suggesting that by seven weeks old, a puppy should experience seven different Surfaces, seven different Sounds, seven different Objects, seven different People, seven different Locations, seven different Containers, and seven different Challenges, all in positive, short, and safe ways to build confidence and resilience. It helps prevent fear and reactivity by creating positive associations with novel experiences during the critical socialization window (around 4-16 weeks).
The best time to feed your dog depends on your daily routine, but keeping meal times consistent is vital. Most experts suggest feeding dogs once in the morning (around 7-8 am) and once in the evening (5-6 pm). Avoid feeding your dog too late at night, as this can lead to discomfort and poor digestion during sleep.
Do I need to add water to my Royal Canin diet? The majority of our diets are designed to be fed dry, however if you wish to, you can add a small amount of warm water to soften the kibble and this can also enhance the flavours and aromas of the diet.
Formulated for dogs with long or short-term digestive sensitivities. Royal Canin's Vet exclusive Gastrointestinal diets, with wet and dry formulas, are enriched with a blend of soluble and insoluble fibers to help support regular intestinal transit for dogs.
The worst dog foods often contain cheap fillers like corn, wheat, and soy; unspecified "meat meals" or by-products; excessive sugar; and artificial colors/preservatives, with brands like Kibbles 'n Bits, Beneful, Gravy Train, and some Purina/Iams varieties frequently cited for low nutritional quality and questionable ingredients. Focus on avoiding poor-quality protein sources (unspecified meat meals), fillers, artificial additives, and dangerous human foods like chocolate, grapes, onions, and xylitol.
For nutrition tailored to smaller dog breeds, our vets recommend Royal Canin, another brand that's science-backed, and formulated and balanced by a board-certified nutritionist. As with other dry dog foods on the list, it meets AAFCO's nutritional guidelines for adult maintenance and does long-term feeding trials.
Royal Canin pet food is causing digesting issues such as diarrhea (soft stool), vomiting, and constipation… ROYAL CANIN® diets utilise very highly digestible ingredients, including importantly, highly digestible proteins, alongside prebiotics to ensure good digestive health.
Based on Dr. Marty's advice, Oprah says she now feeds her dogs a mixed diet of chicken, beef, lamb, brown rice, potatoes and carrots. Dr. Marty says most people feed their dogs diets that go against their animal nature.
Processed meats, including deli meats and hot dogs, offer numerous reasons why you should avoid feeding them to your dog from the additives, salt content, choking hazard, and the fat contents. Hot dogs are packed full with additives ranging from seasonings, sweeteners, and preservatives that are not healthy for dogs.
Top Dog Foods In The World: A Global Look At Nutrition, Pet Care, And Pet Therapeutics
The 3-3-3 rule for dogs is a guideline for the adjustment period after adoption, outlining three phases: 3 Days (decompression, feeling overwhelmed/scared), 3 Weeks (starting to settle in, learning routine, personality emerges), and 3 Months (feeling secure, bonded, and truly at home). It helps new owners manage expectations and be patient as their rescue dog transitions, emphasizing calm energy, routine, and space in the early days to build trust.
If they're losing weight and their poos are frequent and/or soft, then it's highly likely that they're eating too much. A lot of owners at this point would understandably panic and change food, when actually, all they need to do is reduce the amount they're feeding.
The leading cause of death in dogs, especially older dogs, is cancer (neoplasia), affecting about 1 in 4 dogs, similar to humans, with specific breeds at higher risk. Other significant causes include old age, heart disease, digestive disorders (like bloat), infectious diseases (like Parvo), and trauma, with sterilization influencing risks for cancer and infections.