How to Make Your Dog’s Food Last Longer
When Money Is Tight, Feeding Your Dog Can Feel Overwhelming
Let’s start with this:
needing to stretch your dog’s food does not make you a bad owner.
With rising food costs, vet bills, and household expenses, many loving dog owners find themselves staring into a food bin and silently calculating how many days it needs to last. That pressure can lead to panic decisions — cutting meals too much, skipping food altogether, or feeding unsuitable human leftovers.
This article is here to help you do this safely, temporarily, and without guilt.
The goal is not to permanently change your dog’s diet or to dilute nutrition long term. These strategies are designed to help you bridge a short gap — up to 2–3 weeks maximum — while you wait for payday or access support.
Step One: Make Sure You’re Not Overfeeding Already
Before trying to “stretch” food, the first and most important question is:
Are you already feeding too much?
Research consistently shows that over half of pet dogs are overweight, often because feeding amounts are estimated by scoop size rather than calories.
Why Feeding Guidelines Often Lead to Overfeeding
Feeding guides are wide estimates
They assume an “average” metabolism and activity level
They don’t account for treats, chews, or extras
Neutered dogs typically need 10–20% fewer calories
This means many dogs can safely eat less food without hunger or harm — if calories are calculated properly.
Step Two: Feed Based on Calories, Not Weight of Food
Food volume (grams or cups) means nothing without calorie context.
Your Dog’s Daily Calorie Needs
A starting point for most adult dogs is:
RER (Resting Energy Requirement)
70 x (bodyweight in kg ^ 0.75)
That number is then adjusted for neuter status and activity.
For example:
Neutered adult dog: RER × 1.4–1.6
Intact or very active dog: RER × 1.6–2.0
This gives you daily calories needed, not food weight.
Step Three: Work Out the Calories in Your Dog’s Current Food
Dog food packaging lists calories in different ways:
kcal per 100g
kcal per kg
kcal per cup
To make fair swaps, we need a per-10g value, which is easier to work with.
How to Calculate Calories per 10g
Find kcal per 100g on the label
Divide by 10
Example:
If food = 380 kcal per 100g
→ 38 kcal per 10g
Use a Calorie Calculator for Accuracy
The Pet Science Dog Food Calorie Calculator is an excellent free tool that helps owners understand calories in dry, wet, and raw foods.
This step alone often reveals that dogs are receiving 20–30% more calories than needed.
Step Four: Remove 10% of Calories — Not 10% of Food
Here is where most people go wrong.
You should not remove food by volume and replace it blindly.
Instead:
Remove 10-20% of daily calories
Replace those calories with lower-cost, low-risk fillers
This keeps meals satisfying while reducing spend.
Example
Dog needs: 1,000 kcal/day
Remove 10% = 100 kcal
Replace with cheaper foods supplying ~100 kcal
This can reduce food use while keeping fullness.
Safe, Low-Cost Foods to Temporarily Replace Calories
These foods are not complete, but they are safe short-term bulking options when used carefully.
Cooked White Rice (Plain)
Calories: ~13 kcal per 10g cooked
Cheap, filling, easy to digest
Best for dogs with sensitive stomachs
To replace 100 kcal:
~75g cooked rice
Must be plain, fully cooked, and cooled slightly
Cooked Plain Pasta
Calories: ~13–14 kcal per 10g cooked
Similar calorie density to rice
Offers texture variety
Avoid sauces, oil, salt, garlic, or onion.
Frozen Mixed Vegetables (Cooked & Warmed)
Calories: ~3–5 kcal per 10g**
Extremely low calorie
High fibre and water content
Helps dogs feel full without calorie load
Best choices:
Carrots
Green beans
Peas
Broccoli (small amounts)
Not suitable alone for calorie replacement — use alongside rice or pasta.
Frozen Cooked Chicken Breast (Skinless)
Calories: ~16–17 kcal per 10g cooked**
Lean protein
Helps maintain muscle during calorie reduction
Use small amounts only — protein still carries calories.
Avoid seasoning completely.
Why This Must Be Temporary (2–3 Weeks Max)
These foods do not contain enough vitamins and minerals to replace balanced dog food.
Long-term dilution can cause:
Calcium deficiency
Trace mineral imbalance
Poor coat and skin health
Muscle loss
Growth issues in puppies
That’s why this strategy is for short-term support only, ideally while:
Waiting for payday
Switching food brands
Accessing help from a pet food bank
Arranging nutritional support
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Removing Too Much Food
Never remove more than 10–15% of calories without professional guidance.
Feeding “Scraps”
Fatty leftovers, processed food, or salty items can:
Cause diarrhoea
Trigger pancreatitis
Increase thirst and discomfort
Using This With Puppies
Growing dogs must not have diluted diets.
Doing This Long-Term
If finances are tight every month, the solution should be support, not permanent restriction.
Signs Your Dog Is Coping Well (Short Term)
Normal stools
Stable energy
No excessive hunger or scavenging
Maintained weight (or slow, safe loss if overweight)
If your dog shows:
Weight loss
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Lethargy
Stop and seek advice immediately.
What Actually Helps Food Last Longer (Beyond Bulking)
Weigh food with a digital scale
Remove “handful feeding”
Reduce treats (they count!)
Use food puzzles to slow eating
Store food airtight to prevent waste
Often, simply switching from scoops to scales saves a full week of food per month.
If You’re Struggling — You’re Not Alone
Many owners delay asking for help out of shame.
But needing support doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a dog. Life changes — illness, job loss, separation — and dogs shouldn’t lose security because of temporary hardship.
If you’re stuck:
Ask rescues or community projects for help
Seek short-term feeding plans, not drastic diet changes
Support exists — and asking for it is responsible ownership.
Final Takeaway
You can make your dog’s food last longer safely — but only when:
Calories are calculated properly
Reductions are small and controlled
Bulking foods are appropriate
The strategy is short-term only
Feeding less food thoughtfully is very different from underfeeding out of desperation.
If you need help with this step and want to know how to make your food stretch out fill out the form and we will send you a FREE ASSESSMENT BACK TO HELP
Your dog doesn’t need perfection. They need consistency, safety, and care — and you’re already providing that by seeking proper guidance.
