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Most commercially manufactured pet foods provide '''feeding guides on the packaging'''. This is a '''mandatory requirement''' for those that are complete and balanced. The key principles and steps used to calculate food allowances are described in the [[Feeding Guides - Nutrition#How Feeding Guides Are Calculated|next section]]. Understanding how these principles are applied is important, as they determine how much food and energy a pet is advised to eat.

Most commercially manufactured pet foods provide '''feeding guides on the packaging'''. This is a '''mandatory requirement''' for those that are complete and balanced. The key principles and steps used to calculate food allowances are described in the [[Feeding Guides on Pet Food#How Feeding Guides Are Calculated|below]]. Understanding how these principles are applied is important, as they determine how much food and energy a pet is advised to eat.

There is '''no international standard defining how feeding guides are calculated''', and manufacturers may take different approaches, and make different assumptions on how they do this. Different products may recommend feeding different amounts of energy for the same pet, and can result in either an over or under-estimate of their ‘actual’ energy needs.

There is '''no international standard defining how feeding guides are calculated''', and manufacturers may take different approaches, using different assumptions on how they do this. Different products may recommend feeding different amounts of energy for the same animal, and can result in either an over- or under-estimate of their ‘actual’ energy needs.

There is also no standard way in which feeding guidelines are presented on the packaging. For example, dry foods may describe serving amounts by weight (grams per serving), or volume (cup), or both. Wet foods generally describe serving amounts by volume i.e. as fraction and/or multiple of a can, pouch or tray.

There is also no standard way in which feeding guidelines are presented on the packaging. For example, dry foods may describe serving amounts by weight (grams per serving), or volume (cup), or both. Wet foods generally describe serving amounts by volume i.e. as fraction and/or multiple of a can, pouch or tray.

== How Feeding Guides Are Calculated ==

== How Feeding Guides Are Calculated ==

Feeding guides are calculated by dividing the pet’s daily energy requirements by the energy density of the food, following the 2 step approach outlined in figure 1 <ref name="Waltham Pocket Book">'''WALTHAM pocket book of healthy weight maintenance for dogs and cats'''. (2010) Ed. German, A. and Butterwick, ''R.F. Pub Beyond Designs Solutions Ltd.''</ref>.  

Feeding guides are calculated by dividing an individual animal’s daily energy requirements by the energy density of the food, following the 2 step approach outlined in figure 1 <ref name="Waltham Pocket Book">'''WALTHAM pocket book of healthy weight maintenance for dogs and cats'''. (2010) Ed. German, A. and Butterwick, ''R.F. Pub Beyond Designs Solutions Ltd.''</ref>.  

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:::::Figure 1 – How feeding guides are calculated

:::::Figure 1 – Example of how feeding guides may be calculated

::::::::'''Step 1'''

::::::::'''Step 1'''

::::::::*Calculate the pet’s energy needs per day (kcal/d)

::::::::*Calculate the animal’s energy needs per day (kcal/d)

::::::::*Determine the energy density of the food (kcal/100 g diet)

::::::::*Determine the energy density of the food (kcal/100 g diet)