Actually, they don't need that much extra calories compared to a human, but the culprit is that you don't calculate it per lbs of bodyweight, but per kg^0.75.
Do dogs need more calories than humans?
A medium sized dog (around 17kg) needs around 1151 calories per day, depending on age. That's roughly half the intake of the average sized human. A traditional supermarket pork sausage contains 146 calories or 13% of a medium dog's daily requirement.
Why are calories important in dogs?
Specifically, the consumption of excess calories plays an integral role in weight gain. It has been shown in dogs that being overweight is clearly linked to an increased risk of development of osteoarthritis.
How many calories a day should a dog have?
Basically, a healthy, 10-pound dog with an average activity level will need roughly 350 calories a day to maintain his weight. This amount is only an estimate and should be based on the dog's needs - if he is overweight, he will need less calories. If he is a very active dog, he will need more.
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