The right nutrition is essential for pets to live happy, healthy lives. The problem is, pet nutrition can feel like an overwhelming mix of numbers, charts, opinions, and contradictory advice. When your pet goes from zoomies to the slow dignified stroll of senior years, their diet should level up with age-specific nutrition. With the right information, you can make sure your furry family members get the nutrition they need at every stage of life.

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your pet’s food bag as if you're decoding ancient hieroglyphics, you’re amongst friends. This guide breaks everything down for you, including feeding charts, supplements, tools, protein sources, and the questions every parent asks themselves at 1 am.

But remember, when it comes to raising healthy fur-babies, pet insurance goes hand in paw with good nutrition. So, it should also be on the menu. Let’s dig in.

Now Serving Dog Parents: How Much Food to Feed a Puppy

Puppies grow faster than a gossip story in a family WhatsApp group. They eat like teenagers who play rugby: constantly, aggressively, and with zero shame. They need:

  • More calories

  • More protein

  • More frequent meals.

A rough guideline is:

  • 2–3 months: 4 meals a day

  • 4–5 months: 3 meals a day

  • 6+ months: 2 meals a day.

But the amount depends on their breed and expected adult size. Large breed puppies (such as Labradors or German Shepherds) need controlled growth to prevent joint issues. That’s why brands like Hills and Vondi’s formulate foods specifically for their needs. Puppies are professionals at acting hungry. Trust the chart, not the puppy’s Oscar-winning performance.

Adult Dog Feeding Chart

Once your dog is grown, they settle into a routine. Use your dog’s:

  • Weight

  • Activity level

  • Breed

  • Body condition score

to guide their meals.

Example Guidelines:

  • Small breeds (5–10 kg): 80 g –160 g per day

  • Medium breeds (10–25 kg): 160 g – 350 g per day

  • Large breeds (25–45 kg): 350 g – 500 g per day

  • Active or sport dogs: add 10 –25% more.

Dog food portions are NOT “eyeballed” like spices in a potjie. The chart exists for a reason. But remember, these are guidelines. Monitor your dog’s weight and adjust portions accordingly, after consulting your vet.

Best Dry Dog Food for Active Dogs

These are the dogs who:

  • Herd children at family gatherings

  • Run next to bicycles

  • Do zoomies at 11 pm

  • Crush Impala-like sprints.

Active dogs need:

  • High protein

  • Omegas

  • Joint support

  • Quality fats.

Veterinary diets often include performance formulas for working or sporting dogs. Good indicators of excellent food for active pets include:

  • Real meat as the first ingredient

  • High omega content

  • Glucosamine

  • Probiotics.

Good Protein Sources for Dogs

Protein is the fuel behind healthy muscles and a shiny coat.

The best sources include:

  • Chicken

  • Fish

  • Lamb

  • Beef

  • Eggs

  • Turkey.

Please don’t give your dog masala chicken from the pot. Look for labels that list real meat first.

Nutritional Supplements for Ageing Dogs

Ageing dogs have the same struggles as South Africans over 35:

  • Joint complaints

  • Back groans

  • The brain sometimes buffers

  • Sleep happens randomly.

As pets age, their needs change. Seniors often benefit from supplements such as:

  • Glucosamine & chondroitin (joints)

  • Omega-3s (brain, skin, joints)

  • Probiotics (gut health)

  • Antioxidants (immune support)

  • Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) (cognitive health).

Various supplement providers offer age-specific add-ons to keep senior dogs comfortable, sharp, and mobile. If your elderly dog takes longer to stand up in the morning than you do before coffee, supplements can help.

Hills Dog Food Calculator

Hills makes feeding simpler by giving you a smart, personalised feeding chart.

With the Hills Dog Food Calculator, you can enter:

  • Your dog’s age

  • Breed or size

  • Weight

  • Activity level

and it gives you a science-backed daily amount. Perfect for pet parents who want zero guesswork and zero guilt.

Now Serving Cat Parents: How Much to Feed a Kitten

Kittens are basically furry energy drink cans. They bounce, sprint, pounce, attack ghosts only they can see and then sleep like tiny grown-ups who have  worked night shift.

They need:

  • High-calorie diets

  • High-quality protein

  • DHA for brain growth

  • Minerals for bone development.

Feeding guideline:

  • 2–4 months: 4–5 meals/day

  • 4–6 months: 3–4 meals/day

  • 6–12 months: 2–3 meals/day

Kitten foods (such as Hills Science Plan) are specially formulated with DHA, essential fats, and minerals to support rapid development. Don’t give kittens adult cat food, it’s like giving a Grade 1 student an espresso for breakfast. It won’t end well.

Adult Cat Feeding Chart

Cats are tricksters. They will: Pretend they haven’t eaten and then yell as if you’re starving them. They want:

  • Premium meals

  • Room service

  • Food delivered on time

  • And to inspect the kitchen like Gordon Ramsay.

Cat feeding guidelines are based on weight:

  • 2–3 kg: 35–45 g/day

  • 4–5 kg: 55–70 g/day

  • 6 kg+: 75–90 g/day

Indoor cats need less; outdoor adventurers need more. Check rib coverage, waistline, and energy levels to adjust as needed. However, when in doubt, it’s always best to consult your veterinarian.

Nutritional Supplements for Aging Cats

Senior cats often benefit from:

  • Omega-3s (skin, joints, kidneys)

  • Glucosamine (mobility)

  • Probiotics (digestion)

  • Antioxidants (immune health)

  • Hairball control supplements.

Older cats can be fussy, so choose supplements that can be easily mixed into food or opt for liquids.

Hills Scientific Cat Food

Hills (and vet diets in general) use science-backed formulas for:

  • Kidney care

  • Weight loss

  • Sensitive stomachs

  • Urinary health

  • Skin conditions

  • Hairballs

  • Seniors.

Pet Feeding FAQs

What Should I Feed My Dog?

Choose:

  • A complete, balanced food

  • High-quality protein source

  • Age-appropriate formula

  • Vet-backed brands

  • Diet suited to activity level.

Avoid:

  • Spicy foods

  • Cooked bones

  • Too many treats

  • Home experiments involving chakalaka or braai bones or your leftover bunny chow.

How Often Should I Feed My Cat?

Ideally:

  • Twice a day, or

  • Free feeding for grazers (if weight isn’t an issue).

Cats are natural nibblers, but domesticated cats can quickly become as round as a kota if the snacks aren’t monitored.

Honourable Mentions: Supplements & Accessories

Useful accessories:

  • Slow feeders for fast eaters

  • Treat-dispensing toys

  • Elevated bowls for big breeds

  • Cooling mats for our African summers

  • Good collars, harnesses & leads

  • Stainless steel bowls

  • Puzzle feeders for clever chaos pets.

Supporting Better Pet Nutrition Through Pet Insurance

Whether you’re raising a hyperactive puppy, a lazy adult dog, a diva cat, or a senior furry pensioner, the right nutrition (along with pet insurance) can change everything. It leads to:

  • Strong joints

  • Healthy weight

  • Less begging.

At dotsure.co.za, caring for pets means helping you nurture them with the best support possible, even when they eat something that they shouldn’t. Take it from every pet parent who’s been through a late-night food poisoning emergency, cover equals calm. So, get a quick, no-mess, no-stress quote. Chat to us, we’re here for the tricky questions and the tiny ones.