Reading dog food labels and recording portions eaten
Understand food labels, calorie units and feeding portions. Keep food offered separate from food eaten, and bring clear observations to your vet.
Start with the food's intended use
Photograph the whole package and the feeding table separately. Save the exact name, manufacturer, life stage and intended use. Similar packaging colours do not mean the same ingredients or energy value. Treats and a main diet are not interchangeable either.
WSAVA encourages looking beyond an attractive ingredient list: consider the manufacturer's information, the diet's purpose and the individual animal's needs. A packaging recommendation is a starting point for discussion, not a personalised prescription for your dog.
Check the units
Find out what each number refers to: grams per day, grams per meal, calories per kilogram or calories per serving. Do not transfer a number into the app before you understand it. If a table refers to adult weight, do not automatically enter your puppy's current weight.
An arithmetic example: at 360 kcal per 100 g, a 50 g portion contains 180 kcal. These are illustrative numbers, not feeding recommendations. If the packaging uses a different unit, convert it first.
Offered, left over and eaten
Weigh the offered portion and, where possible, the remainder in the same way. If you offer 80 g and 20 g remains, 60 g was eaten. Save both original numbers in a note so someone else can understand the calculation. Do not subtract the bowl's weight twice.
Record mixed-diet components separately. Grams of dry and wet food have different energy values. Include food used in training and treats given by family members: these are easy to overlook if you record only the main bowl.
Use records without prescribing a diet yourself
Choose the relevant food in Waglio, check its details and record the amount eaten after feeding. Check the label again when you change packaging: a saved entry may refer to another variety.
Gather several days of observations about appetite and actual intake. Discuss the right diet, weight loss or weight gain with your vet. A diary makes the discussion more specific but does not determine a therapeutic diet.
Food-label and diary checklist
Keep the label photo with the exact name. It is easier than trying to remember a product from its picture.
- The intended use and life stage are recorded.
- Calorie and daily-portion units are understood.
- The product name and variety are saved.
- Food offered is separate from food eaten.
- Extra treats and training food are included.
Continue with Waglio
App features for everyday care
A handover note for a friend or dog sitter
Sources and editorial checks
An editorial article. General guidance was checked against the primary sources below; everyday examples and checklists were prepared by the Waglio editorial team. This article does not replace individual professional advice.