09/06/2026
❄️ Winter Weight Woes 🐾
Today’s Technical Tuesday is on the seasons, and how our pets may need to adjust their eating habits.
As temperatures drop and days become shorter, many pets require more energy to maintain body weight and stay comfortable. While we often crave hearty comfort foods during winter, our pets can also experience seasonal changes that affect their appetite, metabolism, coat, and behaviour.
Feeding guides on the packaging provide average recommendations, but every animal is different. Depending on their environment, activity level, and exposure to the weather, some pets may need up to 15% more food during winter and up to 15% less during summer.
A 20kg adult dog that would normally be fed approximately 140grams of LifeWise Ocean Fish Daily= 70grams x twice daily. In winter, this may need an increase to 161grams daily= 80grams x twice daily whilst in summer the same animal may only need 119 grams. Of course, this will all be climate, temperature, and daily external energy expenditure determined.
If your pet starts looking a little leaner during the cooler months, consider gradually increasing their daily food intake. Adjusting feeding rates should always be done slowly and carefully. For example, in winter an increase of 5 grams per day for 4 days, whilst ensuring there is no increase in stool frequency, volume or consistency, means that after 4 days they will be eating an additional 21g of food to the base allowance. Most importantly, hold at this level for a few days before increasing further (if required). Again, please take into consideration the animals’ individual external energy expenditure.
Likewise, as warmer weather returns, feeding amounts can be slowly reduced to match lower energy requirements.
The key is to watch the animal in front of you—not just the feeding guide. Regular body condition checks and small seasonal adjustments can help keep pets healthy, comfortable, and thriving all year round.
🐕🐈 Every pet is unique, and their nutritional needs can change with the seasons.
