Talking About Individualized Feeding Guidelines with Kendra Jenson
Healthy Dogs | March 25, 2019
Overlake store manager Kendra Jensen knows from experience that the manufacturer’s feeding guidelines don’t always meet a dog or cat’s needs. As a three-year Muddy, Kendra has talked about the importance of individualized feeding guidelines with hundreds of customers.
She also uses an individualized feeding plan for her own dog, Kylo. Due to some unique health challenges, Kylo must take daily medication that also causes weight gain. It would be easy for Kylo to gain excess weight that could stress his joints, but Kendra carefully watches his diet and builds exercise into his daily routine so he stays lean.
We visited Kendra at the Overlake Mud Bay to discuss manufacturer’s feeding guidelines, and how they might differ from what your own dog or cat needs to stay healthy.
KJ: I first ask what specific food they want to feed to their dog or cat and help them decide if they aren’t certain. Once we have the food that works for that owner’s lifestyle and their dog or cat’s specific needs, it will only take a few minutes to help owners figure out exactly how much they should feed.
When we start talking about feeding guidelines, we can pull up our new feeding calculator and input all the information we need to get a customized recommendation. I may ask questions like: What’s the age of your pet? What’s the body weight? What is your dog or cat’s activity level? What is the body condition score of your pet? Is your dog or cat intact or altered?
KJ: Feeding recommendations are how much a food manufacturer thinks a dog or cat of a certain size should eat. There are a few guidelines that manufacturers may follow. They sometimes consider if the pet is spayed, neutered, or intact. Other times, they may specify an amount for young animals under two years old, and then have a maintenance feeding recommendation for older dogs or cats. But different food manufacturers don’t use the same guidelines to decide how many calories they designate. Sometimes, the calorie recommendations may vary within a single brand.
Also, the guidelines on the package don’t consider body condition, exercise level, or other important factors that can affect how much you should feed. Because the recommendations on the package doesn’t take those factors into account, the package guidelines can be significantly different than what you should actually feed your dog or cat.
KJ: Feeding recommendations are how much a food manufacturer thinks a dog or cat of a certain size should eat. There are a few guidelines that manufacturers may follow. They sometimes consider if the pet is spayed, neutered, or intact. Other times, they may specify an amount for young animals under two years old, and then have a maintenance feeding recommendation for older dogs or cats. But different food manufacturers don’t use the same guidelines to decide how many calories they designate. Sometimes, the calorie recommendations may vary within a single brand.
Also, the guidelines on the package don’t consider body condition, exercise level, or other important factors that can affect how much you should feed. Because the recommendations on the package doesn’t take those factors into account, the package guidelines can be significantly different than what you should actually feed your dog or cat.
KJ: The number of calories your dog or cat needs depends on activity level, age, body condition score and weight. We also need to know if the dog or cat is altered or intact because removing reproductive organs also lowers the number of calories an animal needs.
It’s important to know that there can be other outliers. For example, medications can make a dog or cat lose or gain weight. Some dogs or cats are going to have slightly different caloric requirements. You can’t group all dogs or cats together, even if they weigh the same amount.
For example, my mom’s dog is the same weight as my dog Kylo. My mom’s dog is a very sweet, lazy dog, and she eats almost double the food Kylo eats because of her own body’s metabolism.
Meanwhile, Kylo is super active. He’s a dog that goes on daily walks. He has puzzle toys, and he plays lots of fetch at home. But he still eats a lot less than my Mom’s dog due to their different body makeups, metabolisms and medications.
KJ: I think it’s important that people reevaluate how much they’re feeding every time they switch foods. Pet owners can run into trouble if they don’t evaluate how much to feed after every food switch. It’s easy to think if I’m feeding two cups of this brand, I should feed two cups of this other brand.
Sometimes there’s a big feeding change when you switch foods, especially if you’re switching from kibble to a more protein dense food form like raw. Then you might need to feed a smaller amount. That’s why we encourage pet owners to have a long transition time between foods.
For example, if you’re switching from canned food to raw food, you’ll start off with three-quarters canned food and one-quarter raw food. And you might notice that raw food sometimes has a smaller volume than canned food for the same number of calories. But if you spend at least 14 days transitioning between the two foods, your dog or cat will become accustomed to the smaller volume of food. When transitioning, you can also take 21 to 30 days to switch between foods. Taking at least three weeks to transition gives you an even longer time to help your dog or cat adjust to any changes.
Overlake store manager Kendra Jensen is a three-year Muddy who’s the proud owner of a hedgehog named Hodgins and an adventurous dog named Kylo. To talk about feeding guidelines, healthy weight or pet foods in general, you can visit her at the Overlake Mud Bay.
Weruva WX Phos Focused Freeze-Dried Chicken and Tilapia is a low-phosphorus, high-protein supplement made from 93% boneless, skinless chicken breast, tilapia, and egg white. It has no grains, fillers, bones, or organs.
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Due to its naturally low phosphorus content, this food is suitable for cats requiring phosphorus management, particularly those with kidney conditions. Additionally, it’s highly digestible protein helps maintain lean muscle mass.
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You can serve it dry or add water to soften the texture. Adding water can help your cat digest it more easily and boost their daily water intake. This recipe is meant as a supplement and works well as a topper or treat alongside a complete, balanced diet.
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If you want help figuring out if this is right for your cat, visit your local Mud Bay and speak with a Muddy, or shop with us online today.
#mudbay #healthypets #kidneyhealth #cats #catfood
If your pup brings the energy indoors, meet their new favorite toy. The ultra plush Fluff & Tuff Soccer Ball is designed for fetch, toss, and all-out play.
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With a strong inner mesh liner and concealed double stitching, it delivers the durability Fluff & Tuff is known for in a soft, soccer-inspired design.
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Kick off the fun and shop the Fluff & Tuff Soccer Ball in-store or online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #fluffandtuff #dogs #timetoplay #healthypets
Need to keep your dog engaged while you work, host, or help them burn energy?
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The Woof LickMat and LickMix make enrichment easy.
The textured design encourages longer licking, helping promote calm behavior and engagement. Premeasured lines make portioning easy every time.
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Simply mix the grain-free Cheddar and Bacon LickMix. It’s easy to digest, simple to prepare, and each bag provides 10 or more lick sessions. Made from 100 percent silicone, BPA-free, and dishwasher safe. Strong suction cups keep the LickMat stable for easy, everyday use.
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Enhance your dog’s daily enrichment—visit us in-store or online and bring home the woof LickMat and LickMix today.
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👀 Looking for a way to slow down mealtime and keep your dog thinking? The GURU Pet Company Bobble Ball turns your dog’s food into an interactive activity.
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Simply fill it with kibble or small treats, screw the top back on, and let the wobble begin. The weighted base creates unpredictable movement that keeps dogs engaged and working for every bite.
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A great option for dogs new to enrichment or seasoned puzzle pros.
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Shop in-store or online at Mud Bay today.
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🎉 New Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers are now available in-store and online at Mud Bay!
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We’re excited to offer two new formulas that are complete and balanced for both cats and dogs.
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The Digestive Support Formula has beneficial fiber from lentils and sweet potato, along with probiotic inulin from chicory root. It also includes organic apple cider vinegar for extra immune and digestive support.
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Our Hip & Joint Support Formula features turmeric, oat flour, and omega-3 fatty acids from tuna 🐟 to help support joint mobility and immune health.
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All Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers are veterinarian-formulated and free of corn, wheat, soy, and artificial preservatives. And they are convenient and easy to use as a complete meal, a treat, or a topper.
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You can find the full line—including Skin & Coat, Cognitive, Digestive, and Hip & Joint Support formulas—exclusively at Mud Bay.
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💫 New at Mud Bay!
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CocoTherapy Cranberry Sweet Potato Pie and Peanut Butter Blondie Coco-Charms. Small in size and low in calories, they are an ideal training treat.
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Made with 100% organic ingredients, you can feel good giving them to your dog during longer training sessions. CocoTherapy Coco-Charms are also free from grains, dairy, gluten, eggs, and preservatives, and are low glycemic.
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Shop the Cranberry Sweet Potato Pie and Peanut Butter Blondie CocoTherapy Coco-Charms in-store or online today!
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🎉 🎉 GIVEAWAY! New Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers for Cats & Dogs
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We’re excited to give you a chance to win a bag of one of our newest Mud Bay Air-Dried Topper formulas.
Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers are veterinarian-formulated, complete and balanced for cats and dogs, and easy to use as a topper, treat, or complete meal.
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New Mud Bay Air-Dried Topper Formulas:
Digestive Support
Made with turkey, chicken, and lentils, plus organic apple cider vinegar and chicory root to help support healthy digestion and immune function.
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Hip and Joint Support:
Made with turkey, chicken, fish, and oats, plus turmeric and omega-3s from tuna to help support mobility and joint health.
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To enter:
👍 Like this post
😃 Tag us and tag a friend
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We’ll pick winners at random and notify them on April 16th. Each winner will receive a bag of our newest Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers. 🍀 🤞 Good luck!
#mudbay #foodtoppers #dogs #cats #petfood
Check out these new aquatic-themed toys for your pup from Fluff & Tuff.
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Available in-store now: Claude the squid, with tentacles that are great for tugging.
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We also have Dottie the Puffer Fish, who will keep your pup active with a nice fetch session, and, last but not least, we have Millie the Axolotl, who is an engaging option for all of the above and ready to shake up your pup’s toy selection.
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Shop these fun new Aquatic options for your pup in-store or online today!
#mudbay #fluffandtuff #dogtoys #playtime #pnwpets
We visited the local dog park today to share a fun spring surprise 👀🎉
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The park pups got to try our newest Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers!
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We can’t share all the details on these new toppers yet, but here’s what we can tell you:
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Two new formulas are coming soon, and you’ll find them both in stores and online. They’ll be available in 8-ounce and 24-ounce bags.
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Just like our current toppers, these new formulas give both cats and dogs complete and balanced nutrition. You can serve them as a full meal, sprinkle them on top of their food, or offer them as a treat.
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Thank you to all the pups who came by to try them today.🐾🎉
Check back next week because we have a giveaway coming up. Stay tuned and have a great spring!🌈 💐 🌷 ☀️ ☔
#mudbay #dogpark #sneaktreat #mudbayairdriedtoppers #new
Keep your pet happy and blissfully engaged with the woof LickMat and LickMix.
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The LickMat is BPA-free, 100% silicone, and dishwasher safe on the top rack, with suction cups for stability and a design that encourages longer licking. It also features suction cups for stability and a design that encourages longer licking, while its built-in mixing bowl and measuring lines make mixing easy.
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The Bacon and Cheese LickMix is grain-free and designed for use with the LickMat, woof Pupsicle, or as a meal topper. Each bag yields about 10 LickMat sessions when used as directed.
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Treat your dog with the Woof LickMat and LickMix. Shop all woof products in-store and online today!
#mudbay #woof #dogs #enrichment #petproducts
Stock up on your dog’s favorite Bulk Biscuits and make every refill count.
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Mud Bay’s Bulk Biscuits are all-natural, with many locally sourced options, including organic and grain-free varieties. When you refill your Mud Bay Mud Bucket, you pay $4.24 per pound instead of $4.99 on every refill. That’s 75 cents saved per pound, or 15% off each refill.
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Our Mud Buckets are BPA-free, dishwasher safe, and come in two handy sizes: 2.75 liters and 8.5 liters. Designed for easy refills and fresher storage, they help make treating your dog simple and eco-friendly.
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Refill. Reuse. Re-Biscuit. Visit your local Mud Bay today to pick up a Mud Bay Mud Bucket and some tasty biscuits for your dog!!
#mudbay #mudbuckets #dogs #treats #healthypets
Shhhhh! 🤫
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Don’t tell your cats or dogs just yet, but we have two new Mud Bay Air-Dried Topper formulas landing in-store next month! We also want to let you know we`ll be offering a giveaway so that your pets can enjoy one of the new formulas.
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More details to come, so stay tuned for your chance to win a bag of our newest Mud Bay Air-dried toppers.
#mudbay #airdried #comingsoon #airdriedtopper #giveaway
