How Much Beneful Should You Feed Your Dog?

Beneful brand dry dog food comes in several flavor varieties but all have the same feeding instructions listed on the bag in accordance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines. The amount of food given to a dog daily is based on the pet's weight. The manufacturer recommends the following food amounts: dogs up to 12 pounds need 1/2 to 1 1/3 cup of food daily, 13 to 20-pound dogs should eat 1 1/3 to 2 cups, 2 to 3 cups for 21 to 35 pounds, 3 to 3 2/3 cups for 36 to 50 pounds, 3 2/3 to 4 3/4 cups for 51 to 75 pounds, 4 3/4 to 5 3/4 cups for 74 to 100 pounds with an additional 1/3 cup of food for every 10 pounds the dog weights over 100 pounds.

The recommended daily feeding amounts on the bag do not apply in certain instances. If a dog is unhealthy or overweight, the amount of food can change. Beneful recommends feeding a pet 20 percent less each day if weight loss is desired. In some instances, such as when a dog is pregnant or nursing, more food–sometimes up to twice as much–may be needed each day, according to "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats." Very active dogs may also eat more than the recommended guidelines.

The recommended daily feeding amounts on the Beneful dog food bag are a good place to start when knowing how much to feed a dog. Keep in mind the size and health of the dog to maintain a proper feeding schedule.