Life stage changes the calorie target. Water needs track the food. The safe-food chips open the species note rather than a generic list.
Growth needs more calories than an adult of the same weight. Feed a complete growth diet and keep meals measured. Recheck body condition every two weeks so a pudgy puppy does not become an overweight adolescent.
A neutered adult usually needs less food than the bag suggests. You should feel the ribs with a light touch and see a waist from above. Adjust the bowl from the scale, not from a begging look.
Large dogs often reach senior years around 7, smaller dogs closer to 10. Calories may fall if activity falls, but unexplained weight loss needs a clinic visit before you simply add food.
A practical planning figure is about 1 milliliter of water for each kilocalorie eaten. Wet food already contains moisture, so the bowl may look quieter. A sudden increase in drinking, or a dog who will not drink and will not eat, needs a veterinarian.
