There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of dog feeding frequency. The volume of food and frequency of feeding depends on 3 essential aspects:
- Dog breed and habits
- Health condition
- Age
Needless to say, to answer the how, we need to look at the whats. In this article, we will discuss all 3 aspects and how they influence the decision on how often should you feed a dog.
At the end of this piece, you should be able to figure out what feeding arrangement works best for your pet.
What’s Your Dog’s Breed and Current Habits?
Here are 3 questions you should ask yourself about this topic:
1. Is Your Dog a Mixed Breed or a Purebred?
Although mixed-breed and purebred dogs can eat the same food, some are prone to certain digestive issues. You need to know the gastrointestinal sensitivities of your dog’s breed to avoid canine health problems.
For example, is your dog amongst the breeds likely to develop dog bloat (gastric dilatation volvulus or GDV)? He needs to be fed small amounts of food at least 2 to 3 times a day. Offering him one large meal should be avoided since it increases the risk of bloat.
2. Is He a Toy Dog or One from the Larger Breed Types?
Your dog’s size plays a role in deciding how often to feed him. Small breeds have trouble regulating their blood glucose levels because of their size. Skipping mealtimes can cause them to develop hypoglycaemia.
For this reason, a small dog should eat multiple meals a day. Feed him at least 3–4 times a day.
Large-breed dogs, on the other hand, are fine with fewer mealtimes as long as they are not fed big meals. Otherwise, they might suffer from dog bloat.
3. What Is His Activity Level?
Do you have an energetic dog that spends much time outdoors and engages in various physical activities? He should be fed twice or thrice a day. If your dog is not as active and leads a laid-back lifestyle indoors, a once-a-day feeding is sufficient.
What Is Your Dog’s Overall Health Status?
Here are the considerations to keep in mind:
1. Does Your Pet Have Special Needs Due to Illness or a Health Condition?
The specifics of his feeding schedule will revolve around those conditions. In cases with dogs having cancer, for example, they should be fed according to their appetite.
They tend to be pickier with food and can only take in a small portion at a time. As such, they may need to be fed more frequently.
2. Is He Currently Over the Average Weight for a Dog of His Age and Breed?
You may need to feed him once a day to help him lose the extra pounds. If he is underweight, you should feed him about 2–3 times a day. Be careful to monitor his weight gain so it does not go overboard.
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What Is Your Dog’s Age Now?
Adult dogs, on average, can be fed twice a day, depending on the factors mentioned above. With senior canines, they can get by with once-a-day feedings. This is because they are no longer as active as before and thus do not expend as much energy.
Is Free-Feeding Your Dog a Good Idea?
Some pet owners always have food available in the food bowl so their dogs can consume it throughout the day. Whilst this may be feasible for nursing dogs, this strategy may trigger certain canine health and behavioural issues such as:
- Dogs are at risk of becoming overweight.
- The pet owner cannot determine exactly how much the pet eats. This leads to the inability to observe changes in appetite levels, which may be a symptom of an illness or other health problems.
- Pets with diabetes will not benefit from such a feeding arrangement.
- Rodents and insects may be attracted to the constant and easy availability of food. This is especially true if the dog is usually fed outdoors.
- Other pets in the house, especially felines, may fight over the food. Cats may also learn to eat food that does not suit their nutritional needs.
Thus, leaving food in your dog’s bowl for him to consume at any time is greatly discouraged. Opt for scheduled feedings instead.
To set regular feeding times, take out your dog’s food at a specific time and then remove it after 20–30 minutes. Your dog will learn that he needs to eat when the food is out and not whenever he wants to.
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Other Tips You Need to Know
A good rule of thumb in feeding dogs twice daily is to serve two-thirds of the day’s allocation in the morning. The other one-third will then be given in the evening. You can feed between 8- to 12-hour intervals with a twice-a-day feeding frequency.
Moreover, do not feed your puppy or dog an hour before or after physical exercise or a walk. This is to prevent bloat and other stomach issues.
FAQs About How Often Should You Feed a Dog
1. How Often Should You Feed a Diabetic Dog?
Most diabetic dogs do well with twice a day of feeding given 10 or 12 hours apart. Strictly and consistently following this feeding schedule is a must as it can affect their blood glucose levels.
Never feed them more than necessary as it can lead to spikes in their blood sugar.
2. How Often Should You Feed a Senior Dog?
Senior dogs will require smaller meals but frequent feedings, at least 3 to 4 times a day.
Ageing slows down their metabolism and decreases their ability to digest food well. Feeding them light meals multiple times a day allows for better digestion.
3. How Often Should You Feed a Nursing Dog?
Nurse dogs have big appetites, so they will need 3 to 4 meals a day. In most cases, free feeding is okay, particularly if the dam is nursing many puppies. We advise talking to the vet first before choosing this type of feeding method.
4. How Often Should You Feed a Small Dog?
Feed a small dog 3 to 4 times a day to keep their blood glucose levels stable. Do not let them miss mealtimes or else, they might end up developing hypoglycaemia. This condition is usually life-threatening in small-breed dogs.
Conclusion
There is no clear-cut answer to the question: “How often should you feed a dog?” As each dog has unique needs, the answer will vary from canine to canine.
Many factors should be taken into account when finding a feeding schedule that works for your dog. These include his activity levels, health status, breed, and life stage.
If possible, choose scheduled feeding rather than free feeding since the latter contributes to the development of canine obesity.
