Is it important to feed 2x a day?

[JacksonsMom]

... or is it perfectly fine to feed once a day?

I used to just leave food down all day, Jackson was never a huge eater and ate properly (not too much). Sometimes too little. But we have ants in the summer who find every little morsel left of dog food left out... so in early June, I began scheduled feedings with Jackson. I like it better because I know exactly when he's eaten and how much. I began with 1/4 cup of dry Acana Grasslands in the AM and 1/4 cup in the evening.

He's never real interested in eating in the mornings though. I've been mixing his morning meals with wet food and then he eats happily but when we visit and sleep over at my dads house (with their 2 dogs) they only get their "dinner" (dry mixed with wet, or something else like chicken, etc) at dinner-time (5 or 6pm)... no morning feedings, although there is kibble out all day that rarely gets touched by all 3 dogs.

When Jackson & I are back at our regular house is when he gets food in AM and PM. I've noticed though since he's been eating in the morning too, he often poops 3x a day whereas it used to mainly be 2x a day. If I'm home... he will often go for a second time around 1pm.

Anyways, is there any important reason a dog should be fed twice daily? Or would feeding him 1/2 cup at dinner be sufficient enough? He always did well with the once a day dry/wet mixed food feedings.

 

[FarmerGirl2010]

Feeding them twice a day is basically like meals for us. It helps them to feel full throughout the day but I don't think it's an absolute must.

 

[ihartgonzo]

I feed once a day most of the time... I feed raw, so it's much more convenient, and dogs are gorge/fast animals anyway. They aren't grazers like us. :O)

I feel feeding one meal is perfectly fine, as long as you don't have a puppy, a breed predisposed for bloat, or a teeny tiny toy dog whose blood sugar is a concern.

 

[Kat09Tails]

It really depends on the dog. My lab does fine with once a day as I noticed twice a day made her exceptionally heavy on the same amount of chow. My papillons are better as free grazers. The cocker spaniel gets twice a day.

 

[misfitz]

I agree with kat and gonzo. Depends on the dog. If he's not interested in breakfast, then he's probably telling you that he only needs to eat once a day. My dog did the same thing. She only gets dinner now (well, that and treats) and it seems to be working for her.

 

[Doberluv]

With your little tiny toy dog, I'd be inclined to try to get something into him twice a day. If he's not hungry in the morning, maybe a noon or mid day snack? I agree if it's not a dog prone to bloat, if it's a larger dog, no problem. But with the wee ones, I'd at least offer something mid day and at night, just to be on the safe side with the blood sugar.

 

[JustaLilBitaLuck]

As a general rule, I believe in feeding dogs and cats twice a day (about twelve hours apart), ESPECIALLY with dogs prone to bloat, small dogs that have problems with blood sugar, growing puppies, and nursing/pregnant moms. With those aforementioned conditions, I'd probably even feed three times a day.

I also, as a general rule, don't believe in free feeding. In my experience with customers at work, free feeding creates overweight animals, since they're eating however much they want. Their digestive systems are also constantly in use, since they're just munching 24/7, instead of actually sitting down, eating a meal, and then not eating again until the next one.

However, I think you should also listen to your animal and what they're trying to tell you. My cat gets fed twice a day (dry in the morning, wet at night) and occassionally will skip one of the feedings - for whatever reason, she doesn't want to eat right then, and that's perfectly fine. Later in the day/evening or by the next meal, she's generally hungry again. Just like us, there are other factors that affect their appetite.

 

[skittledoo]

I definitely think it depends on the dog, but with my own, I much prefer feeding twice a day. I did have a dog that was free fed when I was younger. She was the family dog and I was a kid so I had no say in the matter and she ended up getting pretty huge in her later years. She was fine weight wise all her life and it was like as soon as she got old all the free feeding caught up with her. I don't think that's the case with every dog though. I've seen some dogs that free feed and are at a perfect healthy weight. Once a day is fine for some dogs, though like I said... I much prefer to feed twice a day.

 

[MericoX]

I feed mine once a day, ranging from 8lb Tsuki to 23lb Stryder. They do get cookies and chews during the day and at night (well depending on who lets them out).

 

[dobesgalore]

Unless they are puppies, we just feed once a day. There is a snack or two during the day though most of the time.

 

[MandyPug]

I feed twice a day... They get pukey if i don't.

 

[JacksonsMom]

With your little tiny toy dog, I'd be inclined to try to get something into him twice a day. If he's not hungry in the morning, maybe a noon or mid day snack? I agree if it's not a dog prone to bloat, if it's a larger dog, no problem. But with the wee ones, I'd at least offer something mid day and at night, just to be on the safe side with the blood sugar.

My tiny toy dog, hehe He's actually 15-16lbs, more the size of a Westie! Never had any blood sugar issues or whatnot. He was around 5lbs at 9 weeks old.

I think, since he's never had issues before with once a day meals, I may just give him a good dinner. Also wanted to add, he gets treats throughout the day semi-often and has never been pukey from not eating so hopefully I will be safe.

I guess I will just judge it based upon his exercise for the day, if he seems hungry in the morning, I will feed him. He's typically pretty lazy until around noon.

 

[corgipower]

I feed once a day, unless there's a medical reason to need to split it into multiple small meals (like when Morgan was recovering from pancreatitis) or with young puppies. I feed at night. My crew are so active playing hard and training hard and I don't want them running around the way they do on full bellies.

 

[JacksonsMom]

With your little tiny toy dog, I'd be inclined to try to get something into him twice a day. If he's not hungry in the morning, maybe a noon or mid day snack? I agree if it's not a dog prone to bloat, if it's a larger dog, no problem. But with the wee ones, I'd at least offer something mid day and at night, just to be on the safe side with the blood sugar.

I feed once a day, unless there's a medical reason to need to split it into multiple small meals (like when Morgan was recovering from pancreatitis) or with young puppies. I feed at night. My crew are so active playing hard and training hard and I don't want them running around the way they do on full bellies.

I thought about that, too. Because when we are at my dads house (like we do twice a week overnight usually)... he's sooo active in the mornings there. He swims for an hour+ sometimes, and does a TON of running. He doesn't eat breakfast there, and I feel like if he did, he'd have a harder time doing all that swimming. I know I hate swimming after I eat a good meal, lol.

 

[LabbieMama]

Just wanted to share that during the hotter months here, my 3 large breed dogs eat less. Just like me .. I don't want a big hot meal when it's sweltering. So during hotter months I probably just offer one meal. Otherwise they would get two meals per day. Weather does have some appetite influence.

 

[Snark]

I feed twice a day, otherwise Mick does the pukey thing, too.

 

[Doberluv]

My tiny toy dog, hehe He's actually 15-16lbs, more the size of a Westie! Never had any blood sugar issues or whatnot. He was around 5lbs at 9 weeks old.

I think, since he's never had issues before with once a day meals, I may just give him a good dinner. Also wanted to add, he gets treats throughout the day semi-often and has never been pukey from not eating so hopefully I will be safe.

I guess I will just judge it based upon his exercise for the day, if he seems hungry in the morning, I will feed him. He's typically pretty lazy until around noon.

Oh, lol. Well, he's probably okay with one meal. I only fed my Chi's 3 or 4 times a day when they were puppies. Twice now is enough. Plus sometimes a little snack or treat in the middle of the day. But one of my Chi's is about 10-12 lbs, so he's not exactly that small, but I still like to get something into him a couple times a day. Of course, with him, there is never the slightest argument from him. He's food obsessed. He's got an eating disorder.