How many meals a day?

P

penny

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Dusty ( now 7 months ) has been eating about 1/2 cup twice a day, at 7 and 2pm. This past week I have been out in the afternoon, and the 2pm feeding was skipped a couple of times. She doesn't act hungry, and has not complained!

I'm wondering if I should drop the afternoon feeding altogether. She does get small milkbones whenever she is left in her crate ( about 3 a day ), and also during the day gets 3-4 pre-frozen meatballs cut up as training treats.


Any advice would be appreciated, I don't want to starve her, but I don't want to overfeed her either.

Penny
 
It's a great question.

When I had only Timber, he was fed once per day but free fed.

I have two pups now and they are both fed twice per day, in smaller portions.

Given that our pups will overeat if we allow them, I would go to once per day and supplement with training treats.
 
I never had really thought about this when I had my first dogs until my Golden developed bloat and had to be rushed to the emergency clinic on Easter Eve. I only fed them once a day until that happened. The vet told me that no matter the size of the dog you should feed them twice a day so they are overly starved. Because my Golden acted like he was overly starved, he inhaled his food and then drank a bunch of water. Because there was so much food in his stomach it swelled fast and wouldn't allow the gas to escape either by belching or farting - so nice aren't I? Because he hadn't twisted his stomach, they were able to get a tube down his throat to his stomach to allow the air to get out and relieve the pressure. He was saved and I started feeding all of my dogs twice a day after that. I'm not trying to say that this will happen to your dog but I think it's best to feed to smaller meals a day than one.
 
mcguiregirl2248 said:
I never had really thought about this when I had my first dogs until my Golden developed bloat and had to be rushed to the emergency clinic on Easter Eve. I only fed them once a day until that happened. The vet told me that no matter the size of the dog you should feed them twice a day so they are overly starved. Because my Golden acted like he was overly starved, he inhaled his food and then drank a bunch of water. Because there was so much food in his stomach it swelled fast and wouldn't allow the gas to escape either by belching or farting - so nice aren't I? Because he hadn't twisted his stomach, they were able to get a tube down his throat to his stomach to allow the air to get out and relieve the pressure. He was saved and I started feeding all of my dogs twice a day after that. I'm not trying to say that this will happen to your dog but I think it's best to feed to smaller meals a day than one.
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I can understand how the issue of bloat could happen,as we have experianced a similer situation recently here with Trapp. Nothing serious,but a little scary with him for a couple of days. We solved that by a dispensing ball to feed him.

I do have a lab,and he is fed once a day.I have never had a situation with him gulping,or being so starved that he could'nt get food down quick enough. He was fed two meals,until just this past Sept.

The only reason we decided,to stop the night feeding,was because one reason is that Earnhardt was over weight.Currently weighs 96lbs. Was 102

And secondly,he did'nt show much interest in the evening meal. He would lollygag around,and he is a very slow eater.
I do think the dogs metabolism,his activity level,could play a differant story in the feeding issue.
 
penny said:
Dusty ( now 7 months ) has been eating about 1/2 cup twice a day, at 7 and 2pm. This past week I have been out in the afternoon, and the 2pm feeding was skipped a couple of times. She doesn't act hungry, and has not complained!

I'm wondering if I should drop the afternoon feeding altogether. She does get small milkbones whenever she is left in her crate ( about 3 a day ), and also during the day gets 3-4 pre-frozen meatballs cut up as training treats.


Any advice would be appreciated, I don't want to starve her, but I don't want to overfeed her either.

Penny
Click to expand...

I think I would shoot for a later supper feeding.If shes getting a little nibble of milkbones,plus the frozen treats,she probably is not hungry at 2pm. I have found that the later I can feed Trapp (my gosh this dog is very vocal if he's hungry)
He does much better all night sleeping.

He is getting fed at 7am. His supper measurement is split,and is givin to him,at lunch. But if I can get away with not giving it to him I do,and just give him a mother hubbard cookie,at lunch time.
Or offer a snack of frozen green beans or carrot. Theres been times,hes satisfied with a ice cube to crunch on. I think its a thing of wanting something in his mouth to satisfy him.

Then supper at 5-6pm.
 
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