How Often Should Your Dog Eat?

Beyond the type of food you prefer to give, and the appropriate quantity and quality, an important issue to define is how often your dog should eat. There are different opinions on this matter, but, in order for the animal to remain active and not get fat, the one that indicates feeding our pet between 2 and 3 times a day seems to prevail.

Is it correct for dogs to eat once a day?

Long ago, the idea that dogs had to be fed only once a day was very much in vogue. Even today, some vets still advise this way.

But for sure, the justification for this claim is not entirely clear. It seems to come from the idea that dogs have adapted their metabolism for this type of feeding frequency due to their wolfish genetic heritage.

Wolves depend on what they hunt for food. And after a good meal, if the hunt was successful, periods of more frugality may come.

Avoid digestive problems for your dog

However, it has been proven that if we feed a dog every 24 hours, it is most likely that it will start to suffer from gastritis.

The reason: the animal is very hungry and its anxiety to eat makes it devour the food.

This way of “breathing in” food, in the long run, will cause inflammation due to the air that you swallowed when eating it and digestions will become more difficult.

Feeding our dog between two and three times a day seems the ideal option to keep him healthy and strong.

Details on how often your dog should eat

So, the ideal is that, once you have established the amount of food that your furry should eat daily, divide it by the times you will provide the food.

If you give it feed, or wet food in cans, you can refer to the indicative table that appears on the containers.

On the other hand, if you cook your dog, you must be very precise to give him a balanced diet.

In any case, it is better that this calculation is carried out by the veterinarian and, in addition, you adjust it periodically.

The main variables to take into account for this issue are:

• Age
• Race
• Size
• Healthy conditions
• Energy consumption according to the daily activity of the animal

At each age, their food frequency

Age is an important parameter when it comes to how often a dog should eat. Your nutritional needs vary as you grow older. For instance:

• Puppies between 2 and 3 months should be fed a minimum of 4 times a day.
• Between 4 and 6 months, the amount can be reduced to 3.
• From then on, the idea is to give him his ration divided between 2 or 3 times.

Other issues to consider when feeding your dog

In addition, it is important that you establish fixed times for your meals and that you try to keep them to the best of your ability.

This detail will also help your dog to relieve himself at more or less the same time each day. It would be perfect if you made this activity coincide with the moments spent walking with your pet. Of course, do not forget to bring the necessary items to collect the excrement of your dog.

Also consider always keeping the same place for your furry to eat. And make sure the bowls are suitable in terms of size and material.

Consult different professionals

So, don’t be left with just one opinion. Consult different specialists and establish with certainty the quantity, quality and frequency with which you should feed your furry.

Remember that each dog is unique and, although some general rules can also be established when it comes to feeding, the best way for your dog to have a balanced diet is to personalize it.

In this way, your furry will always be healthy and happy, eager to play and with its fur shining to the brim.