Experts at VAC Animal Hospital have shared how often you should feed your dog per day – and whether switching up their meal times makes a difference to their overall health and wellbeing
Every dog owner wants to do right by their pet – and this includes making sure their emotional and physical needs are met. But some owners have been left arguing over whether it’s best to feed your pet once, twice or three times a day – with many sharing their routines on social media.
On Reddit, one user said: “I read that feeding your dogs once a day is more beneficial but my dogs are used to eating twice a day, though they don’t eat their breakfast most of the time.” In response one user added: “Dogs who are fed once a day are more likely to bloat. Personally, my dogs throw up if their stomachs are empty, and feeding twice a day prevents this.” Another user added: “Twice a day for mine. Mine gets the hunger pukes if he doesn’t eat his breakfast, so one meal a day doesn’t work for him.”
A third user said: “Thrice. I have older dogs and many dogs develop acid reflux and other issues when older. The third time helps keep them from getting nauseous overnight and eating grass to vomit in the morning.”
Settling the debate once and for all, experts at VAC Animal Hospitals say it’s best to feed your dog at least two meals per day – and stick to the same time each day as much as possible.
A statement reads: “Feeding your dog does not have to be mysterious. By recognising a few key concepts and attributes of dogs we can create a very reasonable feeding plan for them.
“The most common recommendation is to feed your dog at least two meals per day and there are a few reasons for this.
“Dogs are creatures of habit. We can use this fact to our advantage by creating a regular feeding schedule and sticking to it.
“A regular feeding schedule helps with house training puppies, as well as adult rescue dogs who have not been taught household manners.”
By feeding your pet at the same times every day, you’re creating a “concrete event” and establishing a routine in their day.
Not only this, but you’ll be able to pick up on any issues they might be experiencing through their eating habits.
The statement adds: “A break in eating habits can be a warning sign of illness. When dogs eat on a regular schedule, that habit becomes strong. It is easy to see if all the food from a meal is consumed.
“If food is left, whether all or part of a meal, that is an important signal that something is wrong, and it is time to schedule a veterinary appointment.”
However, some dogs are less food-motivated and would thrive just as well on one meal per day – meaning the rule isn’t set in stone.
“In an ideal world, at least two meals per day is best, based on the reasons described above,” the statement adds. “Some dogs are less food-motivated and do fine with one meal per day.
“Others may need more frequent meals, such as dogs that only eat small volumes of food at a time or dogs with medical conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), who are prone to reflux if their stomach is empty for too long.
“A third meal can be added as a ‘lunch’ or a bedtime snack, depending on the needs of the individual.”