Every dog owner wants to do right by their beloved pet – and this includes ensuring their emotional and physical needs are properly met.
However, some owners have found themselves in heated debates over whether you should feed your dog once, twice or three times a day – with countless owners sharing their feeding routines across social media platforms.
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 said: “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 chimed in: “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 added: “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.”
Putting the debate to rest once and for all, experts at VAC Animal Hospitals recommend feeding your dog at least two meals per day – and trying to feed your dog at the same time every day.
A statement explains: “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 providing meals for your pet at consistent times each day, you’re establishing a “concrete event” and building routine into their daily life.
Moreover, you’ll be able to detect any problems they might be facing through their dietary behaviour.
The statement continues: “A disruption in eating patterns can serve as a warning sign of illness. When dogs consume food 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.”
Nevertheless, some dogs are less driven by food and would flourish equally well on a single meal per day – suggesting the guideline isn’t absolute.
“In an ideal world, at least two meals per day is best, based on the reasons described above,” the statement continues. “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.”