Recomendations about feeding your dog ? one or 2 meals a day?

Question

I have a Vizsla that just turned one. Hes currently eating 4 cups a day of Purina Pro Plan Dog food and hes just under 55lbs . However Lately he seems like he is eating less. What are your feels on 1 or 2 meals a day as well as do i cut back to 3 or 3 1/2 cups a day total

Answer 1

We feed our dogs once a day. They eat dinner at the same time we do.

We find this is much better overall, the dogs are on a schedule and we know what to expect and when for the most part.

Answer 2

I personally have always recommended feeding two meals a day. After all, think how hungry you would be if you went 24 hours without food.

In the wild, dogs were scavenging carnivores. Yes, they would go for long periods at times without a major meal/kill, but they would scavenge off the forest floor, or catch a small animal. So they never purposely went for long periods without eating. They ate as opportunity presented itself. You also have to remember that dogs have not been wild or feral for many centuries. An active dog needs to eat, and one meal a day will weight them down for several hours afterwards.

As for how much to feed, if he is not fat, I would simply divide his daily portion into two meals, and leave it in his dish. If it is not gone by the next morning, you can hold back the morning feed until the bowl is empty. That way there is always food if he wants it.

The majority of dogs can't be "free fed" like this because they would get fat if there were food available all the time. But as long as what is put out does not go over the daily amount that keeps them at a steady weight, it won't be a problem.

As a side note, many dogs, depending on their location, gain weight in winter when less active and if you notice there is too much fat on their ribs, you can cut back 1/2 cup for the daily total, and feed that amount for a month. If they are still heavy, you can cut back another 1/4 cup.

Answer 3

We have to rat terriers and they get the recommended feeding a day of 1 1/2 cups which is split between 3 meals a day breakfast, lunch and supper. Sometimes the younger one will only eat 2 meals a day he'll eat his breakfast and then lunch can sit there till supper sometimes so we just add a little to it. Would look at the bag of food your feeding to see what it recommends or ask you vet what they think is a good recommendation on how much to feed a day.

Answer 4

I find that the dogs do tend to eat less when it is starting to feel like spring. They don't need as much food in the warmer months.
Could be the Purina tho, not the best food.. Ours won't even go near it, turn their noses up and walk away. Plus it contains ethoxyquin, which is known to cause cancer in people and pets.

You can switch to 2 meals a day if you want. I tend to feed ours twice a day. It seems more fair to me to feed them 2ce a day rather than making them wait a whole 24 hours for more food. Check the side of the food bag it'll tell you how much to feed per day according to weight of your dog.
I wouldn't cut back on the food if he is seeming thin to you. But I would check into maybe changing your dogfood.

Answer 5

I now always split the recommended daily serving into two meals. It seems to keep the appetite in better balance. One of my dogs used to become voracious at meal time and wolf down his bowl of food to the point of making himself sick. Now he is far more comfortable.
As a trainer I find the dogs' are more responsive if their stomachs aren't growling and I have heard, on occasion the I'm hungry rumble from a dog that is in the middle of an exercise.
I vote for two meals a day.

Answer 6

2 meals a day 3+1/2 cups

Answer 7

Free feeding an adult dog can be dangerous if they eat too much and with large breeds it's good to divide the feeding to twice daily or more, same amount you fed at one feeding but divided between the feedings.
Considering all the recalls related to wheat, you might take this time to change your dog's food to a brand that does not contain wheat or wheat products.

Answer 8

i feed my 5 month old shepherd collie mix 3 times a day...she's been eating less so i feed her less....cut back to 3 1/2 cups first and if that is still too much cut back to 3...i feed my dog a small scoop at breakfast and lunch and a 2 scoops at dinner...also try filling the bowl with some food in it and let it stay there....see how much your dog eats in 5 hours...and then base your amount on that...

Answer 9

that sounds like too much. I feed my 2 small dogs 1/2 cup in the morning and 1/2 cup at night in the summer when they are more active. In the winter when they are in the house I only give them 1/2 at night. That is all they need or else they will get chunky fat around their necks and butts.

Answer 10

I always have food out. My dogs know there is food and therefore don't try to eat a lot. All my dogs are very fit. Many dogs fed regularly tend to get overweight.