By examining data from 47,000 pet dogs, researchers have discovered a link between health and meal consumption, indicating that calorie restriction can slow or reverse aspects of aging.
After controlling for age, sex and breed, the team found dogs that were only fed once per day, rather than multiple times, appeared to have lower scores of cognitive disfunction, equivalent to the difference between a 7-year-old and 11-year-old dog.
Dogs that are fed one meal per day appear to have better cognitive function and health than those fed multiple times.
“There are various reasons why dogs with worse health might be fed more frequently. For example, dogs on prescription medication might need to be fed more frequently in order to get their medication in their food.”
“They found an association between once a day feeding and lower scores on a test that captures some features of a canine dementia, where high scores mean more impairment. The authors dont assert that feeding style causes impairment, but I would consider trying that feeding style on a dog—while keeping an eye out for how it seems to be going.
How old is your dog?
A growing puppy will require more protein in the diet, and as they’re growing their metabolic rate requires significantly higher food input than an adult dog of similar size. We’d recommend feeding puppies three meals a day until they are aged between 8 and 10 weeks, reducing this to twice-daily feeds until their rapid growth phase has passed which can be anything from 8 months of age for a small dog to two years old for a large breed.
Tory grew up outside of Chicago with chocolate labs. She’s not sure why she ever gave up her first job, which was as a dog beach attendant on Lake Michigan. About 8 years ago she rescued a mixed breed terrier named Mabel who is obsessed with tennis balls. Mabel is also her tireless running buddy who completed a 14-mile run while Tory was training for the Chicago Marathon. Tory enjoys dog training and competing in dog sports such as agility and dock diving.
She received a BS in Animal Sciences with Distinction in Research from Cornell University and her vet degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where she did original research at the Penn Working Dog Center. Tory completed her internship in veterinary medicine at the world-renowned Animal Medical Center in New York City where she treated an actual lame duck and saw a hungry snake that hadn’t eaten in a year.
Feed your dog once a day? How often should your dog eat?
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We endeavour to deliver the best information possible on natural health and diets for dogs and cats. Our articles involve contributions from senior veterinarians and are researched thoroughly. They remain the opinion of Vets All Natural however and we always recommend seeking professional advice specific to your pet from a veterinarian.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]One of the questions we’re asked most frequently dogs should be fed.
It’s an understandable area of concern for dog owners. A dog that is overfed will be more likely end up obese and could suffer some pretty nasty related health conditions including degenerative joint disease and cancer.
At the other end of the scale, underfed dogs can end up malnourished, a condition that suppresses the immune system, leaving dogs prone to infection and disease, and vulnerable to parasites which place further strain on their bodily function.
We like to see dogs that display a healthy appetite but a thin waistline! In general dogs that are on the lighter side of their target weight consistently suffer fewer health issues than those carrying too much timber!