How Often Should I Feed My Dogs? Professional Pet Owner Feeding Techniques Explained

(Photo : Unsplash / Camylla Battani)

Owning a pet can be a huge responsibility since they mostly depend on their owner for food, shelter, and other needs. As such, making sure a dog gets enough food can be tricky since it's not good to both over or underfeed them.

How Often Should I Feed My Dogs

Ideally, it's important to feed dogs twice a day in 12-hour increments, but this can also depend on the owner's habits. Should it be difficult for the owner to feed their dog in 12-hour increments, they can also apply a human feeding schedule of having breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

However, the largest benefit of feeding dogs in 12-hour increments is that their stomachs can practice healthy digestion. If the dog doesn't get to eat within that maximum timeframe, their stomachs can become hyperacidic, leading to them feeling nauseous.

Aside from how often an owner should feed their dogs, it's also important that the pets are fed with an appropriate portion and that they get enough nutrition. Like humans, larger dogs would require more calories daily compared to smaller dogs, meaning larger or smaller portions.

ALSO READ: Octopus Garden: Scientists Uncover the Mystery of the Thriving Deep-Sea Community Near Central California's Extinct Underwater Volcano

Proper Feeding Practices

The owner should asses how much it costs to feed dogs based on their breed, age, size, and even how energetic their pets are. The breed also plays an important role when it comes to the type of food the dog should eat.

One thing that many pet owners do is leave food in a certain place and allow the dogs to eat whenever they're hungry. The free-feeding practice isn't recommended by veterinarians since it can be hard to track how much they're eating, putting them at risk of obesity when they eat too much.

Another thing to watch out for is feeding the dog on a certain schedule. Like humans, dogs' stomachs adjust to the time that they eat which is why it's recommended to stick to a strict schedule when feeding them.

Feeding schedules also help the dog maintain a healthy weight and prevent digestive issues from happening. Dogs that often eat on an irregular basis or eat frequent large meals are often at a higher risk of vomiting, ingestion, and other stomach problems.

Normal Feeding Routine Benefits

Snacking isn't always helpful for dogs, especially if it's in larger quantities that can mess up their digestion for the next meal. Like humans, dogs' metabolism also relies on regularity, and feeding them at erratic times can slow the process since their stomachs aren't always prepared for food.

With a regular feeding routine, the dog's digestive system and metabolism get accustomed to the time and portion, minimizing the need for additional food or snacks. Pet owners whose dogs follow a healthy feeding routine might notice their pets stop begging for food and snacks.

This is a good sign that shows that the dog is satisfied with the food and isn't hungry until it's time for the next meal. Allowing the dog's body to digest properly is also very important in fighting obesity, which already affects 54% of dogs.