What is a good feeding schedule for a senior dog?
Kenneth Morar
2025-08-06 12:59:37
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To provide optimal nutrition for your ageing companion, consider gradually switching them to a complete, balanced senior dog food, as these are specifically formulated to meet the changing nutritional needs and eating habits of older dogs. Senior dog foods typically offer a higher protein content to support muscle mass, and a reduced calorie count to help maintain a healthy weight as your dog's activity level decreases. As senior dogs tend to be less active, and have a slower metabolism, you might notice them putting on a bit of weight as they get older. As they get on in years, changing to a lower calorie diet can be a good idea. Remember, treats should only make up a small portion of your dog's overall diet. Mental enrichment is still important for senior dogs but instead of using treats, consider using bits of their daily food ration. Consult your vet for personalised advice.
Yesenia Osinski
2025-08-06 11:42:09
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Most people feed their dogs twice a day. But instead of facing a couple of fully-loaded bowls a couple of times a day, senior dogs tend to prefer smaller portions, served more frequently throughout the day. Feed your senior dog in a quiet place, somewhere they can eat in peace without any surprises or distractions. If you have more than one dog, feed them at the same time, but in different places. The older your dog gets, the more likely they are to suffer from such conditions as arthritis, so you should make things as easy as possible for them. For example, consider feeding them out of a slightly raised bowl to save them from having to strain themselves when reaching down. Introduce your dog to the senior dog food gradually. A sudden chance might cause some digestive issues, so begin by adding small portions of senior food to your dog’s bowl, aiming to make a complete shift over a period of 7-10 days.
Bart Satterfield
2025-08-06 11:39:35
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A daily feeding routine creates reassuring structure in your dog’s day. Just as for adults, we recommend the two-meal-a-day schedule - ideally one meal in the morning and one in the evening. But you might want to consider reducing your dog’s calorie intake to suit their slightly less energetic pace of life. Older dogs can also benefit from a diet that offers a bit more nutritional support for bones and joints. Don’t forget to always provide fresh drinking water when you feed your dog. A routine feeding schedule can help to establish a healthy lifestyle, increasing the likelihood of other healthy habits - like regular poops.
Hope Hermann
2025-08-06 11:09:41
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At least two meals per day is best for your dog. 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. Feeding an adult dog at regular times provides the security and predictability of a routine. When your dog is used to eating at the same times each day, their body becomes conditioned to expect food at those times. After 8 to 10 hours, an empty stomach begins to send signals to the brain that stimulate a hunger response. For this reason, at least two meals per day are best for your dog. In an ideal world, at least two meals per day is best, based on the reasons described above. 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.
Summer Cummerata
2025-08-06 10:36:37
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Many dogs are used to being fed twice a day, but older dogs may prefer to be fed smaller amounts more frequently. Changing how much and how often they’re fed can help them deal with their changing bodies and to enjoy their food more. Watch how much you’re giving them – If your older dog is less energetic and burning fewer calories, then it’s easy to give them too much food for their energy requirements. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on the quantity of food to give your dog and remember to weigh it out to avoid giving them too much. Manufacturer’s guidelines are, as the name suggests, just a guide, so keep an eye on your dog’s size and adjust the amount if you need to. As your dog gets older, it’s a good idea to switch over to a diet that is lower in calories. Being less active, often due to joint problems, and having a slower metabolism means that it’s much more difficult for them to burn the calories that they gain from food. When changing your dog’s diet, it’s usually best to add a small amount of new food to their current one, and gradually change the ratio of old food to new food over 7-10 days.
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