Is it okay to feed a senior dog once a day?
Nakia Jaskolski
2025-09-07 16:03:54
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As your dog gets older (generally 8+), their dietary requirements will change a bit. Just as for adults, we recommend the two-meal-a-day schedule - ideally one meal in the morning and one in the evening. Older dogs can also benefit from a diet that offers a bit more nutritional support for bones and joints. A daily feeding routine creates reassuring structure in your dog’s day. Mealtimes are cornerstone events in any dog’s day. A routine feeding schedule can help to establish a healthy lifestyle, increasing the likelihood of other healthy habits. Older dogs might want to consider reducing their calorie intake to suit their slightly less energetic pace of life. Whatever else is happening, dogs are generally pretty content if their feeding routine remains reliable.
Kali Wisoky
2025-08-27 18:56:46
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According to the research, adult dogs that are fed only once per day tend to score significantly better across several indicators of health, compared with dogs that are fed more often. Controlling for sex, age, breed, and other potential confounders, we found that dogs fed once daily rather than more frequently had lower mean scores on a cognitive dysfunction scale, and lower odds of having gastrointestinal, dental, orthopedic, kidney/urinary, and liver/pancreas disorders. The results are gleaned from data collected by a broad, ongoing canine health study called the Dog Aging Project.
Rahsaan Klocko
2025-08-23 20:28:50
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Dogs fed once a day are less likely to be diagnosed with age-related conditions than dogs fed more often, according to an analysis of surveys completed by 24,000 owners of pet dogs. In most cases, dogs fed once per day were significantly less likely to have had such a diagnosis. The total amount that a dog eats, rather than how often it eats, might explain the correlation. Dogs fed twice a day or more might be more likely to be obese, for instance. The advice currently given by many organisations is to feed dogs twice a day. If further studies confirm that once-a-day feeding is healthier regardless of how much dogs eat overall, it might lead to a change in this advice, says Kaeberlein. Once-a-day-feeding might be beneficial only for dogs given their evolutionary history as hunters, says Kaeberlein – their wolf ancestors often went for days without eating. Based on this study, we are not recommending that people make a change in the way they are feeding their dogs. The strength of the study is that numbers are large and the statistical methods are sound, but it also has many weaknesses, and he strongly agrees that people shouldn’t change the way they feed their dogs until further studies are done.
Morgan Fisher
2025-08-16 01:13:23
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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. It’s much easier for older dogs to put on weight, 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. Becoming overweight or obese puts further strain on a dog’s joints and can cause other health issues that reduce their life expectancy. As your dog gets older, it’s a good idea to switch over to a diet that is lower in calories. Always speak to your vet before changing your dog’s diet. 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.
Gregorio Mayer
2025-08-06 10:44:57
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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. 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. Because they have a slower metabolism and a slower pace of life, it’s not unusual for older dogs to put on a bit of weight. While a bit of weight gain is to be expected, a lot of weight gain can be a problem.
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