Should dogs have access to food 24/7?

Dogs have a simple stomach anatomy, just like humans. Once their stomach is filled with food, it will empty within a few hours as food moves into the small intestine. After 8 to 10 hours, an empty stomach begins to send signals to the brain that stimulate a hunger response. Feeding a puppy all it can eat at one time is called ad libitum or “free choice” feeding. This type of feeding is not recommended, as it can create juvenile obesity, encourage binge eating, and lead to orthopedic problems and diabetes. My dog prefers to graze. Though some dogs can regulate their food intake well, it is still recommended to create the expectation of mealtimes. If you have only one dog, and no plans for more, you can allow your dog to graze by measuring out the food portion each day and then recording anything left over at the end of the day.

Free feeding dogs or cats is providing unlimited access to food. This translates to having a food bowl filled and available to your dog at all times. Unlimited access to food can lead to weight gain and obesity. The inability to monitor how much your dog is eating makes it harder to identify changes in their food intake. If you are feeding more than one dog, free feeding makes it difficult to determine whether everyone is getting the amount of food, and the daily nutrition, they need. Veterinarians are cautious about recommending free feeding to dogs instead of schedule feeding, for some very valid reasons. Most veterinarians recommend two daily feedings, morning and night, for healthy adult dogs. Young puppies need more frequent meals than adult dogs, usually three meals a day before six months of age. While it might be tempting to just fill the bowl and let your puppy graze throughout the day, remember that recommended servings of a quality puppy food, served on a consistent feeding schedule, will help your puppy grow up healthier and make potty training easier.