As humans, we eat three times daily. But when it comes to dogs, people ask – how often should I feed my dog, especially when using automatic pet feeders.
However, there is no straight forward answer to this question as it isn’t a one cap fits all situation. Pet feeders are useful in cases like this; nevertheless, let’s talk quantity and frequency.
Puppies should eat more
If your puppy is 6 months old, you should feed him up to four times daily. Puppies shouldn’t be fed huge meals at once because they have small stomachs, unlike bigger dogs, which is why you should feed them smaller portions multiple times.
Since puppies are still on their way to adulthood, they need to consume a lot of calories to help them grow into healthy adult dogs.
Therefore, if the recommended daily intake for your puppy is 2 cups of food every day, you should split the serving into 4 meals (1/2 cup per meal) instead of two meals (1 cup per meal).
Once your puppy is 6 months old, you’ll have to change his routine. Now you can increase his serving per meal and feed him twice daily.
Small Dogs eat less during mealtime
Due to their nature, smaller adult dogs like the Welsh Corgi, King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Cavalier King Charles, Bichon, French bulldog, Shih Tzu, Dachshund, and many others can’t eat much.
In situations like this, you can feed your dog twice per day because, just like puppies, their small stomach won’t allow them to eat huge meals in one sitting.
Split his meal into two and give it to him morning and evening. The morning meal can be big and the evening meal smaller. Automatic pet feeders can help you set accurate measurements, so you don’t make a mistake.
Avoid overfeeding large dogs
A lot of people feed their adult big dog once daily, and it’s wrong because such meals can be small or way too much. If it is small, the dog will suffer from malnutrition.
If the meal is too big, the dog will suffer from bloating.
Bloating is a condition where the dog’s stomach is swollen from over-feeding. This is a fatal condition that can make dogs feel uncomfortable.
Instead of feeding your adult big dog one whole meal, feed him 2 moderate meals daily instead. Make use of automatic pet feeders to measure meals, so it never goes beyond the appropriate serving.
Don’t forget to add snack in-between
The same way you’ll give a child some treats in-between meals, you can also serve canine cookies to your dog to make him happy. However, make sure to feed him in moderation.
Sometimes, most dogs get hungry in the middle of the night and begin to bark non-stop. In situations like this, you can feed him some cookies before bed to curb his hunger.
The bottom line
In general, puppies are to eat three of four times daily, while smaller adult dogs should eat twice daily. Then for big adult dogs, it is twice daily.
Like I mentioned above, this isn’t a one cap fits all situation. So if your dog has unique needs, get in touch with your vet for more advice.
