Is It Cruel To Feed A Dog Once A Day? [Question Answered]

Think about this from a human perspective: is it okay for a normal human being to eat a meal once a day? If the answer is a big no, then the same goes with the dog’s feeding schedule because dogs have the same simple stomach anatomy as humans. So is it cruel to feed a dog once a day?

It is way better to break this one large meal in a day into two parts, once in the morning and another in the evening. It is inhuman to feed a dog once a day if the dog is not going through any diet. However, it depends on many other factors such as breed, age, size, weight, and the dog’s activity. In this guide, we will talk about both sides of feeding a dog once a day.

Is It Cruel To Feed A Dog Once A Day? – About Dog Food History

One feeding a day is not advised for dogs since they may become undernourished if not given adequate food. Dogs only fed once a day are also more prone to nag for food or take leftovers from the kitchen, which may result in obesity and its associated issues.

One of the main disadvantages of feeding a dog less than the recommended amount of dog food is that it can give rise to malnourishment, which can then cause organ dysfunction. Physical impacts include muscular weakness, which may result in an inability to stand up or sit down and fight off diseases.

Dogs who are undernourished will have lower immunity against diseases and illnesses, making them more likely to get sick or die because of malnourishment.

Dog’s Breed

Feeding your dog once a day mostly depends on the breed of the dog. Animals specialist recommends feeding your dog two times a day with a small amount each time. Rather than letting him eat a large amount of food just in one sit.

1. Small Breed

If it’s a puppy, the size of his stomach should be small too. So if you feed him once a day, it will never have a good impact on his growth and activity. Because pups typically have fast digestion, that’s why they lost energy faster than the elder dog. That is why they need to be served more than once a day.

2. Giant Breed

Similarly, an adult breed that is more likely to swallow food quickly would be benefited from two small meat rather than one large meal. Because of their fast-eating habit, a lot of foods at once can lead to an intestinal problem. If you are feeding your dog once a day, it might become a problem later because the giant breed has higher gastric and bloating issues. So, it’s a wise decision not to take such steps.

Dog’s Age

The food habit of dog’s changes as they grow older. Until the puppies put their paws in eight weeks, they should feed their mother milk. So we should not take them away from their mother before they are weaned.

How Much Should A Newborn Puppy Eat?

• Up to eight weeks – Only breast milk.
• Three to four weeks – Introduce a small portion of foods.
• Six weeks – Food four times a day along with breast milk.

How Much Should An Older Puppy Eat?

• 2-3 months – Between four and five times a day
• 3-6 months – Three times a day
• 6-12 months – Two times a day

How Often Should An Elder Dog Eat?

Once the dog started getting old, we will have to set the frequency of feedings according to the state of health and particular needs. It’s common for older dogs to suffer various health problems as they grow older.

Many of them require medication, or it prevents them from moving with previous agility. Taking them to the vets is important more often at this time. This is because they can best indicate the dogs’ feeding schedule according to their clinical reports.

Why Once Is Not Enough

The right amount of food can make your dog healthy and active. However, an excessive eating habit can lead to obesity and various intestinal health problems, and too little can lead to nutritional insufficiency.

• Musculoskeletal problems like osteoarthritis, cruciate ligament ruptures, and intervertebral disk disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Cushing’s disease
• Skin disorders
• Some types of cancer.

Feeding Guide On Dog’s Food Label

Have a look at the feeding guide according to the weight of the dog and the amount he/she should eat-

You can mix it up with your dog’s health conditions. If he/she prefer more or less, then you should feed them accordingly. But if your dog has serious health issues, then it’s better to take advice from your vet. The vets will help you out to make a chart for your dog.

Lead To Aggression

Sometimes, craving for food can lead a dog to aggressive behavior because an empty stomach makes them irritated and anxious. In addition, researches shows, dogs that don’t feel healthy or active are more likely to be more irritable, anxious, and aggressive than the one that is healthy and active.

Eating Once A Day

Eating once a day is normal for a dog only when his activities show no abnormality. For example, if he is healthy and active with a one meal per day routine, then it’s completely normal.

But if he/she is calmer (likely sick) or more aggressive, then it’s alarming for the dog. Research shows that there are some common reasons why a dog is eating only once a day. These are health problems, food problems, and routine problems.

1. Health Problems

Some common health problems make a dog eat lesser than he/she should. If you notice any unexpected changeover in your dog’s food habit, do not waste your time waiting for it to change automatically. Instead, take your dog immediately to the vets.

2. Food Problems

Sometimes dogs lesser their food habit if they don’t like the food. Try something else. Try to make changes in their food habit. Sometimes they get bored of the same kind of food. Try different food and see which one they like most.

3. Routine Problems

The last and most common reason is that you trained the dog to eat once a day, which he has become used to. If you do not offer them another meal, they are not likely to crave another one. It might not work immediately, but slowly this habit will change for sure.

Regulate Food Dog Food

Step 1

Poor quality food always produces more waste and causes a dog’s digestive problem. Therefore, we should always be careful when choosing what to feed our dogs. Furthermore, we try to avoid expensive products; hence, low-quality products can indirectly cost us more than expected.

Step 2

When you start regulating your dog’s food, you need to give him/her a standard amount of food according to his activity level. Neither too much nor too little. And do weigh your dog once in a while to see if the procedure is working or not.

Step 3

If needed, increase or decrease the food amount to stay on the right track.  You will see the result after a while.

Final Words

It is wise not to take any steps that lead our beloved dog’s health condition where he/she had to suffer a lot. Feeding your dog once a day is acceptable only if your dog is going through any diet or his food habits are established in that way.

Always try to avoid foods like Chocolate, Onion, Grapes, Garlic. For example, chocolate can increase their heart palpitations, vomiting, etc. Grapes can cause renal failure. Onion and Garlic can cause them diarrhea, vomiting, anemia, etc.

Sudden changes in a dog’s food habits can cost you even more. It can lead your dog to severe health issues. Also, sometimes it changes their behavior. For example, they started acting weirdly at first and then become aggressive later.

Please do not feed your dog before going out as it creates a problem for them to digest their food. Instead, feed him/her at least one hour before going out for a walk. I hope now you know is it cruel to feed a dog once a day or not.

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