Twice vs. once a day feeding

[TricAP]

Lately we've noticed breakfast is not as important to Angus (currently 16 months old), but he is always more than eager for dinner. Doesn't matter what's in the bowl he just isn't hungry in the morning. Have any of you gone to feeding your big babies raw just once a day? Please share your experiences.

 

[Hector]

All adults eat 1x a day unless I need to give them supplements or meds, then they get a small breakfast.

 

[NYDDB]

I feed his raw meals 2x per day, morning and evening. Some do once, some do twice....so, I would just go by what Angus seems to be wanting, and see how it goes. Personal preference, really. If the weather is very warm, Mateo will sometimes skip a meal, but twice per day works well for us. (I feed approx. 3 lbs. per day.)

 

[angelbears]

I advocate for twice a day if at all possible. IMHO, I believe it helps to prevent bloat. Morning meals are always pure meat. Bone-in meals are always in the afternoon.

 

[Max's mom]

Max eats twice a day. He's still pretty miffed that he doesn't get anything at lunch! He spends a lot of time looking at his empty bowl...

 

[Liz_M]

Growing up (pre-raw; we had working sheep dogs) we always fed once a day, that was the norm. When I got my first Rottweiler and learned about bloat I went to twice a day amd that's been my normal routine no matter what I'm feeding. Never had a dog that wasn't interested in meal time, but if I did have one that clearly wanted to eat once a day and was doing well with it, I'd be fine with it. Mogens Eliasen is one of those "strict" raw feeders who thinks dogs should be fed exactly like wolves and he had a lengthy article about why it was best to feed every 2-4 days. (I'm certainly not a fan of this approach!) Unfortunately it appears all of his writing is now behind a paywall, but if anyone is interested or wants to do more research: Mogens Eliasen

 

[TricAP]

Thanks all! We are offering him breakfast this coming week and if he doesn't eat it after 15 minutes it goes back in the fridge to be added to his dinner. So we'll see how it goes.

 

[fixitlouie]

I feed one a day for most of dogs. Nurseing bitches at least twice.

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[Waffles]

I feed Waffles 2 times a day. One for breakfast and a slightly smaller meal for dinner. She is quite active in the day so if I really wanted to, I think feeding her just once in the day time would be ok too, but 2 times a day is working out so far.

 

[TricAP]

Update on the issue - 5 days in a row he just didn't care to eat breakfast. So didn't offer it to him on the 6th day, but did feed our older girls in front of him. Sent him into sulk that lasted the entire day! So next morning fed the girls again and he ran to his place to eat and sat down waiting. I fixed him a portion and he ate it with no hesitation. Been almost 2 weeks and we haven't had an issue of refusing breakfast since. Guess it was just reminding him he needed to eat when offered or he got VERY hungry by dinner time. So sticking with twice a day for now.

 

[EverythingEnglishMastiff]

I feed 2x a day. Morning is hand fed while training with their food. Night time they get their supplements and eat out of their bowls. Hank doesn't always eat his allowance so whatever is left over from the morning (he will show marked disinterest in food, but still follow commands when given) I throw in a bowl and Roxy usually eats it lol. For now it's working because she is such a skinny mini.