Is it ok to feed only once a day?

soapymoose

In the past few weeks, Cash (11 month lab mix) has lost interest in eating breakfast.  He eats about half and walks away, but he eats dinner just fine.  I've tried adding warm water and that used to entice him but that doesn't even work anymore.  We're in the process of switching from Blue Buffalo to Wellness to see if he likes that better, but so far he hasn't shown any more interest.  Since he seem to be hungrier at dinner time, would it be ok to feed him his full daily amount just once a day?

Alisha_A

Yes - naturally carnivores generally eat just once a day and then rest. When they are pups they eat more often but if your dog is saying he's ready for one meal a day, that's just fine. I only feed my dogs once a day. I do give them a small snack in the morning (a good sized dog biscuit or some spoonfulls of oatmeal or a bit of meat) so they don't have an empty stomach all day.

soapymoose

Great, thanks!  We'll try that and see how he does.

ilovehouses

With larger dogs it's suggested to not feed them once a day as it can increase the likilihood of them getting bloat.

swiora

If Duke eats only once a day, he ends up throwing up bile. 

I read somewhere once that it is more difficult for larger dogs to regulate their blood sugar levels if they only eat once a day, but I don't know how true that really is.  

angelaggie

ilovehouses:

With larger dogs it's suggested to not feed them once a day as it can increase the likilihood of them getting bloat.

Ditto this.  My vet gave me a whole lecture on bloat yesterday after RC's food bloat.  She said though that it's more of a concern with deep chested dogs...boxers, danes, that kind of thing.  Labs may not be a major concern.  Just make sure he doesn't eat too fast and think drink lots of water.

Alisha_A

No one knows what causes bloat. So long as you are not feeding a ridiculous amount at once its fine. Every single dog I know that has bloated was a 2x or more feedings a day dog. OMG feeding multiple times a day causes bloat! OMG FOOD causes bloat!

Nital, the bile is why I give the snack.

nital

great.  i don't even post...but when one says "duke" and "bile" in the same post...my dog is the first one that comes to mind.  i think my dog pukes too much. 

i actually feed once a day now.  and i only give snacks when i leave the house.  so on days that i'm home all day, my dogs get fed late in the evening, and go an entire day with almost no puking anymore, yay!

Alisha_A

Hahaha whoops!! Sorry about that, and it wasn't bile, just the name Duke! I do not associate you with upchuck of any variety!!

I don't know how my dogs would do without a snack, I just feel bad leaving nothing and they love it so!

nital

lol, no worries.  people have actually commented before on my dog that's trained to let us know and then run to the nearest door to puke outside, so obviously i talk about duke puking a lot.

i used to give them a breakfast cookie, but duke kept puking.  a regular cookie meant he was expecting food, and as long as he was expecting it, he would puke.  by giving cookies and meals at random times, he's learned to quit expecting, and that i'll give him treats and food and goodies when i feel like it, he's quit puking.  

starlettedir

R only eats once. He doesn't want to do anything in the mornings except go back to bed.

girllovesgranola

I think that it is ok. My lab also prefers to eat only in the evenings. He will nibble at his morning meal all day until the evening when I add the second half of his daily servings. Also, he is kind of silly... he wont eat when we are watching him.