When to switch puppy to two meals a day

When to Switch Your Puppy to 2 Meals a Day

Our Vets Puppy Food Advice

As your new puppy grows you want to make sure theyre getting everything they need from their diet to develop into a healthy and happy adult.

Understandably, there is a lot of confusion around puppy nutrition and what should be happening at the right time.

This article will answer the commonly asked question when to switch your puppy to 2 meals a day, as well as looking at their adult diet when its time.

When You Should Switch Your Puppy to 2 Meals a Day

Your growing puppy should be fed multiple small meals every day to meet their energy requirements without overwhelming their small tummies!

Puppies are also at risk of developing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if they arent eating frequent meals.

In most cases, this means at least 3 meals per day is a good idea, with smaller dog breeds and young puppies even having four.

So the question is, when do you stop feeding a puppy 3 times a day?

As a general rule:

Puppies can switch from 3 meals per day to 2 meals a day from 6 months of age.

However, its important to remember that every animal is an individual, and factors such as breed, weight, or an underlying medical condition may affect their nutritional requirements and the amount of puppy food they need.

This is one of the reasons why its always best to discuss changing your pets diet or feeding plan with your veterinarian first.

Related: Find the Best Dog Food for Your Puppy via BreedAdvisor

Why You Should Feed Your Puppy Twice a Day

Twice-daily feeding is generally recommended once your puppy reaches 6 months of age and will continue during their adult life.

This schedule tends to work well with a dogs digestion and hunger patterns it also fits nicely into most of our daily routines.

Just remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition and some pets may require a different feeding schedule due to their breed, size, activity level or an existing medical condition.

One of the key benefits of a regular feeding schedule is having control over the portions you feed your puppy. This in turn can ensure theyre getting proper nutrition and a balanced diet.

While puppies have a lot of growing to do, the progress should be steady and controlled. Your veterinarian will regularly check your puppys weight and can show you how to monitor their body condition to make sure they arent growing too fast or becoming overweight.

In comparison to scheduled meal feeding, ad lib or free feeding is discouraged by veterinarians as it puts your puppy at increased risk of becoming overweight.

For large breed puppies prone to developmental orthopedic disease (such as hip or elbow dysplasia), this can have serious consequences.

Studies in Labrador Retrievers have shown that free feeding increases the risk of hip dysplasia, as well as the severity of osteoarthritis (arthritis) that develops as a result.

Note always continue feeding puppy food at your current schedule until youve seen or spoken to your vet.

When Are The Best Times to Feed Puppy Food?

Consistency is key!

Dogs love routine and youve probably already noticed your puppy looking for food around dinner time.

Meals should be spaced approximately 12 hours apart and timing will simply depend on your puppys unique routine and lifestyle!

How Soon After Feeding Can I Walk My Puppy?

Its best to wait at least 2 hours after a meal before you take your puppy for a walk, although young puppies should be taken out to toilet immediately after eating as part of their toilet training.

Though running around after eating can be uncomfortable, the main reason is to try to prevent bloating of the stomach.

A bloated stomach can become twisted a condition known as GDV (Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus).

Why You Shouldnt Walk Your Puppy After Eating: GDV

GDV is a life-threatening condition that requires urgent veterinary attention and emergency surgery, as the twisted stomach cuts off its own blood supply causing shock.

Large breeds with deep chests such as Greyhounds and German Shepherds are at higher risk for developing health problems like GDV, however, it can happen in any breed.

Signs your dog may have bloat or GDV include:

• Attempting to vomit (usually multiple times but not bringing anything up)
• Drooling
• Swollen abdomen that is hard or tight to touch (not always obvious in deep-chested breeds as their stomach sits under the rib cage)
• Distress or agitation
• Panting
• Signs of abdominal pain such as turning to look at their belly or becoming protective of the area.

Other nutritional factors may increase the risk of GDV. These include:

• Feeding one large meal per day
• Eating rapidly
• Increased stress around mealtimes (such as competition from another dog)
• Feeding a dry food with oil or fat among the first four listed ingredients
• Feeding from a height using an elevated bowl

If your puppy is an at-risk breed, this is another important reason for feeding two meals a day instead of one large meal.

Adding canned wet puppy food to a dry diet is also considered beneficial and make sure to wait at least one hour after exercise before feeding a meal.

Larger-sized kibbles or the use of a slow-dispense feeder can also be helpful to slow rapid eaters.

When Should I Switch From Puppy Food to Adult Food?

Puppies are growing, so they have increased requirements for energy, protein, calcium, and phosphorus, compared to adult dogs.

Thats why its important to make sure they receive a high-quality complete and balanced puppy food appropriate for their breed and size.

Large breed puppies should be on the best large breed puppy food, to help their growth.

When theyve reached their mature size, they can transition to an adult diet better suited to their needs.

The age at which this should occur is dependent on your puppys breed and size.

Large and giant breed puppies grow more slowly and may not reach their mature weight until they reach 18 months or older!

For small breed dogs, 12 months of age is usually an appropriate time to transition onto an adult diet.

Your veterinarian will able to advise you on the best time to change your puppys diet to an adult dog food and how to do so gradually.

Sudden diet changes can cause an upset tummy, so a new food should be introduced slowly and gradually over a couple of weeks.

READ NEXT: Why is my dog not eating his food but will eat treats?

Conclusion: Dont Forget, Speak to Your Vet!

Getting the right nutritional advice is so important for a happy and healthy puppy!

As you can tell, there are plenty of varying circumstances when it comes to your puppys food and the number of meals they require!

We hope this article has answered all of your questions but remember, your veterinarian is there to help dog owners and its always best to discuss any changes to your pets diet with them first.

Sources:

1. Kealy et al, Evaluation of the effect of limited food consumption on radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis in dogs, JAVMA, 2000, 217 (11); 1678-1680
2. Kealy et al, Five-year longitudinal study on limited food consumption and development of osteoarthritis in coxofemoral joints of dogs, JAVMA, 1997, 210 (2); 222-5

When to Switch a Puppy to Two Meals a Day

Adding a puppy to your family is a new and exciting time. It can be a whirlwind between the playtimes, the housebreaking, the naps and snuggles, and all the food. Sometimes it feels like all they do is eat!

This food revelation and the cost that goes with it make you wonder when to switch puppy to adult dog food. Not only that, but also when to switch your puppy to two meals a day.

Why You Should Feed Your Puppy Three Times a Day

When dogs are young, they are still trying to figure everything out. One of the things that they need to learn is how to digest their food correctly. Puppies, in general, tend to eat food very fast. Because of this, kibble has specific puppy blends that are smaller in size. The small size helps the puppy to swallow without choking.

Additionally, giving them smaller amounts throughout the day helps them not to overeat. By giving them larger quantities, they will often eat all of it quite quickly. Eating like this can cause them to have digestive trouble, including vomiting.

For this reason, it is best to feed your puppy a minimum of three times per day.

When Are the Best Times To Feed Your Puppy?

Often, pet owners have difficulty knowing when they should feed their puppies. Should they be on a schedule? Can they eat at different times each day? For this, experts often recommend having your puppy on a plan that they can adapt to.

Puppy Feeding Schedule

When a dog is young and in the stage of needing to eat three or more times per day, it is best to space the times out. Spacing them out allows them to have plenty of time for digestion in between feeding times.

As a pet owner, you will have to time feedings based on your schedule. For those that work outside the home, this can be a bit more tricky to maneuver. However, as an example schedule, many veterinarians recommended spacing them out as follows:

• First thing in the morning
• Mid-day
• Evening (a least an hour before bed)

Puppy Feeding Tips

There are several things that owners can do to make their pets mealtimes go smoothly. It is worth remembering that puppies can get distracted easily, and you will need to accommodate that.

Eat When They Eat

Many pet owners have luck feeding their dogs while they eat. This routine not only keeps the dog from begging for food but lets them know that their meal is coming too as they see you prepare yours.

Create A Quiet Place

We recommend setting up a separate meal space for your pet, preferably in the kitchen and where it is quiet. Having this area lets your dog know where they can go for their meals and water. The calm atmosphere also allows them to concentrate on eating without distraction, helping their digestion.

Stick With The Same Foods

The digestive system of a dog is quite sensitive. When you routinely change foods, this can cause discomfort to your pet. Keeping them on the same type of food helps them to stay healthy and comfortable.

Puppy Feeding and Exercise

As humans, we often walk off a large meal to aid our digestion and combat bloat. The exercise helps our comfort level and allows the food to move more quickly through our bodies.

However, that isnt the case for dogs. Exercising soon after eating can cause more discomfort for them than if they did nothing at all.

How Soon After Feeding Can I Take My Puppy Walking?

No matter the time of day, it is beneficial to wait at least one hour after your pet eats before taking them on a walk. Additionally, you should not feed your pet for at least 30 minutes after a walk. Therefore, if you wake up and immediately take your dog for a walk in the morning, it is wise to wait at least half an hour before giving them their first meal of the day.

It is also essential in the evening to feed your pet with plenty of time between their meal and bed. Allowing your dog at least an hour for food to digest before going outside and getting settled for the night is beneficial.

When to Switch to Two Meals a Day

Finding the appropriate time frame to switch from three to two meals per day is best decided on in conjunction with your veterinarian. This conversation will include addressing things such as:

1. Growth Patterns
2. Behaviors
3. Schedule
4. Appetite
5. Nutritional Needs

Typically, most veterinarians will advise you to reduce your puppy to two meals per day starting around four months. However, this can also happen at six months or a year, depending on your pets needs.

How to Switch Puppies to Two Meals a Day

When taking your pet from three meals down to two, it is best to space them out accordingly. They have adjusted to their meal times at this point, so keeping two of the scheduled times and dropping the mid-day feeding is the easiest route to take.

Considering the total amount of food your puppy needs each day, separate the amount into two equal servings. You can serve one-half to them at their first feeding and the rest in the evening.

Remember to have an adequate amount of time after eating for digestion and bathroom breaks.

How Much Should Puppies Eat Twice a Day?

The amount of food for your dog will depend on the brand and type of food you purchase. Each brand has a different ingredient make-up and will require specific amounts for your growing pet.

Additionally, certain brand varieties cater to small breeds, giant breeds, puppies, and active dogs. In doing your research on the options available, you can find what food is best for them. Keep in mind that it is beneficial for puppies to have food specifically for them to avoid choking. This type can also aid digestion.

When Can I Switch From Puppy to Adult Food?

Taking this step will also depend on many the same circumstances as switching from three meals to two. Different breeds of dogs will be able to handle adult-sized kibble sooner than others. You will also need to take into consideration the maturity of your pet. If they are still eating their food rapidly, it is wise to continue with smaller-sized kibble until they grow out of that behavior.

Moving to adult food too soon may cause your dog to choke or not entirely digest their food. However, puppy food is higher in calories than adult food, and remaining on it for too long can cause your pet to become overweight. Depending on the breed, some can move to adult food at nine months, whereas others need to wait until two years.

Adult Dog Feeding Schedule

We generally recommend feeding an adult dog twice a day morning and evening. While there are exceptions to the rule (for instance, some dogs do fine on one meal a day while others require three meals a day because their stomachs get empty quickly and cause stomach acid buildup and bilious vomiting), feeding a dog twice a day is the most common schedule.

One feeding habit we strongly urge you to avoid is free feeding which is filling a dogs bowl with food and letting them eat from it whenever they want throughout the day and night. This approach is troublesome for several reasons:

Why You Shouldnt Free-Feed Your Dog

Feeding Schedule Dictates Bathroom Schedule

We want to establish bathroom routines with our dogs, and letting them eat freely throughout the day ruins our ability to do this. Dogs will usually eliminate at a consistent interval after eating and digesting. So, if you feed your dog at the same times each day, they will develop a regular schedule of bathroom breaks. If you free feed, you wont be able to predict when theyll need to do out to relieve themselves.

You Cant Control Diet When There are Multiple Dogs in the Household

Putting bowls of food down and expecting more than one dog to only eat from their bowl throughout the day is, well, kind of crazy. Sure, it may be possible in isolated instances, but its not a realistic expectation for the vast majority of dogs. We want to be able to control what food and how much of it goes into each individual dog every day. This cant be done with free feeding.

Hygiene

Leaving a meal out for up to 24 hours doesnt sound too appetizing, does it? Exposure to air and pests like ants, etc. for that period of time does not bode well for the meal, as it may become stale, tainted, or infested.

Inability to Determine Dogs Appetite

A common indication of illness in dogs is a loss of appetite. If you free feed your dog, you have no way of knowing if your dog has lost its appetite or is refusing to eat. By the time you do figure it out, you may have lost valuable time in diagnosis and treatment of your dogs illness.

Convenience When Traveling or Boarding Your Dog

If your dog eats on their schedule and not on yours, it can become difficult to maintain that schedule while traveling. Say you are traveling with your dog in a car on a long distance road trip when will you feed the dog? It will be very frustrating if you put out their food at a rest stop and they arent conditioned to eat it when presented. Dogs love routine and schedule, so give provide them with one!

Also, if you are boarding your dog or having a friend or family member take care of them while you are away, its much easier to have the dog fed a set amount of food at set times. Its more convenient for the caregiver, and it helps you know that the dog is getting their correct diet while you are gone.

Which Is the Best Route?

There is a lot of conflicting advice out there regarding how many meals to feed a puppy or dog, when to switch a puppy to two meals a day, and when to switch from puppy food to adult dog food. With all of the different viewpoints, it can be challenging to choose the best route.

In the end, your dog and its specific needs and unique traits are what will dictate the correct path. There is no one ideal route for all dogs; each has different requirements. Therefore, talking with your vet and exploring all options will help you develop the best plan for your dog.