Guidelines for feeding dogs properly: Do you know when and how to feed your dog?
Most dog owners today pay close attention to the right composition and quality of the food they give their pets. Beyond that, there are also several feeding rules worth following that help prevent many problems, such as digestive issues or, in the worst case, gastric torsion.
Dogs thrive on routine!
Most owners wonder how many times a day their dog should be fed. However, the number of meals isn't as important as regularity. "There's no ideal number of meals per day for a dog. Only in puppies is feeding more often throughout the day physiologically justified; once a dog reaches physical maturity, the number of meals is entirely up to the owner. The most common approach is one meal a day. In that case, it's best to feed the dog in the evening so that it goes to sleep on a full stomach," explains Martin Kváš, an animal nutrition expert. Some owners split the daily ration into two portions and feed their dog in the morning and in the evening. In both cases, however, it's essential to always feed the dog at the same time. Thanks to a regular routine, at feeding time the dog's body begins producing proenzymes (precursors of digestive enzymes) and saliva, blood flow to the digestive tract increases, and the dog's whole body gets ready to receive food.
Switching food too often is the biggest and most common mistake owners make
"Based on my experience, I've noticed that dog owners most often make three basic mistakes: overfeeding their dogs, or conversely keeping them unnecessarily thin, and then also frequently changing their food," warns Martin Kváš.
The last of these mistakes may come as a surprise to many owners. People often believe that dogs, just like humans, benefit from a varied diet. However, most quality kibble already contains everything a dog needs to stay healthy, and frequent changes of food can actually do harm.
"The digestive tract has its own inertia. It's similar to a stove. You start the fire, but it only gives off heat after a while. You stop the fire, and it stays warm for a while longer," explains the nutrition specialist. "While the digestive tract is adjusting to a new type of food, neither digestion nor immunity works normally. Frequent changes of diet can seriously damage a dog's health. Every change of food that isn't medically indicated is an irresponsible experiment with the animal's health," he warns.
Following proper feeding rules to prevent serious health problems
If you care about your dog, you shouldn't take the rules of proper feeding lightly. Even these simple rules can help prevent health problems such as obesity, diarrhoea, vomiting or even pancreatitis. Another problem, usually affecting larger dogs, is gastric torsion.
"It's a mechanical condition in which the dog's stomach twists around its own axis, putting the dog's life in serious danger," explains Martin Kváš. Gastric torsion develops very quickly, and to help the dog, you need to act fast. Signs include severe restlessness, increased drooling, attempts to vomit (the dog usually brings up only liquid or white foam), a bloated abdomen and unusual postures.
To reduce the risk of gastric torsion, it's important to make sure your dog rests after eating – for at least 60 minutes. Large breeds should also rest before meals. The breeds most prone to this condition are large breeds with a deep chest, such as Great Danes, wolfhounds, Dobermans and German Shepherds. For dogs prone to gastric torsion, a preventive procedure called gastropexy, in which the stomach is stitched to the abdominal wall, is sometimes recommended. Although this procedure won't prevent torsion 100%, it significantly reduces the risk.