puppy feesing times

[Taurus and Jada]

What is the reason to feeding puppies 3-4 times per day instead of the usual 1-2 times per day. Will it really affect the puppy if the only eat once per day, but they can eat all their food in one sitting ( yes my dogs a pig).

I was just curious todfay if she physically could eat all of her food at once, and she did! All 5 cups! Can you beleive it? I couldn't. What are the cons of feeding all at one time?

[DogPaddle]

Puppies go through energy very quickly and they need a steady supply of energy not big ups and downs. Puppies of wild dogs are more likely to get more small meals rather than one larger meal.

Zaphod who is nearly a year, I think. Still gets 2 meals a day, and in fact lately I have been going towords more feedings with less per feeding or shorting one of his meals and put the rest of it in his treat ball that he gets in between his two meals. Zaphod thinks we are trying to starve him and behaves as though he is always really hungry (part lab) so this is one way to keep him contented. Incidently, Zaphod has invented his own way to request feedings, I merely named the behaviour - "Dinner Dish Dance" he spins and jumps. If I say "Dinner Dish Dance" now he will do it and run all the way to the dish. :lol:

[courtnek]

I am going to answer using 38 years as a diabetic...

puppies (and children) burn food more quickly than adults. By feeding them 4 times a day, you equalize the blood sugar levels and keep them at a constant "rate" all day. This is better for their health and metabolism.
It allows a constant level of energy, and bone and tissue growth. Very important for the little ones. If you feed them once, they will have a high blood sugar level for a short time, and then will fall through the floor
and suffer low blood sugar until the next feeding. This is uncomfortable for them, and will make them irritable during the low blood sugar phase.

In the wild, although wolves often only eat once a day, they do frequent feedings of the young. They have an instinctive understanding of
what puppies need to survive. Just like children need frequent feedings to grow up correctly, so do puppies...

and just FYI - I feed my two adult dogs twice a day. Breakfast, and dinner...not only does it have a better affect on blood sugar and metabolism. it also gives them something to look forward to.

[ellieangel]

Yup I feed my 2 twice a day still :)

[Taurus and Jada]

Thanks for all the help. We are feeding Jada twice per day, but I think we will start feeding 3 times because she usually eats all 5 cups before noon. We get up with her around 7am so I was thinking 7am , noon, then five or six pm. Does that sound alright? We allready feed Taurus twice daily but thats because he will only eat 2 cups at a time, so we feed him in the morning, and at supper time. I guess we will just add the noon hour feeding in for Jada.