Why Should I Feed My Dog Twice a Day?

The opinions of both experts and dog owners rarely concur when it comes to how often you should feed your dog. Many dog lovers insist once a day will suffice, others that twice a day is the most sensible option and some that the dog should be left to decide for itself depending on its particular needs. However, feeding your dog twice a day does potentially hold benefits that these other methods lack.

How frequently you feed your dog is strongly dependent on the dog’s size and age. Puppies should have more feeding times per day than an adult dog as they are still developing and therefore require a steady supply of nutrients and fiber to keep their bodies developing swiftly and healthily. Adult dogs do not have the same requirements as they are already well developed. Feeding requirements may also differ depending on your dog’s breed. Dobermans,boxers, mastiffs,great danes, for instance, have deep chests and are more likely to require smaller, regular intakes of food than other breeds.

Feeding your dog twice a day can help to keep your dog’s temperament in a calm and subdued state. Just as humans can get agitated and restless if they haven’t eaten for some time, the same is often true of dogs. Keeping your dog on a twice-daily feeding pattern may also benefit its health in the long term as regular feeding will provide insulin to your dog, helping its blood sugar levels stay balanced and its mind and body healthy.

If you feed your dog twice a day, you should try to feed it once in the morning and again in the evening. This will ensure it has a consistent level of fuel to sustain it throughout the day. Dogs thrive on routine and this will help promote regular digestion and in turn help you keep aware of when your dog will need to take a visit outside. You can also try feeding your dog to synchronize with family meal times, which can help the dog bond with your family.

Because the needs of each dog can differ substantially, you may opt to apply a “free-feeding” method rather than feeding your dog twice daily. Free-feeding involves leaving ample food in the dog’s bowl and allowing it to take its fill when desired, ensuring the bowl is topped up when necessary. Free-feeding can help ensure your dog is never lacking in energy and sustenance, but can also be dangerous if the dog cannot find a healthy level of intake and instead indulges in over-eating.

If you choose to feed your dog twice daily, you should also ensure you keep it supplied with clean, healthy water. Drinking plenty of water will help with the dog’s digestion and ensure it stays sufficiently hydrated to deal with the day’s exertions. Avoid feeding your dog any scraps in between its two set meal times, as this will interrupt the regularity of a dog’s eating pattern and leave it foraging for food when it should already have enough fuel to function.

RAW HIDE, THE DANGERS OF GIVING THEM TO YOUR DOG

Rawhide is sold in just about every pet store – often in many different varieties. It’s a staple in most households with pets. Yet many blogs, organizations, and veterinarians warn that rawhide could not only be dangerous, it could actually be lethal. Here’s what you need to know before you give your dog rawhide.

What is rawhide? According toPet Planet, a franchise that prides itself on being well-versed in canine health, rawhide is the tough inner layer of bull, cow, water buffalo and horse hides. It is essentially a byproduct of the meat industry.

What are the dangers of rawhide? First of all, rawhide is not considered a food item. Thus, it is not covered by any labeling, processing, or content laws, and it may contain chemical preservatives. According to Associated Content, imported rawhide chews often contain toxins including arsenic, lead, titanium oxide, formaldehyde, chromium salts, mercury, cadmium and bromine. Even with the use of these highly questionable preservatives, the FDA reports that Salmonella has been detected in some of the imported chews. In the US and Canada, refrigerated trucks provide safer transport and the hides are generally only treated with hydrogen peroxide and a water rinse.

In addition to the chemical risk, rawhide can swell up to four times its original size in your dog’s stomach and cause life-threatening blockages. And dogs can chew off and swallow large pieces of rawhide which can get stuck in their esophagus, stomach, or intestines. This almost always requires surgical removal. In the terrible light of realizing too late, many dog lovers have postedwarnings and alternatives on their websites, like The Northeastern Boxer Rescue who lost a gorgeous dog named Maxwell because of a blockage caused by a rawhide chew.

The worst tragedies are the ones that can be prevented. If you must give your dog rawhide, make sure it was made in America. Choose one of the higher end brands and make sure it compliments your dog’s proportions and habits. For safety, monitor the chewing. Throw away the small, chewed down pieces.

Alternatives to rawhide: Or better yet, consider alternatives to rawhide like beef chews or rubber toys like the Kong (a delicacy when stuffed with peanut butter) or even the ingenious Antlerz, a chew made of deer antlers. They are long lasting, rich in minerals, and will not splinter during digestion.

Chewing is a very natural behavior for dogs. It helps keep the tartar from collecting on their teeth (preventing periodontal disease and dragon breath) and gives them immense satisfaction. There’s no need to take that away.

Do, however, chewse (you must have seen that coming!) wisely.

PUPPETS PROGRESS

Well we are coming on two weeks of Puppet being in our home and I am very happy to report she is doing wonderful,she has turned out to be a very calm, quiet and very social little girl. We have had two dogs in for boarding and they are all getting along very well. We have taken Puppet every where we have gone for the past two weeks to expose her to everything, people, places, dogs and even my friends 9 month old baby and Puppet is very respectful every where she goes and I am pleased to say she is awesome with the baby too, doesn’t nip, bite or even bark other than to signal she wants to play or go out for a pee. Puppet is about 95% potty trained and is now sitting at the door when needs to go out and if there is an accident it’s because I didn’t get to her in time, so my bad there! I have to thank the people who bring  these dogs and puppies into my life because they teach me something new almost everyday and remind me to be patient. I always tell people, you may not get the dog you want, but you will always get the dog you need. Apparently we needed a new baby! Well I hope all you dog lovers out there have a good week and keep up the good work with your own puppies and dogs, remember to be kind and loving and you will be paid back ten times over, our dogs are the essence of unconditional love and deserve the very best we can give.

PUPPETS PROGRESS

Well we are coming on two weeks of Puppet being in our home and I am very happy to report she is doing wonderful,she has turned out to be a very calm, quiet and very social little girl. We have had two dogs in for boarding and they are all getting along very well. We have taken Puppet every where we have gone for the past two weeks to expose her to everything, people, places, dogs and even my friends 9 month old baby and Puppet is very respectful every where she goes and I am pleased to say she is awesome with the baby too, doesn’t nip, bite or even bark other than to signal she wants to play or go out for a pee. Puppet is about 95% potty trained and is now sitting at the door when needs to go out and if there is an accident it’s because I didn’t get to her in time, so my bad there! I have to thank the people who bring  these dogs and puppies into my life because they teach me something new almost everyday and remind me to be patient. I always tell people, you may not get the dog you want, but you will always get the dog you need. Apparently we needed a new baby! Well I hope all you dog lovers out there have a good week and keep up the good work with your own puppies and dogs, remember to be kind and loving and you will be paid back ten times over, our dogs are the essence of unconditional love and deserve the very best we can give.

Kill them with kindness!! The dangers of raw hide

Rawhide is sold in just about every pet store – often in many different varieties. It’s a staple in most households with pets. Yet many blogs, organizations, and veterinarians warn that rawhide could not only be dangerous, it could actually be lethal. Here’s what you need to know before you give your dog rawhide.

What is rawhide? According toPet Planet, a franchise that prides itself on being well-versed in canine health, rawhide is the tough inner layer of bull, cow, water buffalo and horse hides. It is essentially a byproduct of the meat industry.

What are the dangers of rawhide? First of all, rawhide is not considered a food item. Thus, it is not covered by any labeling, processing, or content laws, and it may contain chemical preservatives. According to Associated Content, imported rawhide chews often contain toxins including arsenic, lead, titanium oxide, formaldehyde, chromium salts, mercury, cadmium and bromine. Even with the use of these highly questionable preservatives, the FDA reports that Salmonella has been detected in some of the imported chews. In the US and Canada, refrigerated trucks provide safer transport and the hides are generally only treated with hydrogen peroxide and a water rinse.

In addition to the chemical risk, rawhide can swell up to four times its original size in your dog’s stomach and cause life-threatening blockages. And dogs can chew off and swallow large pieces of rawhide which can get stuck in their esophagus, stomach, or intestines. This almost always requires surgical removal. In the terrible light of realizing too late, many dog lovers have postedwarnings and alternatives on their websites, like The Northeastern Boxer Rescue who lost a gorgeous dog named Maxwell because of a blockage caused by a rawhide chew.

The worst tragedies are the ones that can be prevented. If you must give your dog rawhide, make sure it was made in America. Choose one of the higher end brands and make sure it compliments your dog’s proportions and habits. For safety, monitor the chewing. Throw away the small, chewed down pieces.

Alternatives to rawhide: Or better yet, consider alternatives to rawhide like beef chews or rubber toys like the Kong (a delicacy when stuffed with peanut butter) or even the ingenious Antlerz, a chew made of deer antlers. They are long lasting, rich in minerals, and will not splinter during digestion.

Chewing is a very natural behavior for dogs. It helps keep the tartar from collecting on their teeth (preventing periodontal disease and dragon breath) and gives them immense satisfaction. There’s no need to take that away.

Do, however, chewse (you must have seen that coming!) wisely.

Funny dogs

“Why do dogs run in circles? Because it’s hard to run in squares!” I overheard a child at the park tell this joke and I laughed out loud. I shared it with several other people over the next few days and a clear pattern emerged. Dog lovers found it at least a little amusing, but other people offered a courtesy laugh at best and an eye roll at worst. It seems dog humor is another bond that those of us who love dogs can share. Dog jokes typically strike me as funny even if they are just silly little plays on words.