Is it important to feed 2x per day?

[Gracie2006]

I feed canned food in the evening and leave dry food out all day. My girls are not big eaters first thing in the morning, they eat more as the day goes on. They scarf down the canned food about 4 pm, then often snack on dry before bedtime. They eat less when less active and when it is very hot weather. If my girls don't eat enough in the evening and until bedtime, or if they dont' eat breakfast they vomit bile. They really don't tolerate an empty tummy for very long. My girls are not fat, they seem to eat just what they need. I would never consider once daily feeds for them, unless it were medically necessary.

Have you thought about ways to ant proof your feeding bowl? Things to think about might be food bowls that sit in a holder (wire frame type). You could take the holder outside and spray it down with non-toxic insect repellent. Would need to do that daily most likely. The other option may be to have an exterminator come out and do a once every spring treatment to prevent the ants from coming inside in the first place.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Gracie2006

I feed canned food in the evening and leave dry food out all day. My girls are not big eaters first thing in the morning, they eat more as the day goes on. They scarf down the canned food about 4 pm, then often snack on dry before bedtime. They eat less when less active and when it is very hot weather. If my girls don't eat enough in the evening and until bedtime, or if they dont' eat breakfast they vomit bile. They really don't tolerate an empty tummy for very long. My girls are not fat, they seem to eat just what they need. I would never consider once daily feeds for them, unless it were medically necessary.

Have you thought about ways to ant proof your feeding bowl? Things to think about might be food bowls that sit in a holder (wire frame type). You could take the holder outside and spray it down with non-toxic insect repellent. Would need to do that daily most likely. The other option may be to have an exterminator come out and do a once every spring treatment to prevent the ants from coming inside in the first place.

Yeah, we've done some stuff and had some spray. Ants are definitely not as bad as early summer now. I can leave dry food out for a few hours and be fine... but the problem is, even if I leave dry food out all day, he never touches until 4-6pm anyways. lol. So I just always assumed he wasn't hungry in the mornings. He's never thrown up bile or anything from not eating.

I guess I could just continue to mix the wet with dry for his breakfast. I just wasn't sure if it was necessary, since it adds an extra poop for the day and he seems to do fine with just one meal at dinner. I dunno! ha. Raising a dog has so many questions!

[Ringo1]

He simply may not be hungry of a morning. In that case, maybe a healthy treat before you go to work may do the trick. No need to waste food if he is not going to eat it!

I cut Ringo's evening meal in half so he is hungry of a morning. But if food were constantly going to waste and Jackson is a healthy weight . . . do what works for YOU. He doesn't seem like one that you have to worry about hypoglycemia and all that.

I know a lot of folks that only feed once a day when their dog becomes an adult. I've just always done twice ~ in case I get home from work a little late, etc.

[MikaTallulah]

I feed 1 main meal and several smaller meals a day. Breakfast= 1 of the following- Oatmeal; eggs; whole grain cereal w/ fat free milk- Maybe a cup total for 4 yorkies and a golden. Lunch- Chicken and mixed veggies. Dinner= Kibble and chicken liver mixed in. Snacks too. Large dogs = prone to bloat w/ only 1 meal per day and small dogs = prone to hypoglycemia. I prefer to do this way but whatever works best for your babies.