Many dog owners hardly think about when their four-legged friend eats. However, this can be a mistake: some dogs not only suffer from sleep disorders, but also from other problems because they fed too late last time became.
Some experts therefore recommend that last meal of the day much earlier to give – 5 p.m. is often considered the ideal time. In the following article you will find out how your darling can benefit from it.
7 reasons Why you should give a dog early dinner
1. The dog no longer has to go out at night
One of the most important reasons for giving a dog his last meal of the day early is a very practical one: if your four-legged friend has eaten a few hours before going to bed, you are setting the stage for him no longer necessary at night.
It is generally assumed that between meals and evening walks for relief about one and a half to two hours should lie down – dogs that are fed wet food are often a little faster than animals on a dry food diet. So if you feed your pet around 5 p.m., there will be more than enough time for a long, stress-free walk around 7 p.m.
Dog digestion times
By the way: A dog's complete digestive cycle lasts between 24 and 36 hours. What the animal excretes is usually the early or late meal from the previous day.
2. Possible Complications are recognized more quickly
If the dog gets his evening meal as early as possible, this also has the advantage Possible digestive problems can be identified in good time be: Should your favorite e.g Nausea or diarrhea You will no longer be surprised when you are asleep at night.
For some larger breeds, early feeding can even be life-saving: These animals could also have one Gastric torsion that would be fatal without quick surgery. It often occurs several hours after a heavy meal. If you recognize these as early as possible – namely before going to bed – you can significantly increase your chances of survival.
3. Enables one quieter sleep
The four-legged friends also benefit from early evening feeding: If they get their last meal too late, they take their food to bed with them, so to speak.
Digestion does not pause while the dog is sleeping. Gastrointestinal activity is particularly high in the first few hours after eating, which can disturb the animal while it sleeps.
The result: The Four-legged friend keeps waking up at night and can't recover from the day. The next morning he suffers from a lack of sleep, which can even lead to behavioral problems in the long term. However, with an early last meal, the digestive activity rests somewhat, so the dog often Sleeps through the night significantly better.
Feeding rhythm & sleeping behavior
According to a study published in 2013, the feeding rhythm strongly influences the sleeping behavior of four-legged friends: dogs that only get one meal per day take more short naps. Animals that are fed twice a day have longer sleep periods. Thus, a rhythm with breakfast and dinner can lead to, among other things, more deep sleep with dreams.
4. Faster digestion
During sleep, however, digestion continues to work, but is somewhat slowed down. So that the dog feels comfortable again as quickly as possible, it is advisable to let him exercise.
Ideally, this happens after a short break. If you give the last meal as early as possible, that's fine enough time for a “digestive walk”.
Particularly important for seniors
Particularly Senior dogs Benefit from being fed one last time as early as possible:
- On the one hand, older animals need significantly more sleep than four-legged friends in their “prime” age; if they eat early, they are even more sleepy get ready for bed faster.
- on the other hand the digestion process slows down in old age. That's why it's even more important to feed him several hours before bedtime.
5. Accelerated metabolism & can help Overweight to avoid
At the same time, this will also be the case Metabolism accelerates. Without a sluggish stomach, the dog burns fat faster.
This is particularly advantageous for four-legged friends who otherwise have a low activity profile, suffer from obesity or are overweight for genetic reasons, for example. You will then not gain weight unnecessarily or even lose weight.
Veterinarian Dr. Gregor Berg on feeding times for dogs and cats. Source: Dr. Berg Tierfutter / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZUKB-gkWAU .
6. Holds the blood sugar level balanced & gentle Circulation
A rigid feeding plan with fixed, not too late meals also helps the four-legged friend to eat blood sugar level to keep balanced. Many feedings, even at unusual times, often lead to the glucose level rising unnecessarily. That can be the risk for diabetes and related Cardiovascular diseases increase.
A study from 2014 also showed that fixed feeding times as early as possible (here the assumption is not 5 p.m. but 7 p.m.) promotes the renin activity of four-legged friends and contributes to the to regulate blood pressure.
7. Create fixed ritual for the four-legged friend
And finally, as early as possible feeding times also help your four-legged friend fixed daily routine to offer. Dogs are creatures of habit that need us humans to set their internal clock. If they can expect when they will get up, eat, go for a walk or play, for example, they are often much more balanced.
This is particularly important at mealtimes: If the animal doesn't know when to actually expect food, it will always be prepared to eat something straight away. Unlike us humans, stomach acid production is then instinctively set in motion – if the animal can't eat anything, belching and hyperacidity are often the result.
When & How often should you feed a dog?
The question of when and how often you should feed a dog is of great concern to animal lovers and experts and has led to many controversial discussions between owners.
Many dog owners mean very well to their pet and always feed him when they suspect that their four-legged friend is hungry. This is all too human, but it means that the needs of the animals are not sufficiently taken into account.
It is generally assumed that dogs ideally fixed feeding times have. Andrea Buisman from the Martin Rütter DOGS dog schools, for example, recommends a maximum of two meals. This is also absolutely species-appropriate.
Have four-legged friends no pronounced feeling of satiety
Because unlike us humans, most people have dogs no pronounced feeling of satiety. Some breeds such as retrievers are even known for always being ready to eat – no matter what they have already eaten throughout the day.
If you look at the phylogeny of the dog, this is also justified. The forefather of our domesticated four-legged friends, the wolf, lives as a predator and never really knows when he will next get something to eat. Wolf packs sometimes have to live for weeks from a successful hunt, so if they are successful they really fill their stomachs.
appetite does not mean the same hunger
So it's completely normal for a dog to want to eat everything that comes into its mouth again and again. But that doesn't automatically mean that your four-legged friend is actually hungry. Often it is very simple Appetite, causing him to become restless or beg in anticipation of a meal or snack.
This is the only solution loving discipline: The dog must learn that he can only expect food if you give it to him. As long as you implement your four-legged friend's requirements – this includes, among other things, compatible food and a sufficient amount – there should be no complications. It is important that the animal learns feeding times.
Exceptions to the rule
But there are some health reasons, which can lead to your four-legged friend needing food more often. These include, for example, severe diabetes, hormonal disorders or physical digestive problems, for example acute pancreatitis. Also Puppies and young dogs Of course, they need more meals – at 6 or 7 months, for example, there should be around three feedings a day.
Important part of the daily routine
Otherwise it is Feeding is an important part of the daily routine: Dogs don't know what time it is, so rituals are even more important for them.
If the dog always gets food at the same time, it helps him instinctively know what is next. For example, if you eat at 5 p.m., this means: After a short break to digest, you go outside and then go to bed.
time depends on family coexistence
However, the exact time is not set in stone: 5pm is a good one Guideline for households that follow a largely normal daily rhythm. Then around 7 p.m. you can go outside for another big walk and the dog will be ready for bed between 9 and 10 p.m.
If things are a little different in your household, the times will of course change accordingly: If you are more of a “night owl”, the last meal can also be fed at 7 or 8 p.m. If you go to bed very early – for example because you work shifts – an earlier final feeding time may also be appropriate.
Take the time change into account
If semi-annually the Time change the dog naturally assumes that it will be fed an hour earlier or later. Then you shouldn't insist on the official time, but rather introduce him to the new conditions very slowly – for example in ten-minute increments.
Something similar can also happen Holiday trips with a dog apply if it goes to a different time zone (e.g. Great Britain/Ireland, Portugal, Canary Islands).
That too feed in itself is important
Of course, the food itself also plays an important role: feeding as early as possible is particularly recommended if the dog has normal to sensitive digestion.
A slightly later meal is of course also possible, but should be done with appropriately adapted food. Then easily digestible sensitive dog food is particularly recommended. Senior dog food is often worthwhile for older animals.
I'm coming home late: What can I do?
Feeding as early and consistently as possible has many advantages. Unfortunately, this is often only possible with certain compromises: Unfortunately, many dog lovers are so busy at work or privately that they cannot…