Feeding big dogs

[GoldenRetrLuver]

Daisy eats 2.5 cups a day, and Molly eats 3 cups a day, i feed them 1 cup in the morning, and 2 in the evening. (Daisy gets 1.5 cups in evening)

[zookeeperinaltha]

Originally posted by Tonya
How often and how much do you all feed your larger breeds? I used to feed them 2 cups twice a day (Costco lamb and rice). They got fat. Now I am feeding them 3 cups just in the evenings. Alot of people I know feed their dogs once a day, but I feel cruel. What do you all think?

All I have are big dogs. I just keep the food bowl full, none of them are over weight, they pick all day long. When the food dish is empty and I don't see it they will push the dish to me to let me know they want more. I feed them purina. I have used this food for over 20 years and think it is very good. My dogs have been healthy and never over weight. The dish I use holds about 3-4 cups I just fill it when empty. some times daily, some times 2 times a day and some times every day and a half. It depends on the weather they don't eat as much when its hot.

[Cheshirekatt]

Originally posted by Tonya
How often and how much do you all feed your larger breeds? I used to feed them 2 cups twice a day (Costco lamb and rice). They got fat. Now I am feeding them 3 cups just in the evenings. Alot of people I know feed their dogs once a day, but I feel cruel. What do you all think?

A really good reason to feed your dogs more than once a day is to prevent bloat in large and deep chested dogs. It's better to feed them two smaller meals than one large one. Single, large meals have been proven to promote the "toursing" (I have no idea how to spell that) of the stomach and preventing anything from digesting. The dog then bloats and it's a life and death situation. I used to work in a vet clinic that specialized in Great Danes and we saw this a lot. Mortality was about 50% and a dog that bloats is likely to again. As to wether elevated feeding stations promote or discourage bloat is a hot topic. Personally, I use elevated feeding stations, feed two smaller meals. My 100 pounder eats about 1 3/4 cups twice a day.

[anna_66]

Angus is 116 lbs and I feed him 1 cup (dry & wet mix) 2xs/day. If he's still a little hungry I will give him more, but usually this is enough for him. He's almost 12 and doesn't need as much as the younger dogs. And we feed him Eukanuba Lg Breed Senior, I know alot of people don't like it, but he's done exceptionally well on it.

[kingrattus]

Max eats about 4 cups of dry dog food once a day & its not left out all day either, he has an hour to eat it or its put away (unless hes finishing it off), & heres why:

1. 4 cups is all he needs
2. anything more then 4 cups once aday could put ur dogs tummy into a knot, that'll require surgery to correct or the knot will kill him
3. WILD wolves on avg eat once a day
4. it prevents him from needing to go outside for a poop or pee 50 times a day!!!!!!! He poops once a day (morning), some times twice (at night; very rare), & he pees about 3 times a day (one in the morning, one when dad gets home from work, & one just before dad goes to bed)
5. it helped him build a stronger/larger bladder & his bowels don't have to work too hard... basically he'll have a less chance of peeing/pooping in the house because he can't hold himself.

This time of the year doesn't count for Max. He always gets sick around this time & he has accidents in the house, but only cause hes sick & his poop is runny so there is no way in hell he can hold it in. Max has had a sensitive tummy since day one & cannot eat people food. Max can only eat one brand of food, which is the best in canada, its "Nutro" Senior (Max is 9 yrs old)

[Tonya]

Mucho Gracias!