How Many Times a Day Should I Feed My Adult Dog?

Have you ever considered, “How often should I feed my dog?” Dog do well with routine. While they are unable to keep track of time in the same ways as we do, a dog’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm, helps them determine when it is time for a routine task. So, if you are like many other dog owners and have wondered, “How many times per day should my dog eat?” continue reading to find out.

Adult Dog Eating Schedule

Food – Most adult dogs should eat twice a day. By eating twice, it aids in digestion and keeps their metabolism stable. An example of a dog feeding schedule would be:

  • 8:00 a.m. – Breakfast
  • 7:00 p.m. – Dinner

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Water– Once you establish an ideal feeding schedule, the next step would be creating a schedule for fresh water for your furry friend. Typically, it is ideal to leave your dog a fresh bowl of water each morning and evening. Additionally, after any type of activity, your dog should have fresh water. If you have a dog that overdrinks or if you are working on housetraining, you can schedule the times and amount you provide it. However, increase the amount if your dog seems to be thirsty. An example of monitoring water would be:

  • 8:00 a.m. – Clean bowl and fill half-way
  • Noon – Rinse out water bowl and refill half-way
  • 5:00 p.m. – Rinse bowl out and fill half-way
  • Bedtime – Clean water bowl and fill 1/4 of the way

Play – Play is vital to maintain a dog’s skills, just to have fun, and to provide stimulation. Play can include a game of fetch, a doggie play date, or when you are away you can consider interactive toys. To include two play sessions per day, consider this example:

  • 9:00 a.m. – Take the time to spend at least fifteen minutes playing.
  • 4:30 p.m. – Consider something creative such as hide and seek or schedule a play date.

Activity – Activity is crucial for a dog’s physical and mental health. If Possible, your dog should be walked at least two times per day for thirty minutes. If you are unable to walk your furry friend at least twice a day, consider employing the services of a dog walker. Take note, there are other activities besides walking like the dog park. An example activity schedule would be:

  • 7:30 a.m. – Before his/her breakfast, take them on a thirty-minute walk.
  • Noon – If possible, take them on an afternoon walk.
  • 6:30 p.m. – Before his/her dinner, take them on another thirty-minute walk.

Sleep – Unlike humans, dogs sleep more frequently and for shorter periods. The average dog sleeps fourteen hours a day. Also, the REM cycle for dogs is more active than humans. However, it is time to check for any illness if your dog sleeps more than sixteen hours a day. You will naturally build a good sleeping routine by scheduling his/her activities throughout the day.

All You Need to know About Dry Skin on Dogs

close up photography of adult black and white short coat dog
Photo by Alexandru Rotariu on Pexels.com

Have you noticed your dog scratching a lot? Do you see what appears to be little white flakes all over them? If so, what you’re seeing is dandruff. It’s dry skin and is very similar to what humans get on their heads. But what causes it, and is it something you need to treat? Here are things every dog owner needs to know about dry skin on dogs.

 

What Causes Canine Dry Skin?

 

There are a number of different things that can cause dry skin on your dog. One of the first things your vet may check for is allergies. Dog allergies are very similar to human allergies and can cause dry skin, itching, and other issues. Your dog may be allergic to something in their food, dust, grass, flea saliva, pollen, and even their own dander. Dog allergies can lead to atopic dermatitis, a condition that leads to dry skin and itching.

 

Mites, scabies, and other parasites can also cause your dog to start itching. These little creatures can usually be treated with medication, but it often takes a visit to the vet to get the necessary products for dogs with dry skin. The same goes for fungal infections and bacterial infections. These infections can not only be the cause of itching, but may also indicate that your dog has another, more serious issue such as ringworm.

 

There are other conditions, too, such as dry air, using harsh soap to bathe your dog, and living in a cold environment. Some breeds are even predisposed to skin conditions and itch more often than others.

 

Dry Skin Symptoms

 

While itching and seeing flaky skin are the two most obvious signs that your dog has dry skin, they’re not the only signs. In fact, some dogs don’t itch that much. Here are a few other symptoms you need to watch for:

  • Pimples
  • Inflammation
  • Odor
  • Scabs
  • Scaling
  • Oily fur
  • Fur loss

 

Some dogs may only have a few symptoms, while others may have almost all of them.

 

What Can You Give a Dog for Dry, Itchy Skin?

 

There are a number of different dry dog skin remedies. The first thing you need to do when you see signs of dry skin is to take your dog to the vet. Each of the different causes of dry skin has its own unique treatment. If your dog is dealing with parasites, giving them dog food for dogs with dry skin may not help since the dry skin isn’t caused by allergies or other issues that can be treated with diet. Instead, you need medicine that will kill the parasites. You need to determine what’s causing the dry skin and if there’s another issue must be treated first or alongside the skin condition.

 

If your dog has allergies, you may need to invest in some dog lotion for dry, itchy skin. You might also need to change what they eat or try to determine what exactly it is that’s causing the allergic reaction. You can give your dog vitamins for dry skin, change how often they’re bathed, and take other steps to control what triggers the dry skin. This type of prevention is often necessary for allergies, the weather, predisposition to skin conditions, and other issues that cannot easily be treated medically.