Fast answer Friday: Answers to your questions!

Kathy Asks: If my dog doesn't eat his breakfast until suppertime, do I still give him supper?

Thanks for the question Kathy. Many people are confused about meals for their pets.

One thing you should always keep in mind when feeding your dog is that their digestive system is completely different from ours. We need a few small meals throughout the day to sustain us and keep us from feeling hungry, your dog does not.

Many adult dogs prefer to eat just once during the day, and in fact, this is healthier for them. As a general rule of thumb, I

recommend that puppies up until 6mos of age eat 3 meals, puppies up until 18-24mos of age eat two meals a day and from there adult dogs eat one meal a day. It is okay to feed two meals a day to your adult dog, but I would make one meal smaller than the other.

While timing of the meals is not vitally important, making sure that food is presented to your dog and removed after a certain period of time is. Mealtime for an adult dog should last no longer than 15minutes. After this time frame, pick up whatever portion your dog has not consumed. The next meal does not need to be larger than normal. Keeping to a time fram will ensure your dog values the food that is placed before them.

So, to answer your question Kathy, no, you do not need to feed an additional meal. If he never finished breakfast, you can present his breakfast again for dinner. Happy Feeding!