Break it gently to Rover, but dogs should be given just one meal a day

MANY dog lovers feed their pet twice a day, but a study has found giving them one meal could reduce their risk of age-related health problems.

Research involving more than 24,000 owners found 8 per cent gave their pet only one mealtime a day.

Dogs fed this often scored significantly better on cognitive function – the equivalent boost in thinking skills of a seven-year-old dog compared to one aged 11.

Those fed once a day were also less likely to have gastrointestinal and orthopaedic disorders.

They had lower odds of having urinary or kidney issues, dental problems and disorders of the liver and pancreas.

Dr Matthew Kaeberlein, who led the study from the University of Washington, said: ‘Feeding dogs once a day is probably closer to how their wolf ancestors might have eaten when out hunting, although that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a healthier dietary strategy.

‘Many things might explain the correlation we observed, including that once-a-day feeding keeps dogs from becoming overweight.

‘We have an obesity crisis in pets just as in people, and obesity is known to increase risk for many different age-related illnesses.’

The study looked at owners who fed their dog once a day in comparison to those who fed their pet twice or three times a day, or kept their bowl permanently filled.

Experts suspect overfeeding dogs speeds up biological processes which can lead to age-related illness.

Analysis showed being fed once a day lowered a dog’s risk of liver issues by 9 per cent and cut the likelihood of developing gastrointestinal disease by 3 per cent.

It reduced the odds of kidney and urinary disorders by 28 per cent.