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Feeding study before the news starts making up headlines

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#21 ·
Is it also possible that like with humans, it's not the intermittent fasting that improves weight loss, but rather those undergoing the intermittent fasting just end up eating less calories?

The study is behind a paywall but I'd love to see what confounders they considered - weight of dog, socio-economic class of owner, etc. I'd also love to see what the actual strength of association was. Was it 1.2x, 3x, 10x? Even if 2x, is it the difference between 1 and 2%? The article definitely doesn't give much information.
 
#22 ·
There must be also seemingly non-related variables. For example, the breed, owners who feed once a day and have them fast could be more conscious about their dog's health; the kind of food, weight, quality of life in general than someone who divides a full day of Beneful in two meals.
 
#24 ·
wolfy dog said:
I read about the study but didn't buy the entire research paper (too pricey). I need to give Deja some food in the morning or she throws up bile. I wonder if they took the deep-chested dogs into consideration. I believe that English Mastiffs have to be fed multiple meals a day to prevent bloat. Feeding my dogs a bit of kibble in the morning also adds extra nutrients to their raw-from-scratch meal in the evening. And they are not concerned that they may live a shorter life because of the two meals a day deal
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Typically dogs adjust to once a day and the bill barfs stop happening. I do have 2 customers out of 72 who’s dogs didn’t adapt
 
#26 ·
Carmen’s theory behind once a day feedings and fasting is……

A lot of resources are used when your dog(s) are digesting their food. Allowing down time for the digestive process allows the body to utilize those resources to make repairs in other areas.

It made total sense to me which is why I adopted the fasting/once a day feedings/gorge days.
 
#28 ·
Like all dog studies, they are interesting to read and consider but not always useful. With a dog prone to bloat, they can’t exercise for two hours after eating. So if they are fed during the day, there is mandatory down time. Feeding a dog only at night could give the owner the entire day to work the dog. But a huge morning feeding right before a dog exercises or works could be dangerous and cause bloating. I would never do it unless there was a medical reason to switch to one daily.
 
#29 ·
Sunsilver said:
I don't see anyone has mentioned this yet, but once a day feeding has been associated with BLOAT!! The food weighs down the stomach, and may cause it to bloat and twist as a result.
DO NOT FEED ONCE A DAY IF YOU HAVE A BREED PRONE TO BLOAT!! :mad: :mad:
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The studies I have read about bloat point more to genetics and family history. Carmen has never lost a dog to bloat so I was very comfortable with feeding once a day, limit exercise before and after by 2 hours. I always feed in the evening when physical activity is done for the day.
 
#30 ·
Saphire said:
A lot of resources are used when your dog(s) are digesting their food. Allowing down time for the digestive process allows the body to utilize those resources to make repairs in other areas.
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The meal my two big dogs get is the evening meal. They are fed in their crates and after eating they nap or just hang out in their crates for an hour or two. Andy gets a little more than the teenaged Aussie because he is training during the day and will sometimes get food rewards. Once a week they all get raw meaty bones that I get from the traveling butcher for free.

The littles (the Toy Poodle and the Poodle mix) free feed their kibble. So far no weight issues with either one.
Sheilah
 
#32 ·
oink said:
Is it also possible that like with humans, it's not the intermittent fasting that improves weight loss, but rather those undergoing the intermittent fasting just end up eating less calories?

The study is behind a paywall but I'd love to see what confounders they considered - weight of dog, socio-economic class of owner, etc. I'd also love to see what the actual strength of association was. Was it 1.2x, 3x, 10x? Even if 2x, is it the difference between 1 and 2%? The article definitely doesn't give much information.
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If you want the study, go ask the researchers. They usually provide it for free without an issue.
 
#33 ·
Saphire said:
The studies I have read about bloat point more to genetics and family history. Carmen has never lost a dog to bloat so I was very comfortable with feeding once a day, limit exercise before and after by 2 hours. I always feed in the evening when physical activity is done for the day.
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I think bloat / GDV due to large food (or other substance) boluses is a problem that is documented. So I would be worried about this.

It is also important to note the differences between correlation and causation in research such as this. Just because somethings were more common in a group of dogs retrospectiveley does not mean it can be interpreted in a fashion to change your practice.

I also find it interesting the end points they chose (cognitive function and nine broad categories of health). I would have chosen death as the ultimate end point, because of course living or dying is the most important category of health.
 
#34 ·
Carter Smith said:
Interesting perspectives here, I would also imagine bloat is more of a concern for kibble based dogs as it expands exponentially in their stomachs after consumption. Also rest after meals is always a good idea, I think.
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Looks like only 1% of the dogs in the trial were raw fed. 84% of the dogs were fed commercial dry food.
 
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