Free feeding is not healthy

[BostonRott]

Originally Posted by groupieindenial

If you raise your dog with food in its bowl at all times, they will only eat when they are hungry. Which is great for weight management, leaving no guess work at what is feeding too much

This was posted in the penny can thread, but I felt it needed to be addressed in it's own thread. Not picking on the OP, only on the idea of free feeding.

Studies have shown that free feeding dogs (leaving food in their bowls at all times and allowing them to eat all that they want) is detrimental to their health, and their hips.

"Research also shows that puppies that have constant (ad libitum) access to food have more hip-joint laxity at 30 weeks and higher incidence of hip dysplasia at 2 years than their counterparts consuming 25-percent less food on restricted feeding schedule. "Feeding a puppy a controlled, balanced diet is probably the best way to manage its growth," advises Dr. Lisa Freeman, clinical instructor at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine."

Here's an abstract from a medline search:
Abstract on free feeding

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1992 Sep 15;201(6):857-63.


Effects of limited food consumption on the incidence of hip dysplasia in growing dogs.

Kealy RD, Olsson SE, Monti KL, Lawler DF, Biery DN, Helms RW, Lust G, Smith GK.

Pet Nutrition Research Department, Ralston Purina Co, St Louis, MO 63164.

Forty-eight 8-week-old Labrador Retrievers were allotted to 2 groups of 24 dogs each; 1 group was fed ad libitum and the other group was given 25% less of the same feed until the dogs were 2 years old. Radiography of the hip joints was done when the dogs were 30, 42, 54, 78, and 104 weeks old. Subluxation was measured by the Norberg angle on radiographs made with the dog in the standard (extended limb) position. Independent of age at which the radiography was done, there was less subluxation of the femoral heads in the limit-fed dogs. Using the Swedish method of hip joint evaluation on the same radiographs, it was found that fewer dogs on limited food intake had signs of hip dysplasia. Radiographs done when dogs were 2 years old, for all the methods used (Norberg angle in standard and frog-limb position, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals [OFA] score, and the Swedish score), revealed less hip dysplasia (less joint subluxation and less degenerative joint disease) in the limit-fed dogs. Using the OFA method, 7 of the 24 limit-fed dogs and 16 of the 24 ad libitum-fed dogs were diagnosed as having hip dysplasia. Similarly, using the Swedish method, 5 of the 24 limit-fed dogs and 18 of the 24 ad libitum-fed dogs were diagnosed as having hip dysplasia. The food-intake-related differences were significant both for the OFA score and for the Swedish score.

And a second abstract:
Second study

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1997 Jan 15;210(2):222-5.

Five-year longitudinal study on limited food consumption and development of osteoarthritis in coxofemoral joints of dogs.

Kealy RD, Lawler DF, Ballam JM, Lust G, Smith GK, Biery DN, Olsson SE.

Pet Products Research and Development, Ralston Purina Co, St. Louis, MO 63164, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of limited food intake on frequency and severity of osteoarthritis in coxofemoral joints of labrador Retrievers. DESIGN: Dogs were paired according to gender and body weight, within each litter at 8 weeks of age. One dog of each pair was fed ad libitum. The limit-fed pairmate was fed 75% of the amount eaten the previous day by the ad libitum-fed counterpart. ANIMALS: 48 Labrador Retrievers. PROCEDURE: All dogs received the same diet. Radiographic evaluation of coxofemoral joints for frequency and severity of osteoarthritis were made when dogs were 4 and 6 months and 1, 2, 3, and 5 years old. RESULTS: Radiographic evaluation for osteoarthritis indicated greater frequency and more severity of osteoarthritis in the ad libitum-fed group of dogs. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Analysis of data suggested that limit feeding of dogs over a 5-year period minimizes development of osteoarthritis in the coxofemoral joints.

[Squeaky2004]

Squeak is on controlled feedings. We do not leave food down all day. She will normally finish all her food that we put down for her in one sitting so we don't have to worry about measuring out the proper amount for the next feeding. I would not leave her food down all day I have seen too many dogs eat themselves sick/fat.

[carolynnl4]

I agree, although I do free feed. As a matter of fact, my current dog, Athena, is the only dog I have ever seen or owned who is able to stop eating at appropriate intervals. And even now, I have suspicions that it's because she doesn't really enjoy her kibble. (If I gave her unfettered access to raw or people food, she'd probably be 50 lbs overweight.) My parents free fed our other dogs, and it was ridiculous how large they got. (One chiuahua got so fat she couldn't jump on her favorite chair anymore.)
In addition, I also control her portions by putting down no more than 4 cups a day, so I'm not sure that qualifies as "free" feeding.

[LikeToRun]

BostonRott:

Curious how this meshes with the longer lifespans and greater general health observed in calorie-restriction studies done on mice and rats?

Any thoughts?

[flyballmom]

Interesting study Gretchen. I knew that free feeding was bad from a weight control standpoint, but had no idea it could actually cause/exacerbate ortho problems. Our breed has enough of that already without helping it along.

Yeesh. My guys scarf down whatever is in their bowls, be it a cup or tons more. Plus, I restrict my guys activity for awhile after they eat. No way to do that free feeding.

[Patty1231]

If my dogs were free-fed they'd be so fat they couldn't make it out the door They might not eat 24-7 but they would eat way too much. It makes sense with the ortho problems - that would increase with increased weight. I saw a news report on a guy who is really restricting his calorie intake for increased longevity; apparently, it works with humans, too. Personally, I'll never find that out.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally Posted by Patty1231

If my dogs were free-fed they'd be so fat they couldn't make it out the door

Ditto with Jules. He gobbles his up because he knows it'll be gone in twenty minutes if he doesn't eat it.

Very interesting read, Gretchen! Thanks for posting it!


Brooke

[Skip]

1. It's much easier to tell if the dog is "off his feed" due to some health issue if he only gets 10 minutes to eat. The very few times my boy didn't gobble up all his food right away, I knew imediately that he wasn't feeling well and that I needed to investigate why.

2. It's much easier (and safer) planning a strenuous exercise or training time with the dog if you know how long ago he ate.

[RottieGirl86]

Every dog I've owned has structured eatting. I can't get my head around why anyone would free feed their dog? What real benefit would there be other than not having to do a chore that takes a few minutes?

Anyway, my dog has to 'earn' their dinner by showing (IMHO) good manners, they have to 1) sit, 2) paw and 3) wait until bowl is down & I say ok.

Free feeding overall, to me, would diminish the bound between owner & dog, the dog doesn't remember that owner put food in bowl 3 hours ago...

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally Posted by Skip

2. It's much easier (and safer) planning a strenuous exercise or training time with the dog if you know how long ago he ate.

Exactly Skip. Never thought of that before. Duh! We always make sure that Jules has a good 45 minutes before & after eating for resting before strenuous exercise.

It would be pretty hard to try & control that if the dog was free fed....

[RottyMom]

Originally Posted by Skip

1. It's much easier to tell if the dog is "off his feed" due to some health issue if he only gets 10 minutes to eat.

10 minutes...oh my...I don't think any bowl of food has lasted more than a couple of minutes at the most...LOL

The only things that last more than that are things that require chewing like lamb necks, chicken carcasses etc. If she had access to food at all times I have the feeling she would eat herself to death.

But seriously since I feed raw I measure all her food and adjust accordingly depending on how much exercise she's getting and on how she looks.

[BostonRott]

Originally Posted by LikeToRun

BostonRott:

Curious how this meshes with the longer lifespans and greater general health observed in calorie-restriction studies done on mice and rats?

Any thoughts?

LTR, I would assume that the results would be similar. Obesity is not good for any species. It is currently predicted that in humans, obesity will soon overtake heart disease as the #1 preventable high-morbidity disease state. I find that scary, yet I completely believe it based on what I see daily on the streets.

Here is an article on general canine obesity:
http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/dogd...dogobesity.htm

Obesity can lead to problems with bones, increase the risk of mammary gland tumors, and leads to kidney problems and diabetes.

As others have mentioned, why anyone would free-feed is beyond me. My dogs eat their meal in about 30-60 sec each, I can't imagine how big they'd be if I free-fed them.

[HerculesMomma]

Originally Posted by Skip

1. It's much easier to tell if the dog is "off his feed" due to some health issue if he only gets 10 minutes to eat. The very few times my boy didn't gobble up all his food right away, I knew imediately that he wasn't feeling well and that I needed to investigate why.

Totally agree. One time Hercules was on a medication that wasn't sitting well with him and the only reason I knew is because he didn't scarf down his food. Never has a bowl of food in my house, other than that time he was on medication, lasted longer than 5 minutes!

[AngelBunny]

Free feeding would create a nightmare in our house. We have two personal girls and always have a male foster. Our dogs would eat themselves to death to be sure one of the other dogs didn't get the food. Our girls would have no interest in going out for walks because they'd be guarding their bowls, worried somebody would get their food--tho they'd probably be too fat to walk. It would be hideous.

[C Ross]

I had a gsd that we free fed for the first five years of his life with no difficulty. He never had a weight problem, and his hips were sound. Then we got a second dog - a lab that would have eaten himself to death if given the opportunity. That was the end of free feeding for both dogs.

My rott would eat until he exploded, I'm sure of it. No free feeding for him. My new rottx eats when the rott eats. I don't know if he'd overeat or not, but you can't feed one on a schedule and not the other. Plus I want the new dog to know who's providing the food around our house!

The more experience I have with dogs, the more I realize that my gsd was a unique situation. I think most dogs would overeat if given constant access to food.

Christine