Should my Beagle eat once or twice a day

My Dog Pees Only Once Or Twice A Day [7 Reasons | Solutions]

When you notice something unusual in your dog, it can cause anxiety. For example, if a dog only pees once or twice a day, it can be considered abnormal, even if your dog is in good health.

Here is why your dog might only pee once/twice a day.

A dog may pee once or twice a day due to dehydration, nervousness, adjusting to new surroundings, increased potassium in the body, former life habits, urinary issues such as UTI and urinary stones, or they may just be good at holding it. Some solutions include monitoring water consumption, exercising control, and consulting a veterinarian.

Once youve identified abnormal behavior in your dog, its critical to investigate the possible causes. It might not be as bad as you think. After that, the healing process will be much easier.

Reasons A Dog Might Urinate Only Once/Twice A Day

Thank you for being such an excellent owner. If you notice your dog going to the bathroom less frequently, the reason could be normal; however, they are usually due to unusual circumstances.

Knowing the possible reasons and the precise cause is critical. So, lets go over each reason one by one.

1. Dehydration

Although it may seem obvious, dehydration could be one of the main reasons your dog pees once or twice a day.

It makes no difference whether your dog is house-trained or not; you must always supervise its water intake.

Dehydration is more common in small breeds, nursing dogs, young dogs, and older dogs.

Here are some of the causes of dehydration:

• Lack of water or food intake
• Heavy breathing
• Vomiting
• Signs of fever
• Excessive panting.
• Some illnesses like diabetes, several types of cancers, kidney issues
• Overheating

2. Your Dog Has a Urinary Problem

When dogs have urinary tract infections or stones, they pee less frequently, perhaps once or twice a day.

Urinary tract infections are common in senior female dogs and diabetic dogs. However, when it comes to urinary stones, the most common location is within the bladder.

This is beyond the scope of this article and needs to be discussed with your veterinarian.

By the way, here is why your dog may pee upstairs.

3. Adjusting To New Surroundings and Feeling Nervous

If your dog only pees once or twice a day, it will go to the potty every 12-24 hours. Honestly, its a long time to keep it in their bladder, so something strange is happening here.

Examine whether it urinates excessively whenever the dog agrees to go outside and is at ease with peeing.

If thats the case, I have a question for you. Have you recently purchased a new home? If you answered YES, your dogs urine frequency may be affected by nervousness or stress due to this new environment.

NoteIt will take several days for them to adjust to their new surroundings because they cannot hold the bladder indefinitely until it bursts. So, the dog will do its business, or you can assist by taking it outside and letting it explore its new surroundings.

4. Increased Potassium in the Body

If your dog only pees once or twice a day, a potassium increase in its body is most likely to blame.

As a result, increased potassium levels in their bodies can cause electrolyte changes, resulting in a water imbalance because electrolytes maintain hydration.

5. It Might be a Normal Situation

If a dog pees once or twice a day for several days, its not a big deal to be concerned about because it means the dogs kidneys are working properly.

However, when their kidneys arent working properly, they produce excessive urine and eventually pee numerous times daily.

However, holding for an extended period is not good for their health in the long run. So, after considering all the reasons for abnormal behaviors, lets discuss some normal reasons in greater depth.

6. They are Good at Holding it

Some dogs can hold their urine for a long time and only urinate once or twice a day.

Some dogs bladders are larger and stretchier than others, especially in adult and larger breeds. Furthermore, the two muscles known as the urethral sphincter, which control urine exit, influence peeing frequency.

The stronger the urethral sphincter, the longer it can be held open.

Although holding the pee for about 12 hours is acceptable, holding it for more than 16-18 hours is not good for your dog.

7. Because of a Former Life Habit

Is your dog a rescue? If this is the case, the dog may have developed a routine in its previous home that allows him to pee only once or twice a day. So, even if the dog can urinate several times per day, the trait may persist.

If the dog was adopted from a shelter, this is to be expected because most shelters take their dogs out once a day for exercise and potty.

So, if the dog lives in a pen and knows that these people only let him out once a day, he may drink less water because he doesnt need to urinate where he lives.

Here are some reasons why some dogs pee outside but poop inside.

Is It Bad If Your Dog Pees Only Once/Twice A Day?

The consequences of urinating only once or twice a day can range from mild to severe.

If your dog pees twice daily, he must urinate every 12 hours. That could be due to dehydration effects, which can be resolved immediately by monitoring your dogs water intake unless the situation has worsened.

When a dog pees only once a day, it pees every 20-24 hours, which is far too long.

Here are theproblems with this

The greater the stress on the kidneys from holding urine and being dehydrated, the harder the kidneys work, resulting in severe problems such as early kidney failure or urinary stones.

This is a multi-year process, and such a situation can emerge gradually.

Holding pee for an extended period may also result in urinary tract infection (UTI) conditions, leading to certain types of urinary cancer.

When a dog only pees once or twice a day, the first thing to do is to see if the dog is dehydrated.

Here's how to tell if your dog is dehydrated.First, gather some paper towels or wee-wee pads. Wee-wee pads, on the other hand, perform better. This lets you get a rough idea of its urine color before deciding. Follow these steps: Allow the dog to urinate outside and wait until it finishes. Then, put the wee-wee pads(or paper towels) you brought with you on the spot where the dog urinated, and step on it.  The wee-wee pad or the paper towel will absorb the urine, indicating a color. The dog is dehydrated if the color is too dark. It may be necessary to perform blood tests.  If it appears clear, the dog is hydrated, and the issue is with something else.

Besides that, here are the signs of dehydration in dogs:

• Unusual panting
• Exhaustion
• Loss of appetite
• Dry nose
• Less elasticity skin
• Vomiting
• Thick saliva

What To Do If Your Dog Pees Only Once/Twice A Day?

Lets see how you can get the dog to urinate at least 3-5 times daily.

Visiting a veterinarian: If your dog urinates twice a day, he may eventually urinate several times a day. Peeing only once a day, on the other hand, is unusual. Therefore, the first step should be to consult with a veterinarian immediately.

Keep an eye on the water intake: Consuming less water may cause dehydration in the dog, resulting in various side effects. Every dog should drink about an ounce of water per pound per day. One ounce is roughly equivalent to 1/8 cup of water. For example, if the dog weighs 80 pounds, the daily water intake should be 80 ounces or 10 cups.

Taking care of urinary issues: Urinary problems, such as urinary tract infections and stones, can cause the dog to avoid urinating. Please consult your veterinarian if your dog is crying or urinating, causing discomfort.

Acquaint the dog with its surroundings: If you have recently moved to a new home, the dog may struggle to adjust to the new surroundings. Take the dog outside and spend some quality time with him.

Hydrate the dog: Mix in some water if the dogs diet is extremely dry. If the dog is behaving normally, it means he is eating normally. However, being playful and enthusiastic may reduce water intake, resulting in your dog peeing once or twice a day.

Praising: If your dog urinates when you go outside, take advantage of the situation and reinforce the behavior by praising. Do this again. If the dog only pees once or twice daily, praise will encourage him to urinate more frequently.

This is why some dogs poop on their hind legs.

Things To Be Aware Of

You understand why a dog pees once or twice daily and possible solutions. However, more is needed. You should know a few other things to keep the dog happy and live longer.

• Never, ever skip a vet visit.
• Your dog may have an exercise routine, but sticking to the same routine all year is not acceptable because the number of calories that must be burned varies depending on the season. (This is only one factor) So, please consult your veterinarian to see what you can do aboutit.
• Trying to train the dog to pee on command is a good idea.
• If the dog is dehydrated, it is best to avoid highly salty foods.
• Consult your veterinarian about revising your dogs diet.
• Maintain easy access to clean water at all times.
• Make time for outdoor activities regularly.

Conclusion

Its heartbreaking for dog owners to see their dogs abnormalities. Urinating only once or twice a day is odd for dogs, though both normal and pathological causes exist. Even when there is nothing to worry about, erring on the side of caution and knowing the other causes are important for keeping the dog happy and healthy. We hope you found this helpful; have a nice day.

Beagle Feeding Guide (Everything You Should Know)

Hello, pet parents! Welcome to my ultimate guide to feeding a beagle.

In this guide, I will cover how much to feed a beagle, how often to feed your beagle, when to feed your beagle, what foods to feed your beagle, what foods to avoid feeding your beagle, and other questions you may have about your beagles nutrition.

You can read the article to the end or go through the table of contents below and jump to the section that answers the questions you have on your mind.

Beagles are hardy and agile dogs, known for their strong sense of smell and independent nature. Beagles are hounds, and as such, they are stubborn and require creative training techniques. I will go into detail on every feeding question you may have based on my personal experience working for a veterinarian.

Beagles have a reputation for being big eaters, and if this is not regulated, it can lead to obesity and other health problems. Beagles are very active dogs with muscular features and big hazel eyes; they make excellent companions for both kids and adults.

I have created this ultimate guide to feeding your Beagles for curious and new pet parents who want to solve their dogs nutrition problem.

Lets jump into the article.

Beagle Nutritional Requirements

Beagles are medium-sized dogs that require the proper nutrients in their specific amounts to grow healthy. Like other dog breeds, if some of these nutrients are present in excess amounts or less, it would end up endangering the overall health of your dog.

When your beagle is growing, their diet should include 25% protein for puppies, 27% protein for adults, 5-10% fat for puppies, and 5.5% fat for adults, as well as fiber, carbohydrates, multivitamins, and minerals.

Your beagles protein source must be animal protein like chicken, turkey, lamb, and beef. Their fat source can be fish oil or vegetable oil, and their source of fiber is from wholesome, healthy vegetables like cabbage, carrots, sprouts, and broccoli. Your beagles diet should include vitamins and minerals to support a healthy immune system and bones.

Nutritional Requirement for a Beagle Puppy

The diet of a puppy beagle should consist of 25% protein, 510% fat, and 6% fiber. Beagle puppies are incredibly energetic, and their metabolism rate is high. They require protein for building healthy muscles and minerals for strong bones; carbohydrates for energy; and fats for maintaining healthy fur.

Nutritional Requirement for Adult Beagle

The meal plan for adults and older Beagles should consist of 25% protein, 25% carbohydrates, 5.5% fat, and 3% fiber. At this stage, beagles are most active and will need protein and carbohydrates to keep their weight and energy level optimal. However, you should avoid overfeeding your pet at this stage, as beagles are prone to obesity and will develop health complications.

Nutritional Requirement For Senior Beagle

At this stage of your dogs life, it is less active than at other stages. At this age, your pets food should ideally contain 18% protein, 5% fat, and fiber. Senior beagles will need minerals and vitamins added to their food to keep their immune system and bones healthy.

Factors Affecting The Feeding Of Your Beagle

Some factors will affect the diet of your beagles, such as the size of the breed, its age, its activity level, and its underlying health conditions.

Lets take a quick look at those factors before we jump into the quantity of food to feed your dog.

Size consideration

The average length of a beagle male is 4136 cm, and for females, it is 3338 cm from the sole of its feet to its shoulder. The weight of a male beagle is 1110 kg and a females is 910 kg.

Males are larger than females, therefore they will consume more calories than females as a result of their sheer size differences.

Age consideration

Beagle puppies are fed more because they are growing and their metabolism is high, which means they are constantly hungry. Adults have a slower metabolism and do not need to be fed as much as puppies. As seniors, your pup is less active and will require fewer calories than at the adult stage, or else they might become overweight and develop serious health problems.

Activity Level

Beagles are very active and agile dogs with sturdy and muscular frames. They must be fed a strict, quality diet to maintain this physical status. Your adult Beagles should not be fed adult food as puppies because their nutritional needs are different as adults; they are more active and so will require more energy-giving food. Seniors are less active and so will require minimal calories.

Health Consideration

Beagles are prone to certain health conditions, which should be taken into consideration in their diets if you wish to manage or prevent those issues.

Some health issues that affect your Beagle include hip and elbow dysplasia, heart problems, eye problems like cataracts, and patellar luxation.

Some of these health issues can be prevented or controlled by feeding your dog the right food and following strict guidelines when feeding them.

Your beagle should not be fed low-quality food that does not contain near or adequate amounts of these nutrients. This type of feed can trigger the early onset of some of these health problems, and you will need to visit the vet, which would lead to you spending more money than you originally intended.

Beagle Feeding Amount

Your beagle, just like any other dog breed, will require different amounts of food according to their stage of development. According to nutritional requirements, the amount of food required by a puppy differs from that required by an adult.

On average, feed your puppy Beagles 0.3 to 1.75 cups of food that has 220 to 1650 kcal per day; feed your adult Beagles 0.75 to 2.75 cups per day that have 1125 to 1575 kcal per day, according to their activity level; and feed your senior Beagles 0.5-2 cups per day that have 1050 to 1470 kcal per day.

I will provide you with charts below to help you plan your dogs meals from its puppy years to its senior years. However, this meal plan is not one-size-fits-all. Its just a general guideline that should be followed based on your dogs needs and recommendations from your vet or dog nutritionist.

How Much To Feed Your Puppy Beagle

For your puppy and adolescent to grow into healthy adults, the meal should be high in protein and low in fat, which can be obtained from animal meat.

A beagle puppy should be given 0.3 to 1.75 cups of food per day that contains 220 to 1650 kcal of nutrients based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.

The feeding requirement of your puppy is given in detail in the charts below:

Following the above guidelines will aid in bone development and muscle growth, as well as strengthen their immune system to combat common bacteria and viruses that can cause health complications.

How Much To Feed An Adult Beagles

The nutritional requirements of an adult Beagle differ from those of a puppy. To prevent obesity, mature beagles food should contain a lower percentage of proteins and fats. This is done by reducing the feeding frequency to two times per day.

An adult Beagle should be given 0.75 to 2.75 cups of food per day that contains 1125 to 1575 kcal of nutrients based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.

The chart below will give you an understanding of the daily consumption needs of adult Beagles to help you with their meal plan.

How Much To Feed Your Senior Beagle

Senior beagles are generally less active than their younger counterparts due to fragile bones and joints. This means their meals will contain fewer calories, protein, and fat.

Geriatric beagles are often plagued with health issues. Some of these issues can be alleviated by supplementing your senior dogs diet with vitamins and minerals to help revive his or her weakened immune system and fragile bones.

Senior and geriatric beagle puppies should be given 0.5-2 cups of food per day that contains 1050 to 1470 kcal of nutrients based on age, weight, size, gender, and health issues.

The table below gives you some details about the meal plan for older Beagles.

However, you must still ensure they get the essential nutrients. Beagles

You can continue giving your senior dog the same food you gave them as an adult, only in a lesser quantity, as they dont need as many calories as adult dogs. However, you should still consult your vet or pet nutritionist to be on the safe side.

Beagle Feeding Frequency

Your beagles meal frequency will vary the same as the feeding amounts, which are majorly dependent on its age. Below is a list of how often to feed your

How Often Should You Feed Your Beagle Puppy?

During the weaning process or at 8 weeks old and below: feed them four times a day at equally spaced intervals.

8 weeks to 3 months old: feed them four times a day at equally spaced intervals.

4 months to 12 months old: gradually transition to feeding them three times a day with equally spaced time intervals.

How Often Should You Feed Your Adult Beagle?

Adult beagles should be fed twice a day, with a 12-hour gap between meals. One in the morning and one in the evening is ideal.

How Often Should You Feed Your Senior Beagle?

You should feed your senior Beagles two times a day except given a specific schedule by a vet.

Beagle Feeding Schedule

Beagle puppies should be free-fed or fed in the morning, afternoon, evening, and night due to a faster metabolism in comparison to their adult colleagues

Adolescent Beagles should be fed in the morning, afternoon, and evening to help them transition properly into an adult.

Adult and Senior Beagles should also be fed in the morning and the evening unless stated differently by your vet or pet nutritionist.

As a general rule, you should feed your beagles a few hours before going to bed in the evening, so they have enough time to digest the food before going to sleep.

In total, we shouldnt spoil our companions with treats as they may grow too attached to them. Treats should be primarily used as a reward when training your beagle.

The Kind of Food To Feed Your Beagle

The food you feed your Beagles should specifically cater to large breeds and contain the required nutrients necessary for a strong and healthy dog.

The kind of food to feed your Beagles includes dry dog food, wet dog food, a home-cooked diet, and biologically appropriate raw food to ensure your dog eats a balanced diet.

Let me touch on these few points to help you understand what to feed your dog:

Dry Food: Dry dog or kibble is a portion of commercial pet food made by grinding and mixing up ingredients like meats, grains, and nutritional additives, which are then shaped into little kernels and cooked at high temperatures to remove the water content. Dry dog contains more carbs, less fat, less water, and sometimes less protein, and is often recommended by vets due to its lower cost, dental health benefits, convenience, weight loss support, and playtime perks.

Wet Food: Wet dog food, or canned food, is made by mixing up and cooking the ingredients before adding or extracting varying amounts of water. Unlike dry dog food, wet dog food contains more water, fewer carbs, more fat, and often more protein. They are recommended by veterinarians due to their high water content, taste, ease of eating, and high nutritional profile.

Home-Cooked Diet: Home-cooked diets are a great option for pet parents who are not into commercial dog food and want to go the extra length to prepare a meal for their furry companion. Feeding your dog a home-cooked meal gives you control over its nutrition and can put your mind at ease knowing that you are always providing the best care for your dog.

BARF Diet: Biologically Appropriate Raw Food is a diet that includes raw meat, raw eggs, crushed animal bones, fruits, vegetables, probiotics, and other natural ingredients. BARF diets are used as a substitute for processed foods with preservatives. However, consult your vet before feeding your pet a raw diet to avoid health complications from harmful substances.

The Kind of Food To Avoid Feeding Your Beagle

We should take caution when giving whatever food were eating to our beagles. They have large appetites, which makes it tempting to hand them whatever we find ourselves eating.

There are certain human foods, fruits, and vegetables that you should avoid feeding your beagle because these foods contain toxins that are harmful to your pet and could lead to frequent trips to the vet.

Human food to avoid feeding your Beagles includes chocolates, coffee, gums, peanut butter, candies, cooked bones, etc.

The Fruits and vegetables to avoid feeding your Beagles include grapes, avocado, garlic, onions, etc.

You should always check the ingredients on the food label to see if these ingredients are present in the food. Or you can simply consult a vet or pet nutritionist to check the ingredients with them.

When To Transition Your Beagles From Puppy Food To Adult Food

You should transition your Beagle puppy from puppy food to adult food when hes around 1012 months old.

Transitioning your adolescent Beagles from puppy food to adult food is an important stage in your dogs development. Puppy food contains more calories and nutrients than adult food to meet the nutritional requirements at that stage of life.

Transitioning needs to be gradual by introducing adult feed bit by bit until you get to 100% adult feed.

However, feeding your adult puppy food will fill them with more protein and fat than their body requires and will lead to obesity due to the high fat content the body doesnt need for optimum growth.

Why Your Beagle Is Not Eating

Your beagle will not eat if it has one or a combination of the factors listed below:

Illness, dental problems, teething, medication, constipation, time of day, spoiled food, dehydration, and stress

Beagles normally have a large appetite, so your beagle not eating is a sign that something is wrong. If your pup is not eating and drinking, you should see the doctor immediately.

Why Your Beagle Is Always Hungry

Beagles, like other dog breeds, are big feeders, but acting hungry all the time could stem from issues that are not internal, like stress, learned behaviors, and a lack of training. Some medical issues can cause this example, such as Cushings disease, and another reason may be the lack of adequate nutrition in your dogs feed.

Rigorous exercise will make your dogs body burn calories faster, thus making them hungry after such exercises. Worms could be another reason your dog is always hungry.

Frequently Asked Questions on Feeding A Beagle

Do beagles eat a lot?

Yes, beagles can eat a lot, but this should not be encouraged as they are prone to obesity, and being overweight can cause a host of health issues in your dog. This is why proper feeding and a schedule need to be in place to train your dog.

Can beagles become vegetarians?

The Beagle breed can live on a vegetarian diet as long as this diet consists of all the essential nutrients required by the beagle to thrive and grow optimally.If you take your dog on a vegan path, then ensure that meals contain micronutrients that may not be present in a vegan diet.You should consult your vet or pet nutritionist while planning your vegan meals to ensure your beagles do not encounter any health complications.

What human food can I feed my beagle?

You can feed your beagles different types of human foods, such as beef, chicken, pork, turkey, salmon, tuna, and eggs. They can also eat noodles, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, unsalted peanuts, parsnips, and other foods such as rice and pasta, yogurt, cheese, and peanut butter.

What fruits and vegetables can I feed my beagle?

Beagles can eat many types of fruits, such as strawberries, apples, bananas, raspberries, peaches, mangoes, pears, blueberries, plums, melon, pineapple, oranges, and kiwi fruit. They can also eat vegetables such as pumpkin, carrots, peas, corn, cauliflower, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, and more.

Should You Give Your Beagles Supplements?

Your Beagles dont need to be given supplements if you feed them a commercial diet that meets their nutritional requirements. However, you may need to feed them supplements if you feed them home-cooked meals as recommended by your vet or dog nutritionist

Final Thoughts on Beagle Feeding Guide

Beagles are hardy, strong dogs that make excellent companions. They are agile and intelligent, and with proper training, they can grow to become obedient and very social dogs. Beagles are playful, fun-loving dogs that possess a lot of energy. When fed a well-balanced diet, they will be healthy and energetic.

Options such as dry, wet, raw, and homemade diets are all great for them. You can free-feed your beagles during their puppy stage, but you have to draw up a strict plan as they grow up. It is also essential to know what foods are healthy and should be avoided, as some are toxic.

However, if you desire more information on how to take care of your beagles, you should contact the nearest vet for information on essential nutrients, and you can also see a pet nutritionist for a regimen schedule for your pet.