Question
How many hours apart should the two meals be?
Sunny, owner notes“I wish my dog lived as long as I do.”Updated
I'm an owner, not a vet. This is not veterinary advice, so check anything medical with your own vet.
Short answer
Most vets ask for two meals about twelve hours apart, each matched with an insulin shot. Keeping the gap steady matters more than the exact hour. If your vet gave you different times, use theirs. If your day slips and your plan doesn't say what to do, call your vet. Keep fresh water out all day.
I never give insulin amounts here. Yours comes from your vet's written plan.
What you might notice at home
Some people feed at six and six, some at seven and seven. The exact times matter less than keeping the gap the same. The worry starts when work, a wedding or a late alarm gets in the way.
Vets usually split the day's food into two equal meals for a dog on insulin. How much goes in each bowl is for your vet to tell you.
What to write down for the vet
- The two times you feed on a normal day.
- How often the gap gets longer, and why.
- Whether both meals are the same.
- Who is home for each one.
What to take with you
A week of real times tells your vet more than 'we're mostly on time'. Use the seven-day log for that. Leave the amount lines blank until you copy them from your vet's plan.
Does insulin have to be twice a day, or can it be once?
Twice-a-day injections can be tough to fit around work and family. Many diabetic dogs need insulin more than once a day, but how often is your vet's call, based on your dog and the exact product. Don't cut down to fewer injections yourself, and don't assume a longer-acting insulin will suit your household.
If the current routine isn't working for you, take your real timetable to the vet. Ask what options they can support and get the plan in writing instead of stretching the gaps yourself. Make sure everyone who helps knows which schedule is current.
Sources
- What if the morning meal ran late?When a meal runs late
- Daily routine for a diabetic dog: meals, insulin and walksA full twelve-hour routine
- My diabetic dog grazes all day. Should meals be twice a day?Why meals are twice a day
- Seven-day logA week of real feeding times
- Blank insulin scheduleA blank schedule to fill in
Every outside source I used is listed on the Sources page.
Related
Q&A
My diabetic dog grazes all day. Should meals be twice a day?
Most diabetic dogs end up on two meals a day. Your vet can help you move a grazer onto set meals.
Q&A
Do I feed my diabetic dog before the insulin?
Most vets say feed first, then give insulin. Follow the order your own vet wrote down.
Q&A
What if the morning meal ran late?
If your plan doesn't already say what to do when you're late, call your vet.
Guide
Daily routine for a diabetic dog: meals, insulin and walks
Planning meals and injections around your vet's routine.