University of Arizona-led experts analysed data on more than 24,000 pet dogs for links between feeding rates and cognitive function and health outcomes.

University of Arizona-led experts analysed data on more than 24,000 pet dogs for links between feeding rates and both cognitive function and health outcomes.

Pictured: the team found that dogs fed once daily experienced lower odds of developing nine different broad types of age-related health complications than those fed more frequently.

For example, the team explained, their study did not assess how much each dog was eating daily — and therefore it could be that dogs being fed twice daily were experiencing worse health outcomes as a result of being fed more, not more often.

'Companion dogs provide a potentially powerful animal model in which to better understand the relationship between diet and age-related health outcomes.

After controlling for confounding factors like age, breed and sex, the researchers found that dogs that were fed once daily had lower scores on a test of cognitive issues than their peers that were fed twice or more daily.

'Our findings suggest that once-a-day feeding in dogs is associated with improved health across multiple body systems,' the team wrote in their paper.

The team has warned that further studies are needed to validate the findings — and that it is too early to recommend owners change their dogs' feeding regimens (stock image)

After controlling for confounding factors like age, breed and sex, the researchers found that dogs that were fed once daily had lower scores on a test of cognitive issues (pictured, where darker points represent dogs fed once daily, while the other points are those fed more often)