Dog/Food eating issues

[luv2cook]

My approx. 4 y/o Lab mix has decided that she doesn't want to eat breakfast anymore and now isn't really eating dinner. we changed her food back to what we know she likes and it didn't make a difference. She'll eat people food but no doggie food.

I've never had this problem. Is it a cycle thing maybe with her? She's acting just fine. Anyone ever had an issue like this? She's kind of on the thin side but not starving...i thought I'd ask before I took her to the vet. I'm thinkjing of going to PetsMart and getting some of that crap that you can put on top of food, like a gravy...I'm stumped on this one.

[Blissful_in_TX]

Our 3-year-old pug goes through phases where she won't eat out of her bowl. :confused: Does it make a difference if you put the food on the floor or on a mat?

[Grace]

My one lab used to do this before we got the other dog. I got so worried at one point that I hand fed her. She was so lonely and bored that she got kind of neurotic. I did get the gravy and that helped a lot. And I sometimes mixed canned dog food in as well. That also worked. Now that we have two dogs, this doesn't happen anymore, though (although I do keep a can of dog food on hand just in case!).

Perhaps changing up where she eats or put the food on the floor, that might help (my other dog sometimes won't eat out of her bowl and I put the food on the floor and she gobbles it right up) :confused: :rolleyes:

Or maybe you just spoiled her with people food! :D

[merley]

That gravy is pretty nasty. You can buy can food and dilute a small bit with water and make your own gravy. I did this when my dog wouldn't eat. I got tired of doing it and just heated some water (about 2 T) in microwave an dumped it on her food. She also liked this .I determined she just liked the exrta fuss of adding stuff to her dinner. Eventually we stopped adding the hot water and she went back to eating her food.

[beckms]

hi luv2cook--

how long has this been going on? did any of these suggestions work?

[Peweh]

I second the thought that the gravy stuff is nasty; I'm thinking some warmed low sodium chicken broth would do the same trick and soften up the kibble.

That being said, you need to figure out why she's 'off her feed', as they say. Are her bathroom habits normal? Sounds like maybe you changed her food and it didn't agree with her, is maybe constipating her or the reverse. I know when dogs have trouble keeping food down or have diarrhea a bland diet of rice with maybe some chicken broth or cottage cheese is often recommended, but it might make matters worse if she's constipated.

It might be hard to know some of these answers if your dog goes out to potty unattended in a fenced yard; but for me it's the 'gurgle gurgle gurgle' sounds coming from Izzy's belly that tip me off something's going on in there!

Good luck and keep us posted!

[luv2cook]

I don't know how long breakfast has been going on because our kid would feed the dogs before she went to school. Our other dog apparently has been eating her breakfast and his because he's gained weight!

The dinner thing started about a week ago where she's just not that interested. I bought that gravy crap last night and put it onher food and again this a.m. She ate.

I just don't know if it's a "phase" or soemthing else. that's why I thought I'd ask you guys.

Her bathroom habits seemed okay last time. She won't go outside of the yard, so Ihave to watch! The food choice we changed because she wouldn't touch the Nutro. We put her back on Beneful which she loved before.

I also tried the if they don't eat it in such and such time, pick it up. That doesn't seem towork either!

She doesn't appear/act ill...

[Laurielee]

I had this happen with my dog, I went thru a few years and several foods. She would always lose interest in her food after a few months. She has now been on Purina pro plan (which I hate) now for a few years and loves it. We still have to stand and watch her eat becauseits a slow process, she gets nervous and I have to make sure our other dogs doesnt eat it. Funny I now have the opposite problem lately where she has been ravenous chows her food down pushes the other dog out of the way trying to eat his food.

Laurie