[fefe76]

My labby is 11 months old and for the past 5 days he has been off and on with his food. He gets mainly dry food which he has always eaten with no issue but since last Sun when he got meat & some veggies as a treat he has decided not to eat his dry food now. The only way I can get him to eat it is by mixing water in it!!!!

Whats going on? Any ideas? He is not sick or anything & can certainly smell fine as seems to appear the minute any packets of chicken or meat are opened!

[Leafprincess]

I had the same question and after being told not to humanize my dog by my vet friend he also said the following:


"It's normal for dogs to have a big meal them not eat for a few meals.
They used to hunt for their meals, have a huge feed then not eat again. Until their next hunt.
Effectively your dog has had a "hunt" meal and is not that hungry.
I wouldn't worry too much so long as he isn't lethargic and is still drinking water."

My dogs used to not eat as much if it was hot either. So instead I would give them frozen bones to gnaw on and extra water.

[*Spikey*]

My labrador grazes.

Yours is now getting to an age where it doesn't need to eat to grow anymore, and hopefully its moving from a garbage guts, to an eat-when-hungry mode.

If its hot, make sure you have plenty of water available and don't worry unless he goes several days without eating anything. Oh, and don't add water to the dried food, it goes off.

[fefe76]

Oh, and don't add water to the dried food, it goes off

Really??? even if i just add it and he eats it straight away...which he does??

This post has been edited by fefe76: 13/12/2012, 06:36 PM

[Unatheowl]

If you're worried or feel this is out of character for your dog I would him to the vet for a check up.

[*Spikey*]

Really??? even if i just add it and he eats it straight away...which he does??

Maybe not if he eats it that fast , but there is no need to add water.

[fefe76]

seemed the only way he would eat .... think it upsets me more than him when he doesnt eat! lol

[*Spikey*]

Probably - you've spent months watching him devour everything in sight, so it comes as a shock when the tummy isn't quite the driver it used to be. Just keep an eye out, and if there is some eating (especially if you're getting the really hot weather) when it gets cooler, I would think you've got the making of a mature dog eating pattern. If he turns into a grazer, it will be fabulous - grazing labradors don't put on weight nearly as easily as the gutsers.