Comments on: My dog won’t eat http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/12/27/my-dog-wont-eat/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:26:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/12/27/my-dog-wont-eat/comment-page-1/#comment-125345 Lindsay Stordahl Sun, 22 May 2011 19:46:18 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4835#comment-125345 Give him ten minutes to eat out of his bowl twice per day at the same times every day. If he does not eat, then put the food away. He might not eat for up to three days. That's fine. Then he might only take a few bites when he does eat. But then after that he will eat if he's hungry. He's a dog and an animal and he will not starve himself. Stop catering to him by feeding him by hand and giving him chicken and other treats. The vet said there is nothing wrong with him, so as long as you offer him food twice a day, he'll eat when he's hungry. Give him ten minutes to eat out of his bowl twice per day at the same times every day. If he does not eat, then put the food away. He might not eat for up to three days. That’s fine. Then he might only take a few bites when he does eat. But then after that he will eat if he’s hungry. He’s a dog and an animal and he will not starve himself. Stop catering to him by feeding him by hand and giving him chicken and other treats. The vet said there is nothing wrong with him, so as long as you offer him food twice a day, he’ll eat when he’s hungry.

]]> By: charlene http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/12/27/my-dog-wont-eat/comment-page-1/#comment-125326 charlene Sun, 22 May 2011 16:45:16 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4835#comment-125326 hey great pic ...my dog leo is a 1 year old red fox labrador retriver just lately he wont eat his kibble out of the bowl if i put the food in my hand or skim it across the floor he will chase and eat it, thing is i have put some tasty chicken slices in his bowl and he runs straight to it eating it without a problem.....but if its kibble and i have changed the type of kibble 4 times he will not bother,i even tryed dog meat but no joy he just turns his nose up, if i go by his food bowl and call him over he runs off shaking and cowering, i have no idea why, its only me and my partner in the house so i know there is no violence or anything that might make him scared of it , i have even brought him a new food bowl and he is still doing the same thing thats why i cant understand why he is cowering as if he is frightend that we will shout at him if he goes by the bowl , i regually see the vets and hes wormed regually and everything else, if he was sick he wouldnt eat anything but he will eat chicken and little treats mabey he is just really fussy but i am starting to notice he is loosing weight and i really dont know what to do im sorry for the spelling can anyone surgest anything,,,,,, i am at a loose end here the vet says hes fine... but i cant hand feed him everyday for the rest of his life (THANKS charlene ) hey great pic …my dog leo is a 1 year old red fox labrador retriver just lately he wont eat his kibble out of the bowl if i put the food in my hand or skim it across the floor he will chase and eat it, thing is i have put some tasty chicken slices in his bowl and he runs straight to it eating it without a problem…..but if its kibble and i have changed the type of kibble 4 times he will not bother,i even tryed dog meat but no joy he just turns his nose up, if i go by his food bowl and call him over he runs off shaking and cowering, i have no idea why, its only me and my partner in the house so i know there is no violence or anything that might make him scared of it , i have even brought him a new food bowl and he is still doing the same thing thats why i cant understand why he is cowering as if he is frightend that we will shout at him if he goes by the bowl , i regually see the vets and hes wormed regually and everything else, if he was sick he wouldnt eat anything but he will eat chicken and little treats mabey he is just really fussy but i am starting to notice he is loosing weight and i really dont know what to do im sorry for the spelling can anyone surgest anything,,,,,, i am at a loose end here the vet says hes fine… but i cant hand feed him everyday for the rest of his life (THANKS charlene )

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/12/27/my-dog-wont-eat/comment-page-1/#comment-40977 Lindsay Stordahl Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:24:39 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4835#comment-40977 If something is medically wrong with a dog, it could cause her not to eat. Humans don't feel like eating when they are sick, either. But it sounds like your dog is acting fine otherwise, correct? She isn't lethargic or vomiting or anything? Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much. A lot of dogs will go without eating for three days when they visit me. She will eat when she is hungry. She is a dog. If it has been more than five days or so, then you should contact your vet to see if there is a medical problem. I would increase her exercise and stop giving her treats, table scraps and embellishments to her food of any kind. Make sure she also has enough water. If something is medically wrong with a dog, it could cause her not to eat. Humans don’t feel like eating when they are sick, either. But it sounds like your dog is acting fine otherwise, correct? She isn’t lethargic or vomiting or anything?

Honestly, I wouldn’t worry too much. A lot of dogs will go without eating for three days when they visit me. She will eat when she is hungry. She is a dog. If it has been more than five days or so, then you should contact your vet to see if there is a medical problem.

I would increase her exercise and stop giving her treats, table scraps and embellishments to her food of any kind. Make sure she also has enough water.

]]> By: kp http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/12/27/my-dog-wont-eat/comment-page-1/#comment-40934 kp Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:09:39 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4835#comment-40934 We have a little 2-1/2 to 3 pound Yorkie Poo and lately we can seem to make her eat? We do have other pets and they of course will gooble up anything they can but our little Demi has been acting stange in that when we put her food down she begins to shake and wont come up to the bowl. So we began trying different things cuz we noticed she got so skinny. We of coursed enhanced her food that didn't work, feeding her alone with no other dogs, putting her in a cage to eat and the funny thing she did then was to rub her nose on a blanket in front of the food dish as if trying to cover it up. We are at a loss as to where the nuerotic behavior is comming from and why? In every other way she seems fine. No throwing up, no diarreaha? And is drinking water. We have caught her eatting her poo a few times? Don't know what to do and she doesnt have much weight on her to loose? Help! We have a little 2-1/2 to 3 pound Yorkie Poo and lately we can seem to make her eat? We do have other pets and they of course will gooble up anything they can but our little Demi has been acting stange in that when we put her food down she begins to shake and wont come up to the bowl. So we began trying different things cuz we noticed she got so skinny. We of coursed enhanced her food that didn’t work, feeding her alone with no other dogs, putting her in a cage to eat and the funny thing she did then was to rub her nose on a blanket in front of the food dish as if trying to cover it up. We are at a loss as to where the nuerotic behavior is comming from and why? In every other way she seems fine. No throwing up, no diarreaha? And is drinking water. We have caught her eatting her poo a few times? Don’t know what to do and she doesnt have much weight on her to loose? Help!

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/12/27/my-dog-wont-eat/comment-page-1/#comment-31203 Lindsay Stordahl Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:34:22 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4835#comment-31203 Increase their exercise and only give them 10 minutes or so to eat and only at specific meal times at the same times every day. If they don't eat, their loss. They'll eat the next day or the next. Increase their exercise and only give them 10 minutes or so to eat and only at specific meal times at the same times every day. If they don’t eat, their loss. They’ll eat the next day or the next.

]]> By: Wendee http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/12/27/my-dog-wont-eat/comment-page-1/#comment-31198 Wendee Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:32:08 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4835#comment-31198 Thank you!! It's rough to see your baby do that. He (Jak) starts to get a little skinny and that makes us nervous. This morning I fed him on an old plate after he stuck his nose up at the delicious chicken I made for them. He came right over and ate! The other issue is now the puppy(Mojo) is acting like Jak. At least he still eats - just not in a fury like he used to. Thank you!! It’s rough to see your baby do that. He (Jak) starts to get a little skinny and that makes us nervous. This morning I fed him on an old plate after he stuck his nose up at the delicious chicken I made for them. He came right over and ate! The other issue is now the puppy(Mojo) is acting like Jak. At least he still eats – just not in a fury like he used to.

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/12/27/my-dog-wont-eat/comment-page-1/#comment-31077 Lindsay Stordahl Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:16:45 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4835#comment-31077 I would follow the above advice and clean up the throw-up. He'll eventually learn to get on YOUR schedule. The throwing up is a sign that he is hungry. Don't give in, and eventually you won't have a picky eater and you won't have to deal with throw-up either. I would follow the above advice and clean up the throw-up. He’ll eventually learn to get on YOUR schedule. The throwing up is a sign that he is hungry. Don’t give in, and eventually you won’t have a picky eater and you won’t have to deal with throw-up either.

]]> By: Wendee http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/12/27/my-dog-wont-eat/comment-page-1/#comment-31075 Wendee Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:09:38 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4835#comment-31075 Hi! I like all of the advice given about finicky dogs. However, if my guy doesn't eat, he'll throw up in the morning. And, that can't be too good for him. Not sure what to do. Yes, we are very guilty of trying to enhance his kibble, and now the puppy is doing the same things. Help! Hi! I like all of the advice given about finicky dogs. However, if my guy doesn’t eat, he’ll throw up in the morning. And, that can’t be too good for him. Not sure what to do. Yes, we are very guilty of trying to enhance his kibble, and now the puppy is doing the same things. Help!

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/12/27/my-dog-wont-eat/comment-page-1/#comment-21874 Lindsay Stordahl Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:57:11 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4835#comment-21874 When I have dogs that won't eat because of a new environment, a change of food, etc., they will usually start to eat again within four days. I'm certain this will be the case with your dog unless you are giving her additional table scraps, treats or raw hides. Then she would have no reason to eat her regular food. I don't recommend a continuous feeder for a number of reasons. For one, you won't know for sure if the dog has eaten. If she does eat, you won't know how much. Second, food should be used as a reward, not something that is always available. A dog wants to work for its food, so its a good idea to feed dogs after a walk or at least after making them sit and stay for a few seconds. Third, dogs like a routine. If a dog is fed a small amount at the same times every day she will learn that this is when she should eat. If she chooses to skip this meal, then she will be hungry for the next meal. This also makes it easier for house training, sticking to an exercise schedule and even preventing separation anxiety. You may be interested in my post on what to do when your dog is a picky eater: http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/04/23/what-to-do-when-your-dog-is-a-picky-eater/ When I have dogs that won’t eat because of a new environment, a change of food, etc., they will usually start to eat again within four days. I’m certain this will be the case with your dog unless you are giving her additional table scraps, treats or raw hides. Then she would have no reason to eat her regular food.

I don’t recommend a continuous feeder for a number of reasons. For one, you won’t know for sure if the dog has eaten. If she does eat, you won’t know how much.

Second, food should be used as a reward, not something that is always available. A dog wants to work for its food, so its a good idea to feed dogs after a walk or at least after making them sit and stay for a few seconds.

Third, dogs like a routine. If a dog is fed a small amount at the same times every day she will learn that this is when she should eat. If she chooses to skip this meal, then she will be hungry for the next meal. This also makes it easier for house training, sticking to an exercise schedule and even preventing separation anxiety.

You may be interested in my post on what to do when your dog is a picky eater:

http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/04/23/what-to-do-when-your-dog-is-a-picky-eater/

]]> By: rebecca http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/12/27/my-dog-wont-eat/comment-page-1/#comment-21860 rebecca Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:08:35 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=4835#comment-21860 HI. I have a skittish female Schnauzer and changed her food to continuous feeders for food and water. It's was made for small pets and the bowls are a little small.Smaller than the prior dishes. Does that matter? I also set both food and water feeders on a ergonamic stand. My younger Schnauzer has no problem with them so the mama dog sees what to do but wont go near it. How long should I let her go without using them. She can get water outside but no food. Thanks HI. I have a skittish female Schnauzer and changed her food to continuous feeders for food and water. It’s was made for small pets and the bowls are a little small.Smaller than the prior dishes. Does that matter? I also set both food and water feeders on a ergonamic stand. My younger Schnauzer has no problem with them so the mama dog sees what to do but wont go near it. How long should I let her go without using them. She can get water outside but no food.
Thanks

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