Reduced appetite?
 and everything always checks out. But past couple of weeks, she seems even less interested in her food. Could this just be a normal reaction to the warmer weather, or a puppy phase? She's 60lbs right now, almost 7 months old, I'm hoping she'll grow to 75-80 lbs if not more. She is still eating, and still pooping, just not quite eating as much as she was. Should we be concerned? |
|
|
| No, they all go thru phases where they won't eat. I wouldn't push it. Also sniff the food. Sometimes it is rancid....maybe she's telling you something. Don't give treats as that just reinforces they not eating the good stuff. Try switching her over to carrots for treats.....at least then she's getting something more nutritious. Put down small amounts at feeding time, give her 30 minutes and then remove the dish. Usually I try twice before I toss the food. Hence....small amounts. Switching foods quickly just to get her to eat causes tummy problems. You can try incorportating new food into the old if you think she's tired of the old stuff. But at this age they are going thru a lot of changes, being food fussy is but one. Then again she may turn out to be food fussy all her life. My Paige sure was, but she knew exactly how much she needed to eat and nothing more. She was always slim.....even skinny.....but that's what she wanted to be. Yes, heat is a BIG factor. Try feeding when the coolest. |
| Oliver went through this phase at around 4 months. I was so concerned...the only way I could get him to eat was by rolling his food to him...one piece at a time . He milked it for all it was worth. We resolved the problem by removing his food 30 minutes after we put it down. It only took twice for him to realize if he didn't eat when it was time, he didn't get food. We did break his meals down though, so we set food down 4 times a day...I didn't like the thought of my baby going hungry! |
Baba wrote: She's 60lbs right now, almost 7 months old, I'm hoping she'll grow to 75-80 lbs if not more. Then you probably should have gotten a boy dog. Especially if you wanted to hit the "if not more"  Yes, they go through stages when it comes to enthusiasm for eating. That said, you do not want them to grow too fast (bad for joints) and you do NOT want them to carry any extra weight (bad for joints - sense a theme here?) I presume you've switched to adult food. If she's eating less, and is otherwise healthy it may just be that she's smart enough to know how much she needs to eat. The next time she goes through a growth stage her appetite may go up again. I wouldn't be all that concerned unless there appears to be anything physicially wrong with her. I would be a bit concerned about overfeeding for size down the road. She's going to be as big as she's going to be based on genetics for the most part. Kristine |
We are still feeding the same food we've always have, Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy food. So we haven't switched to adult food yet. I am under the impression we wouldn't switch until about a year old? Her weight gain (which, in some ways seems to huge, she was just a tiny pup a few months ago!  ) has seemed fine, she definitely has no extra weight. Her mother is 75lbs and her father is bigger, so I was thinking 75-80 (without being over-weight) seems reasonable. |
| I like to get mine off puppy food by 4-5 mos old, but large breed puppy food is really not an issue. I would just do whatever her breeder recommends because that obviously works for her dogs. KB |
| With the Purina ProPlan Large Breed Puppy I always keep them on it until they are a year old, and then I switch to the ProPlan Large Breed Adult. I also just want to say I agree with everything people have said. She is at a healthy weight, and from what you have said has been healthy (why the many trips to the vets?) so don't worry yourself that she is not eating as much. She will eat when she is hungry. |
Blueshire wrote: With the Purina ProPlan Large Breed Puppy I always keep them on it until they are a year old, and then I switch to the ProPlan Large Breed Adult. I also just want to say I agree with everything people have said. She is at a healthy weight, and from what you have said has been healthy (why the many trips to the vets?) so don't worry yourself that she is not eating as much. She will eat when she is hungry.  We've been taking great care of her honest! Kim's a bit of a worrier (to say the least ) She has had 2 eye infections, she was bit on the lip by a little Jack Russel (grrr little white dogs  ), she swallowed a large piece of plastic (which really scared us and she visited the vet in-between swallowing it and pooping it out), general puppy check-up, her shots, a few weigh-ins etc. The vets adore her and she adores the vets. The vets' consistent attitude has been she's in terrific health, and she's a wonderful dog .Do you think we should be strict about picking up the food after 20 minutes so she learns she better eat if she wants to eat? |
I never let food down 24/7. My dogs know that if they don't eat it within 20 minutes, it's gone until the next feeding. Occasionally the one younger male will leave a bit in his bowl. After 20 minutes it comes up too. I find that he regulates his weight this way. I have a girl in a show home that they insisted on free feeding. Had a terrible time getting her to eat any reasonable amount. Of course she figured she could eat "whenever" & if something better came along then "whenever" went on the back burner.  The only time she ate the entire amount that was put down was when she came to my house. 1st time she watched all the others eat their food & she left her's sit. Up it came after 20 minutes. Next time it went down, she waited for the cue from my oldest dog & then she chowed down just like the rest of them. Finally, after a few years, the owners now do as I do & up comes the food if she doesn't eat it. If mine skip 1 meal I am on the look out for something being wrong. Once they skip 2 meals they are on their way to the vet. |
| Yeah, it is ME who is the worrywart. Sure. She hasn't been to the vet that often, it just seems like it. Mostly normal puppy stuff, vaccinations, etc. The two eye infections, the vet suspects, are because Mady is goofing off with other puppies at the dog park several times a week. The vet wasn't concerned at all, says that it isn't uncommon for puppies romping around in the dirt to have that happen. As for her appetite, I have noticed that she is chewing on her toys a lot more the last week, seems to want to chew way in the back of her mouth. Do puppies get a set of molars around 7 months of age? I know that kids, when teething, often go off of their food-maybe puppies are similar? She is still eating, still gaining weight, still full of puppy energy, so I am guessing that it is just a phase and nothing to worry about. One question I do have for you OES experts (and I am VERY grateful to have your wisdom) is regarding the whole herding thing. Ideally she would eat in the morning before we go to work, but she can't seem to settle downstairs where we feed her until we are both up, showered and dressed. Maybe I am crazy, but it seems like she can't settle down to eat until she has done her job of getting us ready to go. I come home for an hour at lunch (so happy we bought a house so close to work) and she will eat then. I swear if we both sat there and watched her eat breakfast, she would do so. I think she thinks we are sheep.... |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|