labrador not eating??

[lady1297]

We've always feed our 3 year old lab twice a day. 1 cup in the morning, 1 at night. She usually inhales it within seconds of it going down if not before it's off the scope. For the past week,she's startedjust letting it sit there in the morning until 1 or 2 in the after noon. Then she ignores dinner for an equally long period of time if we even lay it down for her (sometimes I forget to tell DH that she ate so late, if i do remember to tell him, we don't feed her at night).

Anyone else gone through this? Is she just not as hungry? Could she not be feeing well (same activity level as before, same poop schedule, etc). Should we go to one a day feedings?

We do have an appointment with the vet in the next week, so we'll be discussing it then. I just wanted some thoughts before I go in...

[ManteoChik]

My lab hardly eats her food. She's been that way since she was seven weeks old - and we've tried many different foods. We put her food out in the morning and she won't touch it until that afternoon. At dinnertime she won't eat it either so we always put a little something in there and she gobbles it right up. I know some people don't like to feed their dog anything other than dog food but if she's not eating it makes me sad and so I'll put a little bit of chicken in her bowl with it or some steak. At this point I'm sure its because my dog is a brat and knows that I'll give her something else.

[Kate&Joey]

My terrier mix used to do this. We also feed twice a day and sometimes her breakfast would sit most of the day. Now we have two dogs so she is sure to eat her food ASAP (guess she figures the other dog might take it ;) ). However, our shepherd mix also leaves his food sometimes. Not sure why; he just doesn't seem to be a big eater.

Some dogs are "grazers" and like for their food to be left out all day so they can "pick" at it. I think my shepherd mix would do this if we didn't have the terrier mix (she's now a big chow-hound and will steal his food if we leave it out).

My own personal non-vet opinion, if she seems happy and all activity is normal and her pee/poop schedule is normal...she is probably just fine. Now that she's getting older, she may not need as much food to maintain her activity level and is self-regulating...just a thought.

I'm also of the opinion that dogs are really good about "self-diagnosing." She might have a bit of a tummy bug and just doesn't feel like eating that much.

I'd definitely ask the vet just to make sure though. HTH!

[boilermaker]

Because this is a sudden change in your dog, I'd keep an eye on her for other symptoms of not feeling well. But it also may just be a change in habit. Our golden has times where he will inhale the food as soon as we put it out. Other times it will sit all day and he won't touch it. I have noticed that on the weekends when we are home, he eats more regularly, so your dog may also be having a reaction to a change in your lifestyle if you have had one.

[ajlanden]

I also think that since it a sudden thing, I would keep an eye on it.

We have two labs and one would eat anything at any time of the day. His food is gone in 15 seconds. The other goes through phases where he barely eats anythings. His food just sits there (unless his brother gets it!). But he has been that way since he was a puppy.

[lady1297]

Thanks everyone. I keep worrying that she ate something bad (she eats or attempts to eat everything) or is sick or some horrible thing that I don't know is going on. But in reality, she seems normal for her. I'll be headingto the vets soon enough and will talk it over with her when we get there.

[Chimichanga]

Our lab will occasionally do this - just not eat. He'll not eat breakfast until late and then we just don't feed him dinner.

He's never been sick around those times (throwing up or diarreah or anything). I just sort of attribute it to a "change" in his appetite. You know how sometimes you (general) will just feel like eating ___, even though you normally don't eat it? (Like yesterday I was craving a huge salad for lunch. I like salad, but not something I eat for lunch every day).

Our pooch has always resumed his normal eating schedule after a few days.

[magdesilver]

I would definitely monitor your dog and discuss it with the vet. Our 2 labs eat their food within about 10 seconds of it hitting their bowls. Personally, I would also not just let the food sit there all day until he eats it, either. I'd leave it out for 30 minutes and then take it back up, eaten or not, and then feed the next meal as usual with the same routine. This might help encourage your lab to go back to eating his food when it is served, if it is more of a behavioral issue and not related to his physical health.

[mkvh]

What is it with all the multiple lab families on CC?? ;)

Our older lab used to do this prior to his brother coming along. One thing you can add to the food that may encourage eating is Canola oil. Our vet recommended it because our guys were suffering from dry skin. They get so excited over a teaspoon of oil. :rolleyes:

I feel you on the worrying about her having eaten *something*. I have monthly bouts of that paranoia! I hope you get good news at the vet.