Decreased appetite

[skyblu]

My 3-year old Weimaraner has been eating quite a bit less lately. We feed him twice a day and usually, he'd just eat both meals within about an hour of them being "served".

In the past couple of weeks or so, however, the morning food sits there for most of the day, he picks at it a little during the day, but there's still about 3/4 of it left in the bowl by the time of the evening feeding. So instead of an evening feeding, he eats his "leftover" kibble from the morning. I've tried giving him more at night, but he doesn't eat it.

Other than that, he's acting perfectly normal, eliminating normally, has a ton of energy, his coat is shiny and he's his old, crazy self. He doesn't seem hungry, although he's a table-scrap freak and even if he had a tummy full of food, he'd still act as though he's starving whenever FH or I have any human food around. FWIW, we don't give him people food very often at all. On a rare occasion, he'll have bits of leftover (cooked) steak, or a marrow bone, but nothing else.

How concerned should I be? Is it just that it's hot out? Does he maybe not like his food any more?

[Susan]

I had the same problem recently with my dog...and I think she was just tired of her food. I actually didn't change the food (with all the food recall, I was too worried to), but at the suggestion of another CC'er I started putting a very small amount of warm water in her food. I just mix it up quickly and then sprinkle a couple broken up treats over top...and now she woofs it up! I am sure she will eventually get tired of this too, but maybe by then I will feel safe in trying another food or something. If your dog seems perfectly fine otherwise, I think it could totally be boredom with his food.

ETA - Also like you said, my dog was totally fine with eating when given human food or some other good treat (she especially LOVES peanut butter) and she seemed healthy otherwise, so I knew it wasn't really an appetite or health problem.

[jonesygrl]

I swear you're describing Rocky! I've been *this close* to calling our vet. He barely ate anything yesterday, and then ate only 3/4 of his breakfast this morning. He is still trying to steal other food, though...so I'm pretty sure he's feeling Ok.
I don't know for sure...but I assume it's like little kids - when they're hungry, they will eat. Maybe for some strange reason our pets are very hungry?

[lovebugs2003]

We just had a hot spell over the weekend, and my dog totally was not into eating, but still his normal self, he was more into his water. I think he was just really hot, so that could be it.

It has cooled down now, so he is back to normal.

[skyblu]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. It's such a relief to know that other dogs have done the same thing and are okay!

Of course, having to make me look like an idiot, Blue ate his breakfast very well this morning, right after I posted! :rolleyes:

If he starts again with what my FH calls "dog-orexia", I'll try changing it up with a bit of water, PB, treats, or maybe I could moisten his food slightly with some broth? That would be tasty, no?

Thanks again!

[jonesygrl]

I think we discovered why rocky wasn't eating his own food....he's been getting out of the backyard (you should see the 6-foot barricade we've got going on to try and keep him in. He's unstoppable!) and eating our neighbors trash. Yesterday we came home to him on our front lawn eating ROTTEN EGGS and old pizza. And then later in the evening, I finally sneaked up on him eating the grease trappings that fall from the bbq.

[Scooter]

It's funny, but our dog goes through phases like that every now and then. We can never trace it to any cause, though. And after a couple days she'll slowly warm up to eating normally again.

We know she's got a bit of a sensitive tummy so I've been looking into changing her to a grain-free food. I know grains can sometimes irritate sensitive digestive tracts. We'll see what happens...sorry this isn't more helpful!