Pup won't eat?

[Joe]

A couple weeks ago my dog started turning her nose up to the food I've been feeding her for the last year. It progressively got worse and worse until a? few days ago she completely refused.

She missed dinner the night before and passed on breakfast the next morning, so I really started to worry. I put some drippings from the Easter ham on her food and of course she ate it right up. She still picked it out of the dish and spit the chunks out on the floor, but she eventually gave in and ate it.

I feed the same food to my lab and he eats it right up, in fact it's almost a bit sickening to watch him eat. :D

I bought some Diamond brand dog food and mixed it in with her regular food and she picked at it but still really wouldn't eat it, So I gave her a small amount of just the Diamond food and she inhaled it.

What would cause a sudden distaste for her food and how much will it effect her if I don't work the new food in gradually?

[Benny]

Maybe the manufacture changed an ingredient or the flavoring some how?

I have always used Nutrisource with Mandy even as a pup, but the trainer used Ukanuba while she was up there.

He gave me a small bag to use to switch her over to my food when I got her back but there was only enough for one week.

Mandy got straight Nutrisource after that, but there never seemed to be a problem with the change.

Mandy seems to be a night feeder, she will eat once in the while during the day time but I hear her in the kitchen at night mostly.

When I switched to the large breed food when that came out, she did pick at it and didn't want to eat it right off.

But after a few days she must have gotten hungry enough to eat it.

When we were out in SD hunting last fall she would sneak over and woof down Jim's dogs food in seconds but yet still pecked at hers.

I guess I would suggest switching both to Diamond if they both like it.It is a good food, and not to expensive either.

But if your set on the current food I would just force her to eat it.They will eat if they get hungry, it will hurt you more than the pup.

Benny

[Joe]

I wish I could just leave it out, but my Lab is all over it the second I turn my back. He's gotten more than his fare share over the last couple weeks. I think I'll switch them both over to Diamond.

[shakey legs 2]

I have had the same problem with my dogs over the years (Springers).  I also feed Diamond and sometimes just changing the protein level in the food by switching to high performance from the regular or maintenance can get them back on track.  I think they are like us in some regards - they just get tired of the same diet after a long period of time.

[Joe]

Well, she turned her nose up to the Diamond food this morning. ???
Now I don't know what to think.

[Benny]

You might want to call the vet, the dog could have something in the stomach and doesn't want to cause it's self pain by eating?

Just a thought, but if the dog isn't eating it's best to get the animal checked.

We had a cat that stopped eating, she was so pugged up that the vet first thought she had a tumer.

But a few swigges of the crap med and a stool softner up the back side had her cleaned out and eating fine.

Benny

[Spinach]

I was thinking the same thing, it sounds like she ate something she wasn'y supposed to. I'd take her to the vet and heve her checked out.

[Joe]

She seems fine, but your right I better have her checked out.

[dogonpoint]

Is she outside more?  If my dogs are exsersizing outside in the heat they will refuse food....I hope everything checks out OK, keep us informed.

[Joe]

I let her out this morning and she did her business right away. So she's not having any problem in that department. And of course when I let her in she ate all her food right away. ??? I'm still concerned, but I might be making a mountain out of a mole hill.

[HoleHopper]

Joe, I have had problems with certain kinds of dog food in the past. I had a lab that was absolutly allergic to Aims dog food. He would itch his hide off. I was too young and stupid to reallize what was going on. I took him to about 5 different vets over a period of two years, trying to figure out what was going on. All  of them kept selling me some special shampoo. Then one vet got it right. I changed his food to a relitively inexpencive  and easier to digest dog food. He lived the rest of his days in comfort and oh so spoiled. I am just sarry that it took me so long to figure it out! He too would not eat untill he got hungry enough.

Dog food companies are subject to takovers and accuisitions and are constantly looking for ways to cut costs.  They often times change the types of ingrediants and fillers in there food. Without regulation. This has happened to me twice now. I know this becouse my dogs just stop eating. Then I do my homework on the company. And sure as sh-t They mad a change to the food, for the worse. Even the so called good, expensive, stuff are sometimes the worst.

Its hard to get good food for your pet nowdays. I let them tell me what they want, and if something dont go right like there coat, health, energy, and appitite, I pay close attention to the ingreadiants and make a switch, till I get it right.

Good luck, tim

[Joe]

Thanks for the info Tim. Either she was just being fussy or something was wrong with the food, either way she's back to her normal eating habits now. This all started after she spent 10 days at a friends house while we were in Floridia. I'm thinking that could have had something to do with it also.?