For those with seniors.....

[4ondafloor]

MissM is a little over 10 yrs old. She's been with us since July of 2010.
For those with seniors in the family, do your seniors still eat twice a day?
Most days MissM is ready for both her meals but there are time when she sniffs at either breakfast or dinner and says "neh, not hungry...." and doesn't eat. Depending on which meal she decides to skip, when the next one rolls around she snarfs and does her senior happy dance by rolling on the floor and kicking her legs up like she's content. She's a happy girl all the time. Loves to go for rides, loves the attention and is in good health for her age. DrD keeps a close eye on her and says she's in great shape for her age.
Do your seniors eat twice a day, every day or is this the same for you too? It drives me nuts when she doesn't eat....
With her age I worry every time she decides to skip a meal. Am I being overly cautious in my concern?

 

[wrknnwf]

Hugo does the same. Turns up his nose sometimes at breakfast. Most of the time I don't insist he eat it. Other times, I tempt him with the addition of a teaspoon of something. Pumpkin, yogurt, egg, carrots. Whatever is on hand.

 

[skoorka]

Maple (who'll be 11 in May and we've had since she was 6) eats both her meals voraciously no matter how many cardboard boxes or pounds of goose poop she eats (don't ask!). I think it just depends on the pooch!

 

[4ondafloor]

I'm always watching MissM for signs of anything amiss. I'm like the overprotective Mama who doesn't want to miss a beat in case she needs a trip to see DrD to make sure she's ok.
I'm a worrier where she's concerned. Having the three youngsters to use as a gage ( which I know I shouldn't do given the age difference) every time she deviates from the norm I stress.
I really wish GAD would consider a senior section being added to the forum so we could all share information. Trying to find threads from those with seniors is difficult at best.
I love MollyBear to pieces and want her with us for a long time to come.

 

[NewfLove]

Has Miss M always done this? I mean, since you've had her? I think this might just be the way she is. (Darcy skips many of her twice-daily feedings.) Even if this is new for her, if her weight is fine, then I'd just let her be the queen that she is and not worry about it. Just my opinion, of course.

 

[Jeannie]

My Samantha is a very picky eater now that she is older. I think she gets tired of the same thing. She will decide she wants something, eat it for a few days then quit, so I have to find something else. Sometimes she likes cheerios or fruit loops in her kibble, other times shredded cheese, sometimes canned dog food, scambled eggs gravy, broken dog treats, the list goes on. Right now she is eating her kibble with tuna. There are time where she wants cooked hamburger or turkey and forget the kibble. I still feed her twice a day. Most times I can get her to eat. For awhile she would skip meals and she dropped a lot of weight. Now she is up to a better weight. I do about whatever is needed to get her to eat.

 

[Blacknewfs]

May Marin doesn't skip a meal, ever. She never has.

My boy Neptune (not a senior, only 7, but a good example in this case) frequently skips meals, sometimes 2-3 meals in a row.

How often is she skipping meals? Has she always occasionally skipped meals since you got her last summer? If so, that may just be normal for her. However, if this is something new that has come up in the last little while, then maybe a CBC and abdominal ultrasound is warranted?

 

[Angela]

If Gracie 11 1/2 skipped a meal I would know she was sick. She lives to eat and never refuses anything.

 

[4ondafloor]

She usually eats twice a day but over the past month, let's say, she has slowed a little and will just say "neh" maybe once or twice a week. But, come the next meal she's raring to go and giving me the "wooooof woooooof" as I prepare the bowls.
She likes consistency in her meals. Doesn't like change so she eats her kibble mixed with Wellness grain free chicken. If I try to rotate her toppers like I do the other three she will sit there and look at me like I'm crazy! lol

 

[4ondafloor]

Oh and let me add she was just at the vet a few weeks ago and got a glowing review from DrD

 

[CMDRTED]

This is an interesting thread. If nothing else, it gives me an idea of what to expect, and the possibilities of getting them to eat when/if they decide to skip.

 

[4ondafloor]

While I'm at it I'll also add that she's the first one to scurry if she sees the jar of peanut butter pulled from the pantry too. That little low rider has been known to walk right under Syd's belly if it means a spoon full of peanut butter.
Then again, any of them can walk under Syd! LOL
Her appetite for treats etc is right on cue so maybe I shouldn't worry.....

 

[Angela]

Debra,
If she is healthy then I wouldn't worry if she skips a meal here or there.

 

[4ondafloor]

Debra,
If she is healthy then I wouldn't worry if she skips a meal here or there.

I'm thinking you're right Angela. I've had many seniors over the years but never a senior newf. I'm just being a hovering and doting mama where she's concerned. I want her to stay healthy and happy. She's a precious old girl.
Please tell GAD to add a senior section for all of us that have them. Nina's thread asking who all had them and the number of us who do, justifies it I would think.
:angel:

 

[Angela]

I'm thinking you're right Angela. I've had many seniors over the years but never a senior newf. I'm just being a hovering and doting mama where she's concerned. I want her to stay healthy and happy. She's a precious old girl.
Please tell GAD to add a senior section for all of us that have them. Nina's thread asking who all had them and the number of us who do, justifies it I would think.
:angel:

I have already asked GAD for a senior forum, he's busy with his book, but I'll give another gentle reminder you all want one.

 

[jacqueline]

i know saska is not a real senior yet , just turned 7 , but he will skip a meal , just sniffs and walks away , but then like miss m , is woofing down the next one , he has always been like this , but where treats are concerned he is always first in line , miss m , sounds a darling , i agree i think a seniors section is a great idea ,
jacqui,x

 

[Ivoryudx]

I really do think it has to do with the individual dog. I also think if they were raised with other dogs, it helps them not be so picky. My Ivory was a very picky eater, until she was sick and I started cooking chicken for her! She never missed a meal after that. haha However, before that, I tried everything, and she pushed me to my limit of being creative with getting her to eat regular. She was 5 years old before I brought Lu home, so she was a single dog with a cat for many years and I think I spoiled her rotten!

Lu, along with my other Newfs, don't miss a meal. Like Angela, if they turn down a meal I KNOW something isn't right. I was careful after Ivory, that from the time they are puppies they get their kibble with their Bil Jac (frozen natural brand, not kibble) sprinkled on top, or yogurt if I happen to pick some up at the store. If they have pills they get mushed into the Bil Jac and they have no argument in eating. I also use the Bil Jac for training, and they think thats pretty cool.

I also do not feed my seniors anything different from the others. I'm not one who believes the senior diets have the nutrients needed for the old guys. I do however feed a food for easy digestion, as at any one time different ones were having trouble with different foods. I finally put them all on the same and had it over with, and all are doing well.

 

[4ondafloor]

Thanks Susan. I too have all four on the same food.
I was just making sure that there were others out there that had picky seniors. Having three youngsters with exceptional appetites and having MissM generally eat well, I was looking for similar circumstances where one week she eats well both meals and others, not so much. It sounds like she just may be getting ho-hum about meal time as she gets less active.
I know she's in good health for her age so that wasn't even on my radar since she was just at the vet not long ago.

 

[ardeagold]

Chance who is 12.5 loves his food. He loves our food. He loves ALL food. He never skips a meal.

However, Mira...who is 7, has always been iffy about meals. Sometimes she'll eat 2x a day, other times, once. She was our very picky eater when younger. Now she's not as picky but she's still not a chow hound like the others.

Ours also all eat the same food (except Frankie...and Chandler who has an allergy to wheat). I never feed the seniors differently, except when they start having medical problems and then we'll feed them whatever they eat. Baby who has had two strokes and a seizure in the past year, yet still goes out into the field daily (LONG walk for an old girl), wanders around looking for deer poop, does get "additives" to hers to help her eat. She's now gotten picky about WHICH additives she wants on any given day, but still eats well. She gets 3 meals a day...smaller.

I wouldn't worry about it if she's not showing other signs of concern.

 

[4ondafloor]

Thanks, Donna.
I'm glad you chimed I here too!