Newfies who don't eat

[Gigi M Knier]

I have issues with Calvin and Hobbes. Especially Calvin. I have made the consious effort not to feed them any people food. I made the mistake with our German Short Hair and refuse to do it again. They don't eat crap though. They are fed Fromm's and we mix it up so they are not eating the same thing every week. Unfortunately, Calvin will not eat sometimes two meals maybe more then he eats for awhile and then he doesn't . Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

My girl used to be a problem eater too. Skipping meals here and there, not being overly interested in her food (unless of course I fed her a meal in a kibble dispensing toy)...but then at about 18 months she just sort of turned a corner and now is a voracious eater. :shrug:

 

[wrknnwf]

Mine ate like horses until they were about 7 or 8 months old and then decided they didn't want nearly as much. Both eat every meal unless ill, but just a smaller quantity.

 

[Leonard and his bud Snuffles]

Snuffles never seemed to care for dry food as is even as a puppy. In his old home, I know he would not eat, then chow down after a day or 2. Since moving here I use a little canned food mixed with a bit of water to make a gravy makes the difference. Then he generally eats it all. I know some dogs just like a bit of water mixed in. To mix it up a bit, I have also used a scrambled egg, cut up chiken or turkey breast, and a hard boiled egg and still a bit of water.

 

[R Taft]

Katy will often leave up to 3/4 of her meal.......If it is hot or if she has not done much. If we had a big day out she is looking for more. At present in her crate, due to her Surgery, she is eating only small amounts and still leaving some. I also had Abbey who used to do the same. unlike Annabelle and Lukey who are my vacuum cleaners.
As long as the coat is shiny, eyes bright, a nice cold nose and happy attitude, I just let her be.......... Ronnie

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

Maggie does this all the time. Some days she eats both meals, sometimes only one. As long as they are maintaining weight and happy & healthy I wouldn't worry about it too much. Maggie just isn't crazy about kibble and I can't change it as she has some food allergies.

When she goes more than a day with only eating half or she's not interested at all, I mix in a handful of fresh veggies (broccoli, carrots, peas, tomato, green beans, etc) and that does the trick! The veggies are good for her and it definitely helps keep her more, um, regular, if you know what I mean. She always gets them in the bowl or like treats, never from the table, etc.

 

[Gigi M Knier]

Thank you everyone! You make me feel much better. I am thinking about a couple of your ideas. The one that he is not as active some days is good to note, and mixing a little water. Thanks so much.

 

[victoria1140]

we also a topper at times for Jessie of tuna as she is a picky eater

 

[DAWNMERIE]

So basically I am the only bad ma...that's gives them what they want???

Somehow with all you in here....I'm not buying that!

 

[Bucephalus]

We're going through the same thing with Bo. Since he turned about 12 months, he will often skip breakfast. On Sunday he didn't eat either of his meals. How old is Calvin and is he neutered? I read in an older thread that the not eating, especially in males, might be a result of self-regulated eating, but that they will eat anything and everything after they are snipped.

 

[Emma & Nigel's Mom]

One piece of wisdom that may help is : a dog will not starve themselves to death. There have been times when my Emma put herself on a diet of sorts. If she didn't eat her whole meal, then I would take it away, usually by her dinner she was eating a whole meal again. Sometimes she wouldn't, but she didn't die of starvation.

When I learned that as long as you offer food to a dog, then they will not starve themselves to death, I have really been able to relax about meal times and not worry so much.

 

[Gigi M Knier]

We have a 12 yr old German Shorthair Callie,who is the endless pit. The kennel told us that if they leave Calvin's food in the kennel he will nibble at it all day. I wish I could do that but I can't because Callie would eat till she killed herself.

 

[plafleursr]

We feed twice a day, each meal same except for what pills are given. We give 1 cup dry with 1/4 can food. Some times people left overs. Dog disk complete cleaned in less then a min.

 

[KatieB]

Both of my males did not eat well until about 2 years old. I think it has to do with hormones. Mojo actually just now started eating consistently a few months ago and he's 3. THey truly won't starve themselves. He would regularly go 2 or 3 days without eating and then would eat every meal for a week, other times he would only eat one meal a day. HE was healthy, a good weight although a bit thin. I wouldn't worry about it as long as he checks out okay at the vet.

 

[Bucephalus]

I don't know if this will help, but we recently got Bo eating every meal again by adding milk to his kibble. We tried toppers and he would just eat the toppers and leave the kibble. As soon as we added milk, we could put whatever we wanted on his kibble and he laps it all up in 5 minutes. We just use hormone-free 2% cow's milk. Worth a try, maybe?