Not all dogs are the voracious eaters that we believe them to be. For the last few weeks, Duncan and I have been squaring off at the food bowl, and I finally understand what many of my blog readers have worried about. Duncan goes with Gregory almost every time Gregory goes to Bellingham, and this is the first time that I've had to worry about his consumption, or lack thereof. Duncan is our chihuahua, and constantly lives on the threshold of a nervous breakdown. When Gregory is gone, Duncan shivers, whines and initiates a hunger strike.
I've counseled many people about their dog's appetite, with sympathy and hopefully some good advice. However, it's not until your dog skips his second meal of the day for the third time that week that you start to really feel how worrisome the situation can be. On my rational side, I know that all dogs aren't required to eat two meals a day. Some dogs simply don't have much of an appetite and will eat when they are hungry. It's pretty natural, since their cousins in the wild eat when they can find food - which isn't necessarily everyday when the nearest tree lacks an electrical outlet for the refrigerator. Dogs are fully capable of living on a cycle of gorging and fasting. Since we invite dogs into our home, we assume they should adapt to our multi-meal schedule, but dogs can skip a meal, maybe even two without much of a concern. At the third meal, reasonable worry should kick in. It's important to look for other changes in behavior; has your dog's mood changed? Is your dog still drinking water? Is your dog eliminating normally? If your dog won't even take a cookie when he skips his third meal, it's wise to consult with your vet.
If everything else is normal, maybe it's just the same boring food that your dog doesn't like. It could be time to look for a new brand of dog food. Consult your local pet store on options, and don't be afraid to spend a couple of extra dollars on the food because a couple of extra bucks usually go right into higher quality (and tasty) ingredients.
If your dog is an occasional grazer, try mixing in a scrambled egg, or sprinkle less than 1/4 teaspoon of grated parmesan cheese over the food to up the ante. Homemade meals are also an option - even mixing in half and half with the normal dry food can bring your dog back to the bowl. (If you'd like to try some recipes, please let me know. I could always use more testers.)
With Duncan, I've noticed a few behaviors.
- He'll eat a cookie any time I give it to him, so I started experimenting and he'll even eat dry food away from the bowl.
- Unfortunately he's usually harassed by the other dogs who are waiting to gobble up what he doesn't finish. Feeding him away from the other dogs has helped.
- Hand feeding works wonders even though it takes a while and can be a little messy.
- He really prefers the taste of beef over chicken.
- Sometimes he eats a big portion, sometimes he eats a half portion and other days he decides to diet. I have to learn to live at his rhythm.
- Everything else about him is normal; he plays, he goes the bathroom and he drinks plenty of water. As we've progressed through the last couple of weeks his appetite has increased as he became more comfortable without Gregory.
This is Duncan's cycle, and it's the same for many dogs, especially smaller breeds. If your dog normally eats well and suddenly refuses food and/or you notice other changes in behavior, contact your veterinarian. But if your dog normally eats only when he's hungry, don't be too alarmed, but try to offer something a little more tempting when mealtime rolls around.
For more information about Small Appetites go to this article more about Small Appetites
EmoticonEmoticon