1.5 year old lab not eating

[400bigbear]

Take his food away if he doesn't finish it and don't subsidize by giving him snacks . Make sure he's still taking on water . Put food down next day . Also if you have been spraying air freshener etc near his food dish or feed bag it could be contaminated . They usually bounce back in a day or two . Have a look at his gums . Could have an abscess ,

TD

[last5oh_302]

Take his food away if he doesn't finish it and don't subsidize by giving him snacks . Make sure he's still taking on water . Put food down next day . Also if you have been spraying air freshener etc near his food dish or feed bag it could be contaminated . They usually bounce back in a day or two . Have a look at his gums . Could have an abscess ,

TD

Good points TD, and something you reminded me of is sometimes the food itself can go bad, or get moldy, or already be moldy through shipping, or got wet, etc.

[400bigbear]

Good points TD, and something you reminded me of is sometimes the food itself can go bad, or get moldy, or already be moldy through shipping, or got wet, etc.

Yes or mice get in it .

TD

[topher]

Yes or mice get in it .

TD

My dog eats mice... And muskrats.. And possums.. And anything she else she catches... She tried to eat my chickens.. Put a stop to that.

[WayneGretzky99]

I think WG99 meant his dog doesn't eat his food as fast as he used not, not necessarily his dog has started to eat grass. WG99, can you clear up any confusion here?

No grass eating. Meant 'grazing' as in taking his time.

Never stood over his bowl when I'd feed him either.

However, my bathroom is right beside the kitchen and with st Patty's and what not, I've used an unusual amount of air freshener if ya catch a whiff.... I mean my drift.

heh

[400bigbear]

No grass eating. Meant 'grazing' as in taking his time.

Never stood over his bowl when I'd feed him either.

However, my bathroom is right beside the kitchen and with st Patty's and what not, I've used an unusual amount of air freshener if ya catch a whiff.... I mean my drift.

heh

That's how I took your grazing point WG .

Start with the basics and work your way back . It can be a simple change . And yes they can get bored but I got a feeling this is not the case . Clean his dishes etc and starve him a day or two by taking his food away if he doesnt eat right away as normally he does .. No treats . If he's hungry he will eat .. if it's food contamination or sickness . He won't .

He is eating " treats " . Your da boss . Hopefully your not a rawhide lad . Doesnt sound like it since he isn't constipated .

Think about yourself G99 . Can you eat a roast 365 days of the year ? Also there could be something in your yard he is filling up on . Just watch him even in yard . It happens here too .

TD

[Sharon]

Very common in my experience. I have a picky eater right now. I have no idea why but they do go off their food. If he appears healthy in all other ways I don't worry about it. If mine didn't eat for 3 days but still drinking , I might have the vet have a look at the dog.

PS
Senior dogs goes off their food as their sense of smell/taste fades. They often need a booster - I use garlic powder- not garlic salt.

[krismerry]

We had this issue with our dog a few years back. As a pup he was only able to eat a medicated diet. Vet said his guts were not growing as fast has he was. Now we stick with a food that is made for labs.

As long as the food is not bad, you could add a bit of warm water to it.(in the dish) It is supposed to bring the smell of the food out.

Also agree with what 400BB and Sharon have suggested.

[last5oh_302]

Now we stick with a food that is made for labs.

What kind of food is made specifically for labs? You're not feeding that Royal Canine crap are ya? I see they make food specifically for Rottweilers too.

[krismerry]

What kind of food is made specifically for labs? You're not feeding that Royal Canine crap are ya? I see they make food specifically for Rottweilers too.

Unfortunately it is one of the only foods that keep his weight in check and from me cleaning up vomit and the runs. Even with weening longer then normal onto other foods it just does not work for the vomit/runs. I think I have tired 75% of the foods available. The only other food that we have found to work is science diet from the vets. The vet told us to stick with this one so we did.