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michellekcb
Mar 4, 2008, 06:53 PM
Recently my fiancé and I have been living away from our 1 1/2 year old Chocolate Lab, only until our house gets finished being built. She lives at his parents house outside (which she's not used to). We visit her at least three times a week. She has been there for about 2 weeks and just decided to not eat her food. She only gets fed once a day, and always would eat every bit of her food. Just about 3 days ago she started flipping her food bowl over and spilling it everywhere (in the straw that's in her dog pen), to where she can't eat her food. She also puts straw in her water bowl to where she can't drink. I don't know what to do, could this be separation anxiety? :confused:

teachnk
Mar 4, 2008, 07:03 PM
It definitely could be the stress of being left outside. She was used to being part of the pack/family. Is she out in cold weather? I would recommend a vet visit just to have her checked out though.
Is there any other choice as to where she could live? Possibly someone who could let her inside even if only for a few hours a day? Will she eat when you come by? Have you tried hand feeding her?
Something else to consider would be doggie day care or trips to the dog park when you visit. The exercise and time to socialize might relieve stress.

michellekcb
Mar 5, 2008, 06:26 AM
We live in Charlotte, NC it doesn't get too cold. She has been through a training course for hunting, she was there for three months and only my fiancé was allowed to visit her (because he would be the one hunting with her), and she didn't do this with her food while she stayed there.
We did have her living where we are staying for about a week, but she didn't get along with our friend's dog, she would attack him for no reason.
She did not eat in front of me when I went out to feed her the other day.
I haven't tried hand feeding her, although I do give her milkbones when I come by and she eats those like crazy!
We do give her exercise and love, my fiance's parents do too, in the morning and then again at night.