onekoolj4y
Dec 23, 2006, 12:08 PM
Can you advice me on my three year old german shepard she is very picky with her food.and won`t eat some days:(
animal advocate
Dec 23, 2006, 01:47 PM
Make sure you feed her at specific times. Don't leave the food down all day. Put it down for twenty minutes, if she doesn't eat it, take it up and wait until her next meal to offer it. I suggest two feedings a day. If she is overweight, start feeding her less. A dog that is overweight many times will not eat. Why should they? They aren't hungry!
And last, be sure she is healthy and there isn't some under lying cause for her loss of appetite.
Hope this helps.
Merry Solstice!
For all animals,
Molly
labman
Dec 23, 2006, 04:33 PM
If this has been an ongoing problem, I hope you have already talked with your vet about it. Sudden changes in any behavior usually need to start with a vet check.
Likely there is nothing wrong except you are offering her more food than she feels she needs. Compare her body condition to the pictures in this link, http://www.puppychow.com/products/popup_body_condition.aspx Shepherds often refuses to eat more than enough to keep themselves on the lean end of ideal. They are the opposite from the typical Lab and many other breeds, that will devour more than is good for it and look for more.
Put down the dish with what the dog should eat, and give it 15 minutes to eat. Then take it up. Do not give it anything to eat until its next scheduled meal. In a few days, it should be eating what it needs. Continue to check its ribs and adjust the food as needed. This is not easy. I had a Shepherd go 3 days on a few nibbles. I was a wreck, but she was fine. It is almost unknown for a healthy dog not to eat what it needs. Unfortunately, in too many cases, it is less than the package saysIf this has been an ongoing problem, I hope you have already talked with your vet about it. Sudden changes in any behavior usually need to start with a vet check.
Likely there is nothing wrong except you are offering her more food than she feels she needs. Compare her body condition to the pictures in this link, http://www.puppychow.com/products/popup_body_condition.aspx Shepherds often refuses to eat more than enough to keep themselves on the lean end of ideal. They are the opposite from the typical Lab and many other breeds, that will devour more than is good for it and look for more.
Put down the dish with what the dog should eat, and give it 15 minutes to eat. Then take it up. Do not give it anything to eat until its next scheduled meal. In a few days, it should be eating what it needs. Continue to check its ribs and adjust the food as needed. This is not easy. I had a Shepherd go 3 days on a few nibbles. I was a wreck, but she was fine. It is almost unknown for a healthy dog not to eat what it needs. Unfortunately, in too many cases, it is less than the package says, and less than the owner thinks the dog should have. Many dogs are quite good at holding out for tastier chow. Like kids, sometimes it calls for tough love.
, and less than the owner thinks the dog should have. Many dogs are quite good at holding out for tastier chow. Like kids, sometimes it calls for tough love.