[barkingmad]

My 7 mo. Old lab has always been a big eater, we switched to feeding him adult food about 6 weeks ago, and feeding once daily. He has always GULPED it down. This past week, he has just been picking at his food, eating about half, over several hours. He is still very playful, seems normal in every other way, his weight is just over 60 lbs. I have two little boys that will be devistated to loose anther pet. (lost our 8 yr old last year) Is there any one that knows what this might be? Thanks in advance for your help!

[cassie wellington]

My 7 mo. old lab has always been a big eater, we switched to feeding him adult food about 6 weeks ago, and feeding once daily. He has always GULPED it down. This past week, he has just been picking at his food, eating about half, over several hours. He is still very playful, seems normal in every other way, his weight is just over 60 lbs. I have two little boys that will be devistated to loose anther pet. (lost our 8 yr old last year) Is there any one that knows what this might be? Thanks in advance for your help!

It could be worms or the variety of dog food..

[carolbcac]

Have him checked over by your vet. Being a Lab, the first thing I would be concerned about is what sort of non-food item he may have swallowed. (Rocks, pantyhose, plastic toys--To Labradors, nothing is considered non-food!) Also discuss with him this breed's tendency to develop bloat, which can be triggered by gulping down food. Once he is back to normal, I would suggest feeding him smaller amounts more often to reduce the risk.

[labman]

I do agree with much of what Carol said. There are a number of issues here. I have covered them in the sticky at https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/i...tml#post254171

There is plenty of evidence that early switch to adult chow helps develop sturdier joints.

[MOWERMAN2468]

Carry your dog to the vet. I would suggest taking the advice of a licensed vet over any others. One other thing I personally have always feed a puppy food for the first year of a dogs life.

[labman]

The practice of the early switch to adult chow is well proven in many large programs with thousands of X-rays proving a dramatic reuction of hip problems. Just because somebody has always done something, doesn't mean it is a good practice.

[MOWERMAN2468]

That is correct labman, but I am not aware of any of the "studies" of hip problems. That is why I always suggest for the "written in stone" advice to come from a vet.

[labman]

that is correct labman, but i am not aware of any of the "studies" of hip problems. That is why I always suggest for the "written in stone" advice to come from a vet.

Many vets in private practice don't find the time to keep up on best practices either. They don't thousands of large breed puppies, whose care they direct, to study through their entire life. They aren't given time to read journals and attend seminars and conferences.

The veterinarian staffs at the large service dogs schools are not only allowed to, it is part of their job to research the best practices in reducing joint problems. I am aware of the practices of several large schools. Every one of them makes the early switch to adult chow. The only differences are in how early, I think the one is weaning puppies on adult Purina 1.

Since 1991, the school, that I know best, has moved to earlier adult chow and is much more insistent about keeping the puppies lean. Although I am sure it is partly the breeding, I have seen the incidence of puppies being rejected for bad hips decline to almost nil. Virtually 100% are OFA good or better.

The facts are in, switch your large breed puppy to adult chow early, and keep it lean.

[barkingmad]

We did go to the vet the next day, I was just hoping it was something very small. He picked up whipworms. We believe it might have been from the new park we had been taking him to. As our other 2 dogs have not had them, and they are 3 and 12 years.

Thanks for the help!

Its nice to know that people care about their pets as we do!