My 6 month old dog keeps chewing on his blanket that he sleeps on. I know puppies will chew anything but he spends ages chewing on this blanket and tearing pieces off and eating it. I am rather concerned that this is not doing his digestion much good! Do you think he is hungry? I think we are feeding him enough - (twice a day) but its hard to tell - he is a labrador cross with an Alsation....we think! How do you know how much food to give? I go by the guidelines on the dogfood packet.
2006-10-27 10:41:35 · 34 answers · asked by crazydazy 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Both labs and gsd's are well known for having issues with food; some labs will eat til they burst, and some gsd's will eat wool, hair and string.
Your pup needs something satisfying to chew on. I don't know why Mr Thumbs Down dislikes the idea of rawhide chewsticks so much; try those and also raw carrots - no, seriously, dogs love them. Make sure you act like you're giving him a big treat and take a bite yourself to get him interested. Carrots can't hurt.
Change his bedding for something else and watch out for him eating other odd things - its called 'pica', or eating stuff that isn't food.
2006-10-27 11:45:33 · answer #1 · answered by sarah c 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It could be a number of things, teething, hunger, boredom, anxiety so I hope a vet on here can help you. If not why not ring up a vet ? Sometimes they will give you free advice if it's something simple. Is he left on his own for long periods of time? Dogs chew when they're bored or lonely. Or as you say he may be hungry so why not give him a little extra as all dogs are different. See if he stops chewing. Also if he's growing he may need that bit more especially if you're giving him plenty of exercise (which you should be of course). Could be that he just needs some bones to chew on and toys to play with. Good luck and hope you sort out this problem.
2006-10-27 10:57:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yea, feed him more than twice a day. At least three times and make sure you are giving the right amount at a time.
Take the blanket away from him before he chokes on the cloth!!
Get the puppy safe toys for him to chew on and play with. Don't give pig ears, they can cause some sort of health problem. I would suggest a nylabone, it is good for their teeth and it will keep the puppy out of trouble for chewing on the wrong things.
2006-10-27 10:50:01 · answer #3 · answered by geminisista 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
He could be 'teething', too. Try giving him LOTS of toys to chew on....even at bedtime. Dont let him swallow the pieces of blanket that he manages to get off.... that is NOT good for his digestive system, and will bind him up inside, causing all sorts of 'problems'. It sounds like you 'are' feeding him enough, but try 3 times a day, instead of two... see how he reacts to that. Labs are known for getting into things, and chewing....but, so do most puppies.
2006-10-27 10:48:29 · answer #4 · answered by JSSK 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take the blanket away, the fabric can cause intestinal blockage, which can be fatal if they left untreated.
Some puppies chew and eat things they are not suppose too as a behavioral problem, not hunger, my grandmother's German Shepherds were notorious for eating things they shouldn't.
Do not leave him unattended with things he can eat that are not edible.
Try chew toys, or a Kong filled with wet food, for something to chew on.
2006-10-27 10:52:17 · answer #5 · answered by Nikki T 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have never gone with the guidelines on a bag of food for my dogs. I offer free will food. That is to say they have 2 bowls of food that are always filled. Dogs will eat when they are hungry.
As for you pup chewing on his blanket. My pup is 10 months old and he tears up everything he can get his teeth on. Don't let him eat his blanket it can get lodged in his intestines and you will have one major vet bill to remove the object. If you see him chewing on it take it away from him and give him good things to chew on such as a kong, dentabones, large bones from the butcher (you can ask your butcher for the femur bones they are thick and will not splinter, my dogs have had the same bones for 4yrs and now my pup chews on them)
2006-10-27 10:54:42 · answer #6 · answered by miamac49616 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take that blanket away. Your dog can get an impaction of the fibers in his gut and actually die from this. Get him a couple of different Nylabones ( really big ones or he will chew them and swallow chunks, remove them when the ends are chewed off )to chew on and one of those big red or black firehydrant shaped toys to chew on. He isnt hungry, he is teething. Dogs teeth like human babies do. If i were you i would also take him to the vet and get him checked to make sure his intestines are clear. Dont get him rawhide as that stuff as well as Greenies can get lodged in their intestines also.And no thin plastic toys either or stuffed animal type. He has already shown he is the type to swallow what he chews up. Talk to your vet and see what he suggests also.
2006-10-27 10:51:21 · answer #7 · answered by Mary N 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hiya
I have a Westie and i feed her twice a day, i also leave a dish of dry food for if she gets peck-age, now i only give her small packets of food even tho she nearly 2. Shes seems to be happy with that. So really just leave some dried food out for your dog if you think your dog is not getting enough
2006-10-27 11:32:35 · answer #8 · answered by chass_lee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He will be a puppy for a LOOOOONG time. Our youngest dog (rat terrier) is going to be a year old next month and she still chews everything. Paper, cloth, crayons, toys and just about anything the kids forget to pick up. I leave her food down all day, but she doesn't just eat it up right away, she goes back and forth all day. Every lab I have ever saw took forever to mature. Plus he still has his baby teeth.
2006-10-27 10:49:01 · answer #9 · answered by mom of 2 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
get him a tough kong ( i think the black one is toughest and for big dogs). get the largest size u can and make sure u check with the store that an adult lab couldnt swallow it. then fill it with food and put in on his blanket hopefully he will chew that if his teeth are sore and eat food if hungry.....consider gettin him a bed that he cant chew for time being and bring blanket back out when he stops teething/.
2006-10-27 11:05:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋