How do I get my labs to eat?

Question

I have two 5 1/2 mo. old choc labs. I've noticed lately that they don't want to eat. I feed them twice a day. They used to eat their whole bowl both times, but now I've resorted to adding "treats" to their dry food to get them to eat. Even that doesn't always work. I picked up some of their spilled food off of the floor last night & both of them wanted to eat out of my hand. I'm not sure what to do. They've even started turning away from their Kongs. They will, however, eat their treats for doing something good, or when they've gone outside to potty. Not sure what to do or if something may be wrong.

Answer 1

Young Labs will eat infrequently - they eat out of your hand and from you ( treats ) for the attention. Try changing the bowls - but they will eat if they get hungry. Are you using a good quality dog food ? Also try to feed on a set schedule - the same times each day ( most poeople suggest twice ). If they still won't eat sit with them and see if they will eat out of the bowls while you are present.

Answer 2

I don't know that I would resort to treats, except very occasionally, so that they are truly "treats"... One of the things you can try is to give them about 20 minutes to eat, and then remove the food bowls until the next normally scheduled feeding. Then do the same thing. It shouldn't take more than 2 or 3 missed meals for them to get the message. A 5 1/2 month old Lab puppy should be getting **roughly** 1 3/4 to 2 cups of a high quality food twice a day. We feed Eukanuba, but ProPlan or something similar in quality should be fine also. I would also make sure that whatever brand you are feeding is a Large Breed Puppy Formula, and keep them on puppy food until they are 9 month to a year old. You know, come to think of it, a couple of our puppies over the years just got bored with their food and were fine when we changed to another brand.

The most common physical reason for being off their appetite (as long as all of the other activity signs are normal) is parasites. If you can get a fecal sample and run it into your vet, he can rule that out pretty quickly.

Good luck - hope this was somewhat helpful.

Answer 3

There are a lot of causes that could be "to blame" for this.

My first question would be, "How do you store your dog food?" Sometimes dogs won't eat food that has gone stale, so if you just keep the bag somewhere with the top open, I would consider this as an option or a reason for the food issue.

That aside, it's not completely uncommon for dogs to become picky eaters or start refusing one brand or type of food seemingly without reason. I would try switching to a different brand of food that they might like better - try a high quality organic food that doesn't have byproducts and fillers in it.

If they still act picky over their food, there are a lot of things you can do to get them to eat. Sometimes, having a stronger smell in the food can be a big help - for that, just fill the bowls like you would normally, then pop them into the microwave for 15 seconds. Heating the food will help it smell more strongly, which incites most dogs to eat. (Beware, because it smells horrible to humans!) You can also add a little bit of water to the food to create a "gravy", or add a tablespoon full of plain brown gravy or beef broth to their food.

Answer 4

Your dogs are fine - they just have you trained very well. Make sure the food is a premium food - no by products (heads feet intestines or feathers) and no corn. (Corn is hard to digest).

Don't worry about the treats either. If they are still taking thier treats for doing something good then thats all that matters. If you really want them to play w/ their Kong put some peanut butter or liver paste in there. (Liver past you can get at Petco or Petsmart).

Put some hot water on their food and put it in the microwave. It brings out the aroma and makes it more alluring. Also feed them on a schedule. Put the food down for 10-15 min then pick it up till the next feeding. When they are hungry and realize they have to eat or it goes away the will gobble down their food really quick.

Refrain from giving them canned food because they will start expecting that and not eating just the dry. Canned get stuck in their teeth and causes rot and decay.

Put some chicken or beef broth on their food and then warm it up if you want to give them a treat.

Good Luck

Answer 5

Sounds like just plain picky eating to me.

They'll eat treats, but not their food...? Hmm. If it were a child, and the child would eat dessert but not his meal, what would your advice be...? Stop offering dessert, right?

I think if you stop the treats, your dogs will soon realize how good they had it with their food. Our vet tells us all the time that a hungry dog will eat; if a dog doesn't eat ANY food for three days or more, it can be a sign of a medical problem and should absolutely be checked into.

Dogs can live without food for short periods of time, but not without water. Make sure to have plenty of fresh water onhand; feed them at dinner-times only; if they don't eat, pick up their dishes and don't offer anything else until their next meal. Again, after three days, you'll want to contact your vet.

Answer 6

Who needs to eat dry boring food when they get treats all the time. Don't worry my dog did the same thing. Just majorly cut back on the treats and give them timed feedings. Labs are smart. They will catch on that if they don't eat their bowl in about say 20 minutes and the bowl gets taken away that they don't get to eat. Give it two days of this and they'll be eating like normal again.

Answer 7

Hi. I have a yellow lab and he is 2 years old. I notice from time to time he doesn't eat. Like you, I feed him twice a day. I have been told by friends who have labs, "he will eat when he is hungry". And sure enough, a few days go by and he starts eating again. Do you have other pets? My lab like to sneak and eat the cat's food sometimes when the door to that room is left open. You could always call your vet. Have you moved their bowls? I bet they are just too cute!

Answer 8

It may just be that there bored with the food theyve got now and want something different thats why the eat the treats and not the dog food try added grease or gravy to their food or if you think it may be something more take them to your local vet

Answer 9

dogs also get bored of eating the same old dry food! i have always fed my dogs a little tinned meat along with their dry food to give it more taste. once a week i will add either scrambled egg, cooked chicken or fish, or sardines to their dry as a special meal treat to keep it interesting. they lap it up. they could need a change of food or even be ready to be put onto to one meal a day (i no they seem a little young for one meal but some dogs are ready at nearly 6 months old). if theve gone off their kongs to its sounds as if their either bored of the same food or their tummies cant handle the constant food being put before them. try cutting down or try a different food along with the once a week treat in it. hope it helps.

Answer 10

sounds like they're just being a little picky. I dunno. My dog sometimes does the same...she wont eat for a full day but when she realizes shes just not getting the treats she so craves, she'll end up eating her food. I think dogs sometimes get bored of their food as well, try feeding them a different brand or flavour. It is rather weird though that both dogs are refusing to eat...