My dog is obsessed with eating. I know, I know, dogs love to eat!! But my dog has to be restrained at night or he will open cabinet doors and eat anything and everything, including but not limited to coffee, chicken boullion, soymilk, flour, oatmeal, nuts and the list goes on. He isn't food deprived either, he eats very nutrional high grade dog food, He's not underweight, The vet says he is in perfect shape for his age. I've had this dog since he was 3 months old and this is a problem we've had since we got him. What can be done to stop this habit, I'm afraid he will poison himself. He's already torn open a box of roach motels and digested them.
2007-03-05 09:01:09 · 12 answers · asked by Diana D 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I don't think it's a eating disorder problem, I think you aren't keeping stuff out of his way so he can't get into inappropriate things, or get to foods that he shouldn't be eating.
2007-03-05 09:04:45 · answer #1 · answered by DP 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you need to child proof your house for the dog.
Our vet says....
Caffeine is a poison to dogs as it races the heart and must exit the system - there really isn't a shot to do that - just hope that pushing fluids works faster than the caffeine or the heart gives out.
Bouillon has a lot of salt in it ,which can shut down the kidneys of an older dog.
Nuts don't digest so in the intestinal tract ,they can cause a blockage.
The only advice I can offer is.....
Place coffee, bouillon and nuts on high shelves inside cabinets and put child locks on all your other cabinets.Fence off the kitchenis another option - but our dog just goes through the gate. Put roach motels under appliance where it is impossible for the dog to get to or learn to kill the bugs by swatting them.
Have you tried a muzzle? We were told it might help a chewing issue we had but it won't work on our Akita - he ater two cloth ones and tore a metal one to shreds.
What is your vet's advise? As it will be his job to fix him up if the dog does poison himself.
Good Luck - you are going to need it.
2007-03-05 10:01:22 · answer #2 · answered by Akkita 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Baby safe cabinet locks will help keep him out of low cabinets. Keep all foodstuffs up where he can't reach them. I agree that this doesn't sound like an eating disorder, rather a discipline problem. If he's been doing this since he was 3 months old and never had aversion training then he will continue.
Crating him at night, or anytime he's unsupervised, will be the only way to keep him 100% safe until you can get the behavior under control.
2007-03-05 09:09:18 · answer #3 · answered by Rob_n_Liz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question. Sounds like one for The Dog Whisperer. It is probably a symptom of something else like not enough exercise. I would suggest putting your edibles and poisons up high for the time being). It may just be your dogs nature. I do not think it is an eating disorder because those are psychological and human.
Do you leave dog food out all the time for your dog? We have one of theose automatic dog food feeders and our dog just eats when he's hungry. Long ago he used to get into everything but that was because he was not happy. Now he is happy and gets into nothing. Dogs need lots of exercise. Read Cesar's Way, the book.
2007-03-05 09:07:46 · answer #4 · answered by Keenu 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you have to treat the dog like you would a baby. People baby proof--you have to dog proof the house. Put things higher up, or use baby locks. You can use the firm NO, but just removing temptation is best. You can also kennel train. When does something bad, put him in the kennel. Also can buy a training collar, sounds for rewarding behavior, & sounds for bad behavior, or even a little zapping for bad behavior(like an invisible fence) it really is humane. So try any of those --GOOD LUCK!
2007-03-05 09:08:02 · answer #5 · answered by The McK's 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Has the vet checked his thyroid? It is possible for dogs to have hyperthyroidism which would speed up his metabolism. I'd have a full blood panel done on him. Liver, thyroid, diabetes, everything...just to be sure. This is not normal behavior. You might have to kennel him at night or put him in a room with no food, It does sound dangerous.
2007-03-05 09:05:36 · answer #6 · answered by SexiMexi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He most likely isn't getting as much as he wants to to eat. You should slowy feed him more and more food. Also treat him every once in a while. Give him a bone or a treat or maybe a slice of cheese so he won't try to eat you're human food as much. You should also scold him A LOT when he gets into you're food so he knows he'll get in trouble. Also he might just want attention So play with him and love him a lot.
2007-03-05 09:21:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He doesn't have an eating disorder, he simply needs to be in a crate before he does poison himself! If you won't crate train him at night until he's past this destructive stage, or while you're training him, then you should think about putting locks he can't open on any cupboard he can open.
2007-03-05 09:10:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't say how old your dog is but it sound to me like he still has a lot of "puppy" in him. Child proof your cabinet doors just like you would for a toddler.
You don't say what the breed is, or what feeding regmine your vet has recommended. He is your best source of infomation about your pet's diet.
2007-03-05 09:09:22 · answer #9 · answered by jim_elkins 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Eating disorders are a human thing. What your dog has is an obedience problem. He should have some obedience training so he wont get into your things
2007-03-05 09:19:44 · answer #10 · answered by Boober Fraggle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋