Appetite changes...your thoughts?

[Kathy, Harley & Roxie]

I didn't post this in the food group because it's not really a food question.  Harley has become a very light eater.  He has gotten to where he seldom eats breakfast, but most of the time will eat dinner.  We feed him twice a day, have not changed his food since he was approx 4 mths old (taste of the wild)  We give minimal treats.  He also doesn't seem to be drinking as much.  He frequently goes to work with my husband and today for instance, he did not eat or drink while there, but big drink once he got home.  Pee and potty seems normal, he doesn't act sick other than hubby thinks he seems more restless than usual. He has lost 5lbs over the last month (78lbs today).  He will be 1yr the 25th of this month.  Not sure if he is just getting out of the puppy phase and we are seeing a more adult like appetite.  Also he still loves his favorite treats when offered, but have noticed he has gotten more "picky" (spit out the treat offered at the store.  I wasn't too concerned until I weighed him.  Any thoughts?  

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Is he eating the right amount of calories based on his activity level and size....based on the Taste of The Wild package recommendation?  Any recent changes in his activity level?

[Kathy, Harley & Roxie]

Jane, package recommendation is 3 3/4 - 4 2/3 cup/day.  He was eating 2C in am and 2 in pm with gusto, but only 3C max per day now.  There has been no change in activity level.

[BG and Gavin]

I would be worried about the weight loss that's like 7 percent of his body weight in one month and in winter the doods tend to put on a little extra, especially at that young age.  He must be due soon for his annual shots.  I would make that appointment and ask the vet what he thought.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Yes, I agree.  If the Vet says that he's fine, you may have to start thinking about "enhancing" his food with toppers to get him interested again.  I hate going that route unless it's really necessary, but if there's no physical reason for his loss of appetite, then it could be that he's lost interest in what he's eating.  Have you tried exercising him before meals....that often helps too.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

When is the last time he was in to the vet for a check up?  You might just want to have him looked over to make sure that everything is ok.  If it was just a decrease in appetite, I would think that it was because he is almost a year old and is probably done growing now so he might not need as much food as he did when he was a growing pup, but if it was either of my guys, I would probably want the peace of mind that the weight loss was nothing serious. You could always call the vet and explain what is going on and ask them if they want to see him or if you should wait and see if there are any further changes.

[Kathy, Harley & Roxie]

Last vet visit was at approx 5 months. Hubby is in agreement to call the vet and set an appointment.  Rather be safe than sorry

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with Linda. That's too big a weight loss in one month, especially at a time when he should be gaining muscle mass and therefore also gaining weight. Loss of appetite along with significant weight loss can be symptoms of some farily serious illnesses, and require a vet visit.

If the lack of appetite were simply due to being given too much food, he wouldn't be losing weight.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Oliver went thru a period this summer with a loss of appetite, I was lucky if I could get him to at least eat half of his required food a day.  Ollie turned 1 on 6/30 so he was just out of the puppy stage etc.  He would turn his nose up at the food so I switched brands and for the first couple of days he would eat it then he would go right back to turning his nose up at it.  He was to the vet for his regular check-ups and she noted that he needed to gain weight but I did not fret about that.  When the weather turned cooler Ollies appetite picked up and now he eats his regular required amount of food and has gained a couple of pounds too boot !!!   I think in your situation you need to take Harley to the vet, 5 lbs is a lot of weight, they with first do a CBC and then maybe you can get a handle on what's going on.  But please get him to the vet ASAP, good luck and keep us posted.

[Mj Williams]

I'm going through the same exact thing too with Cash (same food even).  He has not lost any weight but refuses to eat anything but pm food.  Cash is 16 months. He will have a check up soon.  Hope Harley is just being an "adult".

[Lorraine Bromley]

Neely has lost seven pounds since my son returned to University with his dog. Neely stopped eating and became more of a snuggle bunny. Our house was filled with people and dogs all the holidays and Neely loves his other dog friends he sees over holidays and the one I babysit (another doodle) He was drinking but not alot. We watched his output so we knew he was still doing his pee and poo. They did get huge raw hide for Christmas and we also think that it isn't good for them but my son gave them big ones they went crazy for. So when he got sad and depressed with the loss of his friends and all the action we think it didn't help him digest them. He had some vomiting, fluid. Then we babysat again and that night after Harley the doodle left Neely ate a big bowl of food. That night he had a huge diarrhea on our new carpet! Next day my son tries to engage him some more attention as we had been doing to cheer him up, and decided to try and teach him to roll over something he just never has done. So my son moves the coffee table clearing space on the rug to demonstrate how to roll over and over and over until he sat up and realized he was covered in diarrhea the blended perfectly into the rug colours! That seemed to make Neely feel better and he has been eating again since then.

My Husband said that we should take him to the vet, but I hesitated feeling it was depression and not any thing physical. We believe it was the post Christmas blues and the combination of the raw hide he is not used to processing especially when he was not eating enough to clear out his insides. We added different treats to get him some extra food, Eggs chicken strips and cheese.

He is back to normal wanting to play and getting his toys out again and gnawing on his antlers and playing in the snow, and regretfully back to wanting his butt rubbed with my feet instead of coming and laying with his head on me and curling up to sleep beside me!

So think about post holiday doldrums?

[Kathy, Harley & Roxie]

I added a little chicken broth to Harleys am meal and he gobbled it up.  1st time he's eaten breakfast in weeks!   And he ate all of his dinner also, go figure...Still think I need to get him into vet next week tho.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think that's a good idea. There could be an underlying illness that's causing the appetite/weight loss, and a deficiency can occur. It may be nothing, but it's better to check it out just in case.