Changes in Eating Patterns

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So, I was all set to start a new discussion about the fact that Jackdoodle has only been eating once a day. For the past week or two, his breakfast has stayed in his bowl until dinner time. I have been giving him his usual dinner on top of the uneaten breakfast kibble, and he's been eating all of his food for the day in one meal.

This concerned me, because it increases the risk of bloat, and because he also has a habit of "holding" it for too long, especially between his evening walk and the next morning's walk, which is not good for his kidneys or his anal glands. It's better for him to get smaller amounts of food throughout the day than to get everything in the evening. I had planned to discuss it and ask for ideas here.

Well, this morning, he was back to eating his entire breakfast shortly after he got it. Nothing different about his breakfast today than yesterday or the day before. For whatever reason, he just wasn't hungry for his morning meal over the past week or so, and today he was.

Jack will be 6 years old this month. I think we can say that changes in eating patterns are normal throughout the course of a dog's life, or at least some dogs' lives.  It's something to watch, but not necessarily something to be concerned about.

Anyone else see this kind of thing with their doodles?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned and Jack must be on the same moon schedule or something for meal changes. Ned likes to eat in the middle of the night - always has, but lately he has been eating breakfast in the early evening and dinner in the middle of the night!