8 Month Old Not Eating

[Debbie and Bentley]

Bentley (8 months old),has always been a very good eater. However, within the last 2 weeks, he has gone from leaving a small amount in his bowl at breakfast to now not being interested in breakfast or dinner. I wasn't sure whether this was a normal phase. I also, didn't know whether this should be posted in the Puppy Madness group, or the food group. He is having normal bowel movements.

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

That's sad. I don't know that everyone buys the pet safe antifreeze though. So, regardless, I wouldn't let them have access to it.

People are not always wise when it comes to what they should and shouldn't do. :/

[Amy and Annabelle]

Sometimes you learn lessons the hard way. I am a lot older and wiser now, as this happened a good 30 years ago.  He did survive it.

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Oh I wasn't referring to you being wise or not wise - I meant the person who poured antifreeze down the drain. :(

I know I've done some un-wise things. Good thing I've outgrown that stage in life. ;)

[Amy and Annabelle]

Annabelle has done that off and on as she has gone through growth spurts. She is normally not a big eater, but when going though a growth spurt she would eat twice as much. Now at 6.5 months and 12 lbs she has leveled out. I think she has stopped growing for the most part.

If my husband can come around on food and treats, I have hope for yours. Our trainer was a big influence on it as well. While my husband may have thought I was just an over the top puppy mom at first, to have someone else confirm it, helped. Plus my husband has a family member that works for Purina and he has put his foot down on them giving Annabelle treats, like those popper things that shoot out of a jar. He now researches the ingredients.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Amy, I can't tell you how happy this post makes me! 

[Debbie and Bentley]

Thanks to all for your great input!
I definitely want to get better quality treats, and will work on DH. Amy, you give me hope that I can influence him in the right direction.
I wish I knew if Bentley has stopped growing, or not. Should I switch to adult food now? I'm even wondering about switching brands.....I know BB is questionable whether it will remain on the DK recommended food list. If choice of treats, and change in food doesn't help, I will definitely look into health issues, even though he seems very healthy. I understand that dogs don't always act sick, when they have problems.
Even if he doesn't win the "Big Treat Giveaway", I have looked at those websites, and will try them out. Something I may not have done before this fun contest.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I prefer to give food recommendations in The Food Group, but I would say that you are perfectly safe switching to an adult formula at this point. He will probably continue to gain weight in the form of lean mass, but his skeletal growth is just about complete and the nutritional differences between puppy formulas and ALS or adult formulas is very, very small. There are also so many more options with adult formulas than puppy formulas. If he is indeed just a picky eater who has gotten tired of his food, an adult formula will allow you rotate foods which each new bag, which usually helps. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Totally impossible to post under Karen's comment starting with....The amounts in food or treats may be "safe" so I will attempt to respond here. The difficulty in posting sometimes is incredible frustrating and it is useless reporting these things. At least four times I receiver the message "We're sorry". Sometimes many of us just give up.

Well, that would eliminate water too which is essential but in huge quantities is toxic. So I am not sure the argument you put forth holds water : )

And it appears that ethylene glycol is the culprit in most antifreeze toxicity. It is more toxic by far and sweeter than propylene glycol.

http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/factsheets/ard/docu...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's my take on the "water in huge quantities is toxic, too" issue. 

Water is, as you say, essential. Propylene glycol isn't. There's a reason to drink water, lol. There's no reason for anyone, dog or human, to ingest propylene glycol. (Unless they are having a colonoscopy, I guess. :) No benefit whatsoever. Where there is some risk and no benefit whatsoever, and there are lots of other options besides, for me the choice is clear. 

And even if there is no risk at all, at best the dog is getting empty calories and chemicals, when they could be getting those calories in the form of something nutritious and yummy. 

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I would stop all the treats and put the food down for 15 mins only twice a day. This is what I did with Riley who also suddenly at about eight months stopped eating his food whilst still enjoying treats. After a few days he went back to eating. Even now we have a very strict regime when it comes to feeding. I put both bowls down. The boys sit in front of them and do not eat until I tell them they can. If they move from the bowls before finishing I lift them and they do not get them back. Since I started this over a year ago I have never had one problem. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with this, Nicky.

If training rewards are needed, I would use teeny tiny pieces of a plain protein treat, like pieces of chicken. 

[Debbie and Bentley]

Thanks, Nicky.  That seems to be the best way to start.

 Karen, I will boil some chicken breast to use for the training we are doing.