Annabelle has decided she doesn't want to eat

[Amy and Annabelle]

I didn't know what group to post this in since it could be food or medical related.
Annabelle has been on Orijen since I weaned her off the breeders food. She was on the puppy formula until she was 8 months old. She was not a big eater then, not by a long shot. Once I switched to the adult formula she gobbled it up. I switch off between the regular and the 6 Fish. She loves both. No problem with her appetite. I think she would eat all day if I let her. Well now she is not eating any of her food. I first noticed with the yogurt and blueberries the other day. She turned her nose up and wouldn't eat it. She absolutely loves her yogurt and berries. That is so not like her to not chow it down. I did think it was odd, but wasn't worried. Yesterday morning I gave her Orijen for breakfast in the same bowl and spot I always do and she turned her nose up and wouldn't eat. She did eat dinner, not with her usual enthusiasm, but she did eat it all. My husband went against my wishes and gave her some plain chicken afterwards while we were eating dinner, which she did gobble up. Then this morning she won't eat the Orijen again. I don't know if it is:
1) Boredom with her food and I should try a different formula. I was trying to stay away from red meat formula, but maybe that is not a good thing.
2) My husband has created a monster by feeding her table food on occasion, ok maybe more than on occasion. That she has now become picky.
3) She is sick. She does act normal and her poop is normal. It is just her not eating that has me worried, because it is so not like her not to eat.

I told my husband not to feed her anymore table food, to which he has agreed. I am not giving her access to food again until her dinner tonight.

So what are your thoughts on this. Bored, Picky Monster or Sick? I will call her vet tomorrow, especially if she turns her nose up and dinner and tomorrows breakfast. Thanks

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'd keep an eye on her. While it's not unusual for a dog who's not a big "chow hound" anyway to suddenly decide she's bored with her food, a dog who's always been a good eater turning up her nose at her food, and especially at the yogurt & blueberries, worries me a little bit. Loss of appetite is often the first sign of illness in dogs, and if they are ill, it's a mistake to try to tempt them into eating by offering things like table food. That can backfire on you. My general rule of thumb is that when a dog who usually eats her food suddenly tells you that she doesn't feel like eating, believe her. 

I think a call to the vet is a good idea. In the meantime, offer her the food you normally would at the normal times, and don't push it.

Is she drinking water? Going without food for a day or two won't harm her, but you don't want to let her get dehydrated.

Please keep us posted.  

[Amy and Annabelle]

Yes, she is drinking her water as normal.

[Sharon & Monty]

on the other hand, what "other" treats is dear husband providing? I can always tell when my DH has been too generous cause the food dish sits full of food!  be a detective! :)

[Sharon & Monty]

My DH still violates all the rules when I am not here.  It was worse when my Dad lived here, holy cow, he gave Monty all kinds of nonsense.  Its a hard rule to follow for folks that always gave their dogs the leftovers...Just a thought.

[Amy and Annabelle]

During our talk I found out he has also given her whole roasted almonds and half of his peanut butter sandwich once.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I agree with Karen.  I would watch her.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I agree with Karen and Nancy.  I would think that it was boredom except for the fact that she wouldn't eat the yogurt and blueberries.  What is she getting in terms of calories?  If she skipped her breakfast but ate her whole dinner with some cooked chicken on top of that she may have gotten all the calories she needs for the day.  Guinness will sometimes skip breakfast but then eat his whole dinner (and I give him a little extra on those days to get all his calories into him).  Maybe a call to the vet wouldn't hurt, but I think if she was truly sick she wouldn't skip breakfast but then go ahead and eat her whole dinner.  I would track the calories and I would cut out the table food for now.  Let us know what the vet has to say.

[Amy and Annabelle]

So here is a recap of her eating. I wish I could tell if she was throwing us attitude or if something is wrong. She is acting normal other than her eating. Oh and I guess her poop is getting smaller, but still looks fine.

Thursday mid day she turned her nose up at the yogurt and blueberries. Everything else was normal.

Friday morning normal.

Friday afternoon My hubs and I went out to dinner before the snowstorm hit. We left Annabelle home alone for 2 hours. We did take her out and play with her before we left. We rarely leave her. I think the last time was mid February for a couple of hours.

She ate dinner as normal when we got back.

Saturday morning wouldn't eat

Didn't have anything untl dinner and ate it, but it took her 15 minutes, where usually she is done in less than 3. Husband gave her some plain chicken while we were eating our dinner. She inhaled it. Bad husband.

Sunday morning and dinner nothing. She probably would have eaten a pancake at breakfast if I had let my husband give her one. He has agreed to no table food.

Monday morning, stared at it for 10 minutes like she was waiting for something better to come along, then begrudgingly ate it. By that point she hadn't had anything to eat since Saturday dinner. She had no table food yesterday, not even her usual yogurt.

She is drinking water.

I have a call into the vet he is supposed to get back with me.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Going all day yesterday with nothing would concern me....glad you have a call into the vet. 

[Sharon & Monty]

My guy will let food sit for an entire day.  Why I'm not sure, but I really think he waits to see if there will be some fabulous addition to his diet and he waits.  If it doesnt come, he eats. I cant control DH I know he sneaks her food, I've come to tolerate some of it.  Monty eats when nothing else is coming his way.  :) I let the food down all day and night.  when he eats, he eats is my philosophy.  You'll know when he never eats, i think sometimes we just let them be dogs and eat when they eat. *shrug

[Amy and Annabelle]

So vet seems to think she is throwing attitude, but to just keep an eye on her and if anything else changes besides the food to bring her in. It still doesn't ease my mind any though. But she just ran around her half acre play area about 4 times. She seems to feel fine and has her energy.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It's going to be challenging to avoid the temptation to give her "special food" just to get her to eat.  I guess you're going to have to give her her food and trust when she's hungry enough she'll eat it.  She's a stubborn one...my guys would never pass up the berries and yogurt even if they were on one of their "hunger strikes".