Remolacha Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 I am putting this here instead of the food or training sections, but I am not sure it is a health issue. Hoping for some new ideas. Back in September, Conner started refusing to eat his breakfast some mornings. He always ate dinner, so I didn't worry much at first. He started refusing more often, and I had my vet check him over, but everything else was completely normal. I thought maybe he had just decided he didn't want to,eat in the morning anymore, as I have heard older dogs sometimes do. He is 10.5 and definitely not a morning dog. Just about the time we were going to run some blood work, he started eating regularly in the morning again. Then he stopped, again. I have tried nummy additives, makes no difference. I tried offering him some of the different things he eats (he is raw fed) one at a time to see if there was one thing he had gone off of. Nope, ate everything. His poop has been completely normal the whole time. The mornings he doesn't eat, I put the food in a plastic container in the frig and give it to him for dinner, and he happily eats it. He eats treats, sometimes he will eat some kibble, but not often and not much. So, anyone have any ideas? Anything we haven't tried other than a lot of fancy tests? Or should I just expect this to be our new normal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeedlenoseJake Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Personally, I wouldn't worry about it unless he starts losing weight or acting differently. Jake refuses meals all the time, but he seems happy and healthy so we don't worry about it. The only thing about raw is that you can't let it sit forever like kibble! Quote Photographer in Phoenix, AZ www.northmountainphoto.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted November 9, 2015 Author Share Posted November 9, 2015 Yeah, now that I have Val, he gets until she finishes eating her food (which doesn't take long!) and then it gets picked up or she will eat it. I figure, if he really wants to eat, he'll learn that it won't be available forever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Time4ANap Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Rocket won't eat his breakfast unless there's cottage cheese on it. Not that he's spoiled or anything..... He will eat anyhitng for dinner, but breakfast must have the cottage cheese or he just stands there until you put it on. I just kind of go Quote Camp Broodie. The current home of Mark Kay Mark Jack and Gracie Kiowa Safe Joan. Always missing my boy Rocket Hi Noon Rocket, Allie Phoenix Dynamite, Kate Miss Kate, Starz Under Da Starz, Petunia MW Neptunia, Diva Astar Dashindiva, and LaVida I've Got Life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smurfette Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 I give kibble for breakfast and leave it in the bowls till dinner. Dinner is raw. My boys often don't eat breakfast, but they love dinner. Sometimes the eat some kibbles during the day, sometimes not. I don't worry. They are just not so hungry in the morning. Quote Sorry for butchering the english language. I try to keep the mistakes to a minimum. Nadine with Paddy (Zippy Mullane), Saoirse (Lizzie Be Nice), Abu (Cillowen Abu) and bridge angels Colin (Dessies Hero) and Andy (Riot Officer). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcR Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Antnee (who is almost 13) will sometimes skip breakfast. I put his food aside and offer kit as "brunch", which he will happily eat. If he checks out OK from a health perspective, I wouldn't be particular concerned,. Quote Marc and Myun plus Starbuck (the cat)Pinky my AWOL girl, wherever you are, I miss you.Angels Honey (6/30/99-11/3/11) Nadia (5/11/99-6/4/12) Kara (6/5/99-7/17/12) Cleo (4/13/2000-4/19/2014) Antnee (12/1/2002=2/20/17) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gryhndsr4us Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 My Sky who is 7 will go days, occasionally weeks skipping breakfast. Then she will go days or weeks eating breakfast. As long as she maintains her weight, eats her supper and treats I don't worry. Quote Sue ,Sky and Dood, Bridge angels Clark, Gypsy, Dreamy and Sneakers, Oshkosh,WI Heartbound Greyhound Adoption<p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 I stopped making my self crazy trying to get my seniors to eat in the morning. I offer food a little later, when they appear more awake, or after we've been out and about. But if everything checks out medically and they are holding a good weight, I would just let it go. If, for some reason, he does need to eat (to take meds, gain weight, tummy gurgles) I would go with whatever you can get him to eat, even if it might not be the best nutritionally - canned food, Beneful prepared meals, oatmeal, mac-n-cheeze, home made foods. Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TheGirlz Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 My old girl (11.6yo) will not eat breakfast, so she gets her days feed in her evening meal. Sometimes in the weekend (generally means breakfast is later than the working week) she shows some interest so we give her a little and she will eat it but seriously not fussed. She is healthy and happy but just isn't an early morning "eating" doggie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted November 10, 2015 Author Share Posted November 10, 2015 I never should have told him I was posting this He decided he didn't want dinner. So, after I fed everyone else, I gave him a little kibble and ground beef, which he ate. A little more, and then some goats milk. Sigh. He might as well be a cat As long as he checks out healthy, I will stop obsessing and let him eat when he wants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 The other thing I noticed with my seniors is that they don't want too much all at once. Just a spoon or two to get them started, then you can add a bit more. Yes, it's fiddle-y having to feed them spoonful by spoonful, but at that age I figure they deserve it! Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GreyOrchard Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 All of my oldies lost interest in the morning meal once they were approaching 9 and 10. They would take a bite or two, and that was it. The night time meal was more important. I saw it as self-regulating their weight due to slowed metabolism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FordRacingRon Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 MIne is 12 1/2,,4 days ago! Leia eats breakfast maybe 2 times a week,,,used to be everyday of course. Sometimes dinner is a fight two (then she gets Mirtazapine). Then at least once a week she turns into a raptor and wants to eat anything that could be food. She checks out healthy so I gave up worrying. She isn't losing weight, I supplement her with vitamins and that is about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SanTanSnuggles Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 My Surprise is not a breakfast eater, unless I cook him up some chicken to go along with what ever else he is offered. Just very picky. My San Tan Snuggles on the other hand, can not usually eat enough. She also loves her veggies. The rest of the day Surprise is just fine. He may eat a busy bone if he decides that a regular breakfast is not what he wants. I feed them three easy meals a day. That way one does not have to worry about the bloat thing as much. I would not worry. My Surprise will be seven in February. Just not a breakfast kinda guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted November 12, 2015 Author Share Posted November 12, 2015 I was having a discussion about this with my dental hygienist today, she has labs. She said she currently has a three yr old that most days doesn't eat breakfast. Just not a morning person, er dog, As long as everything else is ok, I am just not going to worry about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatricksMom Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 I swear Leo does this just to make me paranoid. He's been fine for three months, now this week he doesn't want to eat breakfast again. After a couple of rounds of exams and blood work (which were always normal), I figure this is just how he is (started around 5 years old). Quote Beth, Petey (8 September 2018- ), and Faith (22 March 2019). Godspeed Patrick (28 April 1999 - 5 August 2012), Murphy (23 June 2004 - 27 July 2013), Leo (1 May 2009 - 27 January 2020), and Henry (10 August 2010 - 7 August 2020), you were loved more than you can know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FordRacingRon Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 Actually,,to expand on Leia,,,she eats when she wants. Now I will freely admit this is my fault, my spoiling of her, and my treating her like a queen. When she was younger she ran on her 24 hour clock and breakfast and dinner were always at the same time and she was in your face 30 minutes before that time (time changes were brutal). Now she pretty much eats when she is hungry. She may have breakfast, she may not. She may want it at lunch time,,maybe not. Dinner could be at 5 or 6 or 11....when she gets hungry. But my girl is 12 1/2 and I will do whatever she wants with the time we have left. As long as her tests come back normal (and they do) and her weight stays good (it is perfect),,,I am happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted November 13, 2015 Author Share Posted November 13, 2015 Yes, the oldies get whatever they want but I keep saying (about Conner) "but he's only 10.5" I know that's not young, but it's barely senior, to me. On the other hand, he is an 'old' 10, while Val is a three year old in a seven year old body Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobesmom Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 So - I think I posted the same thing a year ago about my Diana. At around age 10 she'd take food or leave it. Mostly leaving breakfast, but almost always eating dinner. Her weight didn't drop, so after asking advice, I quit stressing. I did starting offering food right after work, and then dinner, if she refused breakfast. I didn't go to add-ins or anything to entice her to eat. She just has always eaten what she needed, even through her younger years when I tried to fatter her up. I still refuse to call a 10 or 11 year old a senior. I just don't see it. I'll call them a pre-senior. A pre-senior has some changes going on. Slowing metabolism, etc. So - if there are no medical issues, offer Conner breakfast, if he doesn't eat, give it to him later. Maybe go to 3 smaller meals later through the day. Or he might be fine eating one some days, 2 some days. No worries. This is a transition age. That's ok. I've loosened up my strict feeding times a lot. And it's been fine. No need to panic - just adapt a bit. Heck, when I retire I'm going to eat breakfast at 11:00 am and snack at 7:00 pm and another snack at 11:00 pm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted November 16, 2015 Author Share Posted November 16, 2015 Well, of course, today he ate all his breakfast Once Val can eat crunchies again (Dr wants her on soft food for 2 weeks after her dental) I am thinking about leaving some dry out in the morning for him to snack on during the day, if he wants. I know she will eat a lot of it at first, but she could stand to add a couple of pounds, so that's ok. If he shows no interest and she starts to get fat, I'll stop. But as long as he eats dinner and is otherwise healthy, I can let it go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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