A lab that won’t eat!

Parodius

Parodius

Has anyone else had issues with their dogs not eating in the heat? It’s been really hot here recently and Neo has been on hunger strike for the last couple of days. I’m assuming it’s the heat as everything else appears normal, no sickness, poops are fine and still drinking ok etc. We recently changed him from 3 meals a day to 2 as he was getting less interested in his lunch. We have also switched his bowl to a regular metal one from a plastic slow-feeder and stopped soaking his kibble as we haven’t had issues with him wolfing his food down then bringing it straight back up again for ages. Could it be the bowl?

I’m not too worried at the moment, he’s still interested in chews/lickimats etc 🤔 Normally I can tempt him with some tasty toppers on his kibble but he’s even turning down his favourite scrambled egg! Here he is trying to keep cool.
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HAH

HAH

Moderator
Location
Devon, UK
Parodius said:
Has anyone else had issues with their dogs not eating in the heat? It’s been really hot here recently and Neo has been on hunger strike for the last couple of days. I’m assuming it’s the heat as everything else appears normal, no sickness, poops are fine and still drinking ok etc. We recently changed him from 3 meals a day to 2 as he was getting less interested in his lunch. We have also switched his bowl to a regular metal one from a plastic slow-feeder and stopped soaking his kibble as we haven’t had issues with him wolfing his food down then bringing it straight back up again for ages. Could it be the bowl?

I’m not too worried at the moment, he’s still interested in chews/lickimats etc 🤔 Normally I can tempt him with some tasty toppers on his kibble but he’s even turning down his favourite scrambled egg! Here he is trying to keep cool.
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Yep, this is familiar - Kipper was the same when he was a bit younger, and still is occasionally. It could be the bowl, they are sensitive to change in material, noise, texture, smell etc - have you tried changing back to see if it makes any difference?
Little Stilton (20 weeks) is finding his kibble far less appealing during the heat. Like you we’ve changed bowls, I’ve soaked the kibble to varying degrees (he’s also teething so thought this might help), and given smaller meals. You’re being really sensible, I guess if it goes on to the extent you’re concerned its worth a quick check up in case there’s anything else bothering him.
 
M

M.F.

If he’s hot, why not soak the kibble to ensure he’s getting lots of moisture into his system? Kibble is very dry. It might be unappealing to him in the hot weather. Snowie eats raw food and seldom drinks water. But on the occasions he stole the neighbour’s cat’s dry kibble, he was terribly thirsty.
 
SwampDonkey

SwampDonkey

Never happened in 30 years of lab ownership.🤭
In hot weather I will often cook white fish for them and put a bit in with their kibble and use the fish juice to soften and moisturizer their food. I'm more worried about dehydration so I also use things like bone broth to encourage them to drink. It could be a problem with his kibble or he could just have a tummy bug or it's too hot to eat so if he doesn't improve you could always call your vet. Just keep an eye on him.
 
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Selina27

Selina27

Location
Herefordshire, UK
I seem to remember Cassie having a bit of an upset stomach in hot weather when she was young, although she didn't stop eating. So maybe he does feel queasy in the stomach department. It doesn't happen now, maybe she has learnt how to keep cool better!
It sounds like you are monitoring him really well, I am sure you will know if and when you need to speak to a vet.
 
Shamas mom

Shamas mom

Location
Canada
Honestly, out of everything you mentioned...in my experience with Shamas, it'd be the soaking/not soaking. He prefers his food soaked. It smells more, which for him, makes it more appealing.

It's also easier for me to stir in a little something to entice him if his ole nose isn't working that day. I'll add in a little topper to make it more smelly so it's more appealing. yoghurt, and liver powder work well in this house. or a tbsp of wet food mixed into the broth that adding water makes.

The vet first suggested soaking to slow him down, but we kept it up because we found that he seemed more satisfied on soaked food.
 
Parodius

Parodius

He ate his tea!!!

Thanks all for your comments and ideas, I soaked his kibble and used his old slow feeder and hey presto! I had tried soaking his kibble yesterday but used the clearly inferior metal bowl (that he had happily been using for the last 2 weeks 🤷‍♀️), stupid hooman. It’s either a fluke or he was missing the challenge of chasing his dinner around the slow feeder. Either way, I’m just pleased he’s had a good meal as I was getting a bit worried. He had a peanut butter and primula lickimat for pudding and I had a strawberry cornetto 😋
 
Parodius

Parodius

It’s funny how different they all are, Billie was definitely way more of a ‘foodie’ lab than Neo, she would be appalled at the amount of clearly edible crumbs he leaves from his bonios! He’s even been known to turn down a toast corner which just isn’t right!

I will keep up soaking his kibble in his original bowl and look into some of the suggestions like bone broth and liver sprinkles and keep some on hand for warmer weather, as his appetite does seem to be affected by the heat. Hopefully only a few days left of this heat wave and all will be right in his world again 🤞
 
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