6 month old pup completely gone off his food.

[Karbea]

My American cocker used to have a massive appetite, he'd eat his kibble (royal canin) within seconds.

He went to stay with my parents for two weeks where he had fish for breakfast (my mums dog has allergies so can only eat this, and my mum didn't want to leave the pup out) and kibble for dinner, by the end of the two weeks my mum had to hand feed the kibble, else he wouldn't eat it.

Now back at home and two weeks later, at best he picks at the kibble and doesn't really eat enough. Last night he ate nothing, this morning he ate nothing so after 40mins I gave in and cooked him so fish, which he ate, but not particularly quickly, tonight I mixed ham with kibble and he picked out the ham, left the kibble.

What can I do to get my little mans appetite back?

[SallyBear]

Maybe he just prefers people food and not dog food?
My old Labrador who lived till she was 14yrs 4mos and ate leftovers, not wheat stuff but meat and veg or fish and rice etc. She had a beautiful coat and didn't suffer with any digestive problems.
Have you tried the dog food with some liquid added? Checked to see if there are any gum problems preventing your pooch from chewing?

[tabulahrasa]

He's not lost his appetite, he's just demanding better food and you're giving it to him, why would he eat dog food when if he turns his nose up at it you'll give him something more exciting?

Put his food down, give him ten minutes and lift it, wait until his next feeding time and do the same.

When he realizes that nothing better is ever going to be offered he'll eat his food again.

[Imsosorryalan]

I agree with above. I have the fussiest dog in the world ( doenst eat pigs ears, chews, raw bone)
I started doing exactly as you are , she began begging for our food and refusing her very expensive high quality dog food.
I put an end to it and she refused her meals for 3 days. ( I picked up if not eaten in 15 mins) finally, she was so hungry she ate on the 4 th day. ( although I did also compromise and mix it with some wet food). Which is what I still do. She seems happier, healthier and doesn't beg

[ihatethecold]

Why wouldn't you give your dog better food Than kibble if he prefers it.

Raw feeding isn't expensive if you do your research.

You just need to be organised to order monthly deliveries.

Your dog will thrive on it.

[Karbea]

iatecold are you talking about the barf diet? If so, where do you get the food?

[ihatethecold]

I order once a month from a dog meat supplier in east Anglia.
Lots if chicken wings and necks
Minced rabbit, venison and lamb.
I buy frozen mince and frozen fish from morrisons.

There are lots if suppliers but it depends on where you live.

I have a large breed puppy,
( 6month old hungarian vizsla ) and it costs me about a pound a day.
Localish suppliers tend to be cheaper than national companies.

[fanoftheinvisibleman]

I raw feed too.

Morrisons is very handy both in terms of their reduced section (i have had packs of things like lamb chops and neck for £1!) and they also have 'stock bones' on shelf. I had 2 really meaty lamb bones the other day for 45p.

I have just found a local supplier too who does beef, chicken and tripe at 40p per lb too which is great as I don't have the need for big bulk buying as only feeding a Border Terrier.

It is definitely the best move I ever made.

[TheRealFellatio]

Sounds to me like he's discovered the joys of fresh food and has just turned his nose up at the kibble. Can you blame him?

Try feeding him something meaty like some raw green tripe, or some gently poached chicken livers mashed up with some kibble and see if he rejects that. If he doesn't then you have your answer.

[Karbea]

I got some white fish from the supermarket yesterday so will try that with some kibble this morning...

[SallyBear]

We never did a raw food diet, but it was fresh leftovers. I have a large family and there are always veggies and meat/fish leftover. My old girl was never a fat labrador and lived till she was 14. We had her on dried dog food for the first couple of years and then she started getting muscular spasms which the vet thought was epilepsy but I thought it was something dietary related. I changed her diet to eat what we ate and the spasms stopped. She never smelt doggy and was extremely healthy. I looked at it that as we didn't eat processed food, then neither should she.

We will be getting our new labrador puppy next week and I will look into what to feed him, as I worry about the salt levels etc. and what it does to their systems.