Expert: Kaza - 8/31/2008

Question
i have a female bichon x who is 11 months old. over the time we have had her (since she was 7 weeks) her eating habits are becoming of a concern as she can go days with no food.  she will back away from everything offered to her even treats. i try to avoid dog food and give her chicken, steak etc etc but she still will not eat.  she is still drinking water.  her temperament is still very bichon and energetic.

Answer
hello there. This is a common scenario with some bichons. I have one like this and her eating habits go over a 3 day period.

She will eat day 1 lots and lots of food, then for 3 days nothing, drinks water and plays normally. I also have a havanese that will do this.
If we look at how dogs have domesticated we realise that they feed within the human cycle of 3 meals a day with treats in between, but dogs digestive system isnt made like ours as such many dogs become fat and overweight. In the wild they would eat on day 1 and thennot eat for several days whilst they forage for food etc.This is completely normal.
I actually fast all my dogs one day per week, this keeps their digestive system active and not sluggish and maintains their natural mental state, dogs do not require food 7 days per week as adults, puppies yes.

I hope this has helped you see that dogs are not like us humans they are simply animals that have different requirements and needs than we do.

Best wishes

Kaza

www.eurobichons.com