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Canine Behavior/Mental vs Medical

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Expert: - 1/31/2008


Question
I noticed 4 days ago that my 8mth old lab mix's eating behavior has changed.  She usually comes running when the food (science diet) hit the bowl.  The last couple of days she would just smell then walk away from the food.  This started earlier in the week when I stopped putting her in her crate when I went to work.  Her eating times were 6am, 3:15pm 7pm.  Yesterday she only had 2 1/2 cups instead of the recommended 4cups, and today she didn't eat her morning food until I got home @6pm.  She's active, and is walked everyday, and she's playful, but not so much as we're used to (she's been very mellow since we've gotten her 4 months ago from the shelter).  This evening (30th) I went to the store and bought some new food (bill-jack) and when we got home I gave her 1 1/2 cups and she gobbled it down.  I don't know when i should REALLY start to worry medical wise, but I feel that it's more like anxiety.  Any advise would be great - thanks again for your time.

Answer
Most any dog will "gobble down" a new food.  There are many dogs (and cats) who dislike Science Diet and it's no longer considered the nutritionally complete food it once was.  It might be that your dog simply dislikes her food.  No normal, healthy dog will deliberately starve itself.  If you respond to the perceived problem by giving a new food consistently, you will be effectively training (and rewarding) her picky eating behavior.  Get the best possible dry dog food you can (try Royal Canin for your breed) and then simply leave her alone.  Observe how much she eats over a few weeks (keep a record) and then weigh her (you can pick her up and stand on the scale, deduct your weight) against the weight she was when you began.  If there's a notable decrease in weight, she will need a full evaluation by a veterinarian, including super blood chemistry.

Canine Behavior

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Jill Connor, Ph.D.

Expertise

I have spent my entire professional life rehabilitating the behavior of the domestic dog and I can answer any question regarding any behavior problem in any breed dog. If you are a caring, committed owner and need advice, I'm here for you. THERE ARE NO QUICK FIXES for serious behavioral issues; not only is it unprofessional to offer same, it is also unethical. IF I ASK YOU SUBSEQUENT QUESTIONS, I NEED YOU TO INTERACT WITH ME. More information equals more credible answers and a more successful outcome. If you want ANSWERS THAT WORK, participate in any way I request. I'm quite committed to working on this site for YOUR benefit and the benefit of YOUR DOG. Help me in any way you can.

Experience

30 years of solving serious behavior problems in domestic dogs; expert in dog to human aggression; Internet columnist for ThePetChannel.com for 5 years; former radio talk show host, WHPC.FM, Garden City, NY "Bite Back" (1995 through 2000). List owner, international animal behavior experts, K9Shrinks@egroups.com. Seminar leader: "Operant Conditioning and Learning"; "Aggression in The Domestic Dog"; "Solving Problem Behaviors" -- conducted for various training facilities on Long Island from 1993 through 2000. Former clinical director of "Behavioral Abnormalities" in conjunction with Mark Beckerman, DVM, Hempstead, New York.

Organizations
Member, APDT (UK); Psychologists in Ethical Treatment with Animals

Publications
Harcourt Brace Learning Direct: "The Business of Dog Training" "The Fail Safe Dog: Brain Training, not Pain Training"

Education/Credentials
Ph.D., UC Berkeley

Past/Present Clients
Board of Directors: Northeast Dog Rescue Connection; The Dog Project; Sav-A-Dog Foundation; etc. Pro Bono counselor: Little Shelter Humane Society My practice is presently limited to forensics. I diagnose cause of dog bite, based upon testimony before the Court, for attorneys and insurance companies litigating dog bites, including fatal injuries. I also do pro bono work for bona fide rescue organizations, humane societies, et al, regarding such analysis in an effort to obtain release for dogs being held for death in municipal shelters in the US.

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