AboutLabman Expertise What kind of food is best, dogs that won't eat, dogs that eat too fast, judging your dogs weight, preventing joint problems in large breeds, feeding puppies, supplements, avoiding health problems, healthy skin and coat, etc.
Experience Much of what I know about dog diets comes from my years of experience and training with dog guides and other service dogs. I can share their proven methods with you. They can't afford anything but the best to give a dog the same long, active life you want for your pet.
They breed most of their dogs, and have pedigrees, X-rays, other
medical records, and complete life histories on thousands of dogs. Their staff veterinarians are in touch with each other, top nutritionists, academic researchers, etc. They have investigated and tested many different diets. Nobody knows more about producing and maintaining healthy dogs, has more incentive to do so, and to share what they know with those such as me caring for the dogs. Unlike many others giving diet advice, they aren't selling anything. They are giving away dogs after very expensive training. It costs them the price of a new car to replace ones no longer able to work. They don't skimp on food.
I have also done extensive reading in this area.
Education/Credentials My degree in chemistry allows me to understand how real research is done and evaluate the proof behind diet claims. I am not taken in by the junk science behind many diets.
Question QUESTION: I hope you are the person I ask, but I'm having a problem...I bought a very
healthy goldendoodle puppy 2 weeks ago, and ever since I brought her home
she DOES NOT eat dry food. She didn't touch the food our breeder was
feeding her (which she was in fact eating before I brought her home, it was
Kirkland dog food) so I tried mixing it with Innova puppy food, and she once
again didn't eat it. I figured she was just trying to adapt to the new
environment, so I didn't worry too much. Anyway, I tried JUST giving her the
Innova, but she still didn't eat it. I'm now trying Acana Pacifica, because she
ate it when she was at my mom's house with her dog. I tried feeding it to her
at my house and she once again didn't touch it. I'm now thinking she only ate
it because she saw the other dog eating it.
I've tried doing the "put the food down for 15 minutes and then take it away"
approach, and it didn't work. I finally broke and started making her chicken
and rice and/or mixing in canned wet food with her dry kibble. If I thoroughly
mix in the canned she will mostly eat it all, but she will pick the chicken and
rice out of the dry food and leave the dry food in the bowl. I honestly don't
know what to do, because I am a firm believer in feeding dry, I don't want to
keep buying/making wet food.
Oh and as far as the "a healthy dog won't starve herself" saying goes...I tried
it, I only gave her the option of eating dry all day, and she went all day
without eating it but begged me for food. She was clearly starving. (And yes I
fed her, I wouldn't let my puppy starve)
On a final note, she's only gained 1 lb in 2 weeks. She was 12 lbs, now 13 lbs
at 10 weeks, and she should get up to almost 75 lbs. Please help me!
ANSWER: I am definitely a part of the ''a healthy dog won't starve itself crowd''. If you haven't had her to the vet, it is time to. Not that any of my puppies were that way, but I have heard many puppies may take a while to start eating. Also, coming from the breeder overweight as common will reduce appetite. See http://www.longliveyourdog.com/twoplus/RateYourDog.aspx The vet can help you judge her weight. You really need to get to the bottom of problem and I think a vet is the best idea.
Once you get her eating, I would stick to the Kirkland if you have a Costco. As far as I know, it is as good as anything. 99% of what you hear about dog food isn't true. It is mostly spread by people selling something and the irrational people that buy their emotional appeals. It is backed by junk science, half truths, and outright lies.
Is the skimpy weight increase accompanied by a stretching out of the legs? Is she longer and taller than 2 weeks ago? The most important question is do her ribs show? If not, she isn't starving. If nothing else, you need the vet to reassure you she is OK.
One other point. Our friends' dog used to lose weight when she stayed with us. We fed her exactly what we were told. At home, her father was slipping the dog food. Does she have a source of better stuff than you offer?
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QUESTION: I did take her to the vet and she said she was skinny but her health was excellent. She definitely was not overweight when we bought her. I have addressed my vet that this issue has persisted but the vet keeps saying, just give her wet food, or add yogurt. She's going to the vet at the end of the month for her 3rd set of shots so maybe I can get tests ran or something. But ya, I've tried it all, and I don't think it would still be due to stress, its been 2 weeks!
Answer While I have some limited experience with Poodles, I am not sure what kind of eating habits to expect of a mix. Of course, I once had a light eating Lab. What did I do? I abandoned the Purina I was feeding him for a meat based food. He at least ate enough of it, his ribs didn't show too bad. That link I sent you to give the ribs not showing as ideal. In the real world, it is better to leave some dogs show a little rib than mess with their diet.
One example of a bad practice to encourage eating more is giving a young, large breed puppy yogurt. It is high in calcium, and excess calcium can ruin a dog's hips. It doesn't sound like your vet is up to date on large breed puppies. I think if you check, Kirklands is near the 1.5% limit for calcium. You want the actual from the website or customer service, not the minimum on the bag. I think you need a vet interested in identifying the problem and correcting it.
