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8 Month Old Ridgeback Off His Food


natamalie
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Hi guys,

Our 8 month old Ridgie has gone off his food over the past couple of days. He's on Eagle Pack puppy formula for giant breeds. Usually he always finishes his meals, but since Saturday he's started eating very slowly and only eating about half of what's out, if that. He's still very keen on begging for any food that we're eating though! And he ate a shmacko during the day no problem. Might he just be bored with his regular food? Could the heat have something to do with it? He ate a chicken wing this avo no problem so it would seem he's just getting fussy.

What's the best course of action if this continues? At the moment I'm leaving the food on the ground for him for a maximum of 15 minutes then taking it away. How long should I hold out on him if he keeps being disinterested in the formula? I'm a bit worried because he's still a growing boy and I don't want him to miss out on any nutrients he needs.

Thanks heaps guys! :thumbsup:

edit: by the way, he seems totally fine within himself. Still lots of energy and wanting to play, and his poos are still regular.

Edited by natamalie
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What else are you giving him? Any bones, raw meat, or only sticking to kibbles?

He gets bones every two or three days. Long ones sliced in half longways so he can get to the marrow. Chicken wings every day. I also make a breakfast up for him based on a recipe given to me by our breeder which includes yoghurt, egg yolk, oates, livamol, brewer's yeast and seaweed meal. His main meals are mostly kibble though.

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Hi guys,

Our 8 month old Ridgie has gone off his food over the past couple of days. He's on Eagle Pack puppy formula for giant breeds. Usually he always finishes his meals, but since Saturday he's started eating very slowly and only eating about half of what's out, if that. He's still very keen on begging for any food that we're eating though! And he ate a shmacko during the day no problem. Might he just be bored with his regular food? Could the heat have something to do with it? He ate a chicken wing this avo no problem so it would seem he's just getting fussy.

What's the best course of action if this continues? At the moment I'm leaving the food on the ground for him for a maximum of 15 minutes then taking it away. How long should I hold out on him if he keeps being disinterested in the formula? I'm a bit worried because he's still a growing boy and I don't want him to miss out on any nutrients he needs.

Thanks heaps guys! :thumbsup:

edit: by the way, he seems totally fine within himself. Still lots of energy and wanting to play, and his poos are still regular.

If he doesn't eat his dinner after 15 minutes take it away and give him nothing until his next meal. How many meals a day is he getting?

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Hi guys,

Our 8 month old Ridgie has gone off his food over the past couple of days. He's on Eagle Pack puppy formula for giant breeds. Usually he always finishes his meals, but since Saturday he's started eating very slowly and only eating about half of what's out, if that. He's still very keen on begging for any food that we're eating though! And he ate a shmacko during the day no problem. Might he just be bored with his regular food? Could the heat have something to do with it? He ate a chicken wing this avo no problem so it would seem he's just getting fussy.

What's the best course of action if this continues? At the moment I'm leaving the food on the ground for him for a maximum of 15 minutes then taking it away. How long should I hold out on him if he keeps being disinterested in the formula? I'm a bit worried because he's still a growing boy and I don't want him to miss out on any nutrients he needs.

Thanks heaps guys! :thumbsup:

edit: by the way, he seems totally fine within himself. Still lots of energy and wanting to play, and his poos are still regular.

If he doesn't eat his dinner after 15 minutes take it away and give him nothing until his next meal. How many meals a day is he getting?

He gets two - breakfast and dinner. Usually a chicken wing as an afternoon snack. His breakfast consists of kibble and the breakfast mixture. His dinner is usually just kibble... occasionally, (like once or twice a week) he gets some sardines on top. I've read in a previous thread about taking the food away after 10-15 minutes and then not giving them anything so they don't learn that by not eating their meal, they get other alternatives. It's so hard not to give him something else though! Be strong Nat!! hehehe

Edited by natamalie
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Same thing this morning... only ate half his meal very slowly. I will keep taking the food away if he doesn't eat it... just wondering how many feeds I should do this for before I need to start looking at alternatives... I don't want to affect his health too badly!

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Same thing this morning... only ate half his meal very slowly. I will keep taking the food away if he doesn't eat it... just wondering how many feeds I should do this for before I need to start looking at alternatives... I don't want to affect his health too badly!

Don't panic - as Sway says, its HOT. Lots of animals will want to eat less in this heat.

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Same thing this morning... only ate half his meal very slowly. I will keep taking the food away if he doesn't eat it... just wondering how many feeds I should do this for before I need to start looking at alternatives... I don't want to affect his health too badly!

Don't panic - as Sway says, its HOT. Lots of animals will want to eat less in this heat.

Thanks poodlefan, hopefully with the change coming through this afternoon, he'll be more interested in the next couple of days :hug:

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Same thing this morning... only ate half his meal very slowly. I will keep taking the food away if he doesn't eat it... just wondering how many feeds I should do this for before I need to start looking at alternatives... I don't want to affect his health too badly!

Don't panic - as Sway says, its HOT. Lots of animals will want to eat less in this heat.

Thanks poodlefan, hopefully with the change coming through this afternoon, he'll be more interested in the next couple of days :hug:

Provided animals are drinking well, a few days of small or even no meals isn't going to hurt them. A stomach full of food generates heat in the body as it's digested..

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