Chronic Eating

[TheCheekyMonster]

I have a problem I think, Gus doesn't have a "I'm full stop eating" alert, he eats a lot but is still fairly thin but he is constantly on the hunt for food.

He will eat anything that is left out, so far he has eaten: fire starters, coal, wood chipps, burnt BBQ ash, rotten food, the compost, macadamia shell, thermometers, grass, anything and everything and its getting a little beyond ridiculous.

Is it a problem or some dogs are just like that? even on walks he will constantly be sniffing for food, you feed him then let him out he will lick Nalas bowl then start licking her mouth when that doesn't work he circles the back yard sniffing for more food.

Any suggestions??

Edited March 11, 2013 by TheCheekyMonster

[Katdogs]

How old is he?

Are you serious about Prader-Willi? I know a couple of people with it

[TheCheekyMonster]

How old is he?

Are you serious about Prader-Willi? I know a couple of people with it

Im self diagnosing, it just seems like he has a chronic feeling of hunger (not that I know what his feeling) I dont think im serious about the Prader-willi was the only syndrome I knew of for chronic eating but its crazy! and his 17 months

[minimax]

He sounds worse than my pug, and my pug will eat anything and everything. I know pica is more "common" than PW but isn't so much a need to eat everything in sight. Have you seen a vet for blood work, to see if he is missing any minerals or vitamins?

[Katdogs]

Ah, well I can't help with 17 months! My Lab pup is less than six months and will still have a good try at eating anything once, but obviously isn't as chronic a weird-eater as yours. Good luck!

[julesluvscavs]

Im going through that with my 10 year old Cav (yes i know cavs are always on the hunt for food, but hers is extreme). She keeps putting on weight tho, not from from over feeding her, altho i have been giving her lots of veges to see if that will fill her up, but its full of carbs a friend was telling me, so not really ideal for her to loose weight with.

The vets have been testing her for diabetes, and theres been some talk of Cushings, but i think you need specific tests done for that.. level markers are under normal for each of those tests but not conclusive enough to act on

Ok reread your post and Renae doesn't search out anything weird, just for normal food stuff

Edited March 11, 2013 by Jules❤3Cavs

[oakway]

Have you had the dogs Thyroid checked ?.

I would suggest a T5 done and sent to Jean Dodds at Hemo Pet for analysis,

HEMOLIFE (Diagnostic Division of HEMOPET)

11561 Salinaz Avenue, Garden Grove, CA 92843

Tel: 714-891-2022; Fax: 714-891-2123; Fax: 714-891-2124 (lab)

www.hemopet.org www.nutriscan.org E-Mail: [email protected]

[TheCheekyMonster]

Im going through that with my 10 year old Cav (yes i know cavs are always on the hunt for food, but hers is extreme). She keeps putting on weight tho, not from from over feeding her, altho i have been giving her lots of veges to see if that will fill her up, but its full of carbs a friend was telling me, so not really ideal for her to loose weight with.

The vets have been testing her for diabetes, and theres been some talk of Cushings, but i think you need specific tests done for that.. level markers are under normal for each of those tests but not conclusive enough to act on

Ok reread your post and Renae doesn't search out anything weird, just for normal food stuff

I wish Gus put on weight!! I went away for 3 days and OH dad fed him lots of liver and beef product and he got a little fat but he isnt suppose to eat any of that as soon as we cut it right out the weight went down. Im going to start cooking up a heap of porrige and seeing if that does anything.

but its the odd things he eats that worry me, you think his primal instinct would be "dont eat the chemical stuff" but he goes right in there.. ow yea the other day he ripped up a bag of lawn food and ate that, beer testing kit stuff ate that.... he will just eat everything!! like he poos out whole macedamias.

[Dogsfevr]

Could simply be what the dog is being feed isn't filling enough.

I now its harder with Dallies with issues but maybe look at other options ,if he put weight on with those 2 foods he can't have it might be fair to say what your feeding isn't enough to keep Gus happy & content.

The porridge could be a great filler in his case

Edited March 11, 2013 by showdog

[Starkehre]

Sounds pretty normal to me.

That's not to say there isn't anything wrong with Gus, I couldn't say, but my dogs would all eat themselves to death if they were given half a chance, I'm sure. And I love them that way. I train to them extremely high food drive as it assist with training. I would never expect them to have a "I am full so I will stop eating" switch, like cats and humans do (or are supposed to).

His leaness could either be just an age thing, genetics or perhaps you are expecting there to be more of him than there should be, can't say without seeing him.

Perhaps he isn't being fed enough. There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to quantities. I always look at the dog when feeding an adjust accordingly, not the recommendations on the pack.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to get it looked at, but just judging from what you have said about the eating, alone it is not an issue as such.

Edited March 11, 2013 by dyzney

[lovemesideways]

I would speak to a vet, maybe look at placing him on a fully raw diet with other supplements? My GSD would eat about 3 full bowls of biscuits without putting on any weight but on a proper raw diet he is going great. Some dogs just work differently. My partners GSD is currently in between diets, looking for the right mix of meats to help her to gain weight.

Ruling out health issues, I would also speak to a behaviouralist. It was a behaviour that was probably rewarding, fun destruction and also tasty. Now all that practice has made it much more permanent. Hes been practising the behaviour long enough that you'll need some proper training to get rid of it.

Till then, I would be crating him or having him on a tie up at all times so he doesn't have the chance to eat anything when your back it turned. Management will only get you so far though, speak to a vet and then possible a trainer ASAP. Wait for the day he grabs something life threatening

[mel_]

I feel your pain Cavaliers are known to love food but my 14 month old is ALWAYS scavenging for things to eat too, especially things that shouldn't be eaten. He even does it right after he's had a meal. Sticks, rocks, poo (his own, possum), gum nuts, used bandaids, gum, snail shells, wrappings from food, bark, tissues, rotting food, you name it! This is stuff he finds on his walks too, not in my backyard haha.

[Nekhbet]

If he's thin then feed him more often across the day of what he's allowed to eat. He's hungry and lacking something in his diet so he's scavenging.

As for not allowed beef, is it medical or preferential? If he gains weight from it and has no side affects it might be worth trying. I have a mal here at the moment that tries the same thing, you put the food down and he eats like he's starving to death. It's a learned behavior though, we're getting there :laugh: he's not trying to swallow my hand for a treat now

[TheCheekyMonster]

He gets 3 cups of Artemis in the morning and at night he will get 2 frames thats bare minimum, he will sometimes get eggs, yoghurt and sardines with it.

[huga]

If Sid is put on quality dry food, he can eat 3 cups a day and maintain his weight (which is about 12kgs). He eats nearly three times as much as my pug to maintain his weight. Some dogs just need more.

[The Spotted Devil]

Is he neutered? Zig used to eat 5 cups of Artemis a day and still look thin. It's only the last few years he's gone down to 2.5 - 3. I feed 1/4 chicken with joint removed if he's on the thinner side rather than frames.

ETA: More pica type behaviour can be boredom or stress. For those not aware Dallies can't have high purine foods so beef, liver etc are out.

Edited March 11, 2013 by The Spotted Devil

[tdierikx]

My camp dog Pickles (14kg and lean) eats everything she can get her mouth on too... sticks, rocks, poop, bedding, etc... and she's 2.5 years old now and not slowing down at all. She also eats twice the amount of food than recommended for her size, but as she's a "busy" dog, feeding more is par for the course... *grin*

All of my 4 dogs have a thing for eating poop too... grrr! But it makes the poo patrol less onerous I suppose... lol!

T.

[YOLO]

I don’t think this is dietary issue. Many dogs are opportunistic feeders, constantly on the lookout for food. (Certainly all the big dogs I have owned have been.)

However your dog’s case is extreme as it doesn’t differentiate between “food” and “not food.” In all honesty this is more likely to psychological.

My Suggestion is lots of HARD tasty things for him to chew on. BIG beef bones, rawhide chews, etc. You could also try some aversion therapy by putting hot chilli on other items you think he may eat.

[TheCheekyMonster]

Is he neutered? Zig used to eat 5 cups of Artemis a day and still look thin. It's only the last few years he's gone down to 2.5 - 3. I feed 1/4 chicken with joint removed if he's on the thinner side rather than frames.

ETA: More pica type behaviour can be boredom or stress. For those not aware Dallies can't have high purine foods so beef, liver etc are out.

Nope not neutered, and yea he really cant have liver and beef, or lamb.. his urine changes colour and he gets allergies to lamb which is why i cant feed him pro plan, Artemis is the only kibble which has done wonders for his skin.

He is currently 25kg and exactly 24" from the withers a good hight Dallie I think 27kg is a good starting weight for him not too big not too small, but he is thin you can see ribs I'll up his food intake to some more meatier chicken pieces and turkey and some oats and see how we go.

A friend did suggest it was behavioural and I tend to have a feeling she is right, he is currently in a stressed environment and is a pretty nervous dog in the sense he is always excited and full on, he will lick Nala's face to try and make her regurgitate. Ill get a blood test done and see if he is low in anything.

Can anyone suggest a vet in sydney/greater sydney that specialises in this type of stuff? or any vet can do it??

Edited March 11, 2013 by TheCheekyMonster

[TheCheekyMonster]

I don't think this is dietary issue. Many dogs are opportunistic feeders, constantly on the lookout for food. (Certainly all the big dogs I have owned have been.)

However your dog's case is extreme as it doesn't differentiate between "food" and "not food." In all honesty this is more likely to psychological.

My Suggestion is lots of HARD tasty things for him to chew on. BIG beef bones, rawhide chews, etc. You could also try some aversion therapy by putting hot chilli on other items you think he may eat.

Tabasco sauce and Gus are best mates, we tried that one lol, also we cant have food out during the day... Nala cant be fed near him. But when he is eating non food items she couldn't care less.