MartinP Posted July 25, 2008 Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 Hi all Need some more advice with regards to my GSP Bane and his food. The little blighter turned a year old last month and with his weight, we have changed to ADULT food. (Oh the big boy!!!) We have had a new addition to the family in the last 2 weeks, a little baby boy (a future pigeon watch member) and Bane has been really good with him, absolutly no major concerns. Since changing food, Bane's intake has changed. He will only have a few mouth fulls before leaving it, resulting in the rest being binned (flys etc ). He doesn't appear to be losing weight but when i took him for a walk in the field today, he only lasted about 1/2 hour before he was knackered and couldn't do much more than walk ahead of me. He didn't respond as usual to commands to go left, right and search etc. I am unsure if he is got the hump at the new arrival or if he doesn't like the adult food. He is now on James Well Beloved Duck and Rice which was changed from JWB, lamb and vegetable which he appeared to dislike. Has anyone experienced a similar pattern when changing from puppy to adult food and if so, what food has been accepted or do i presume he is protesting to the new arrival and if so, long lomg should i expect the hunger strike to last. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob300w Posted July 25, 2008 Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 Hi allNeed some more advice with regards to my GSP Bane and his food. The little blighter turned a year old last month and with his weight, we have changed to ADULT food. (Oh the big boy!!!) We have had a new addition to the family in the last 2 weeks, a little baby boy (a future pigeon watch member) and Bane has been really good with him, absolutly no major concerns. Since changing food, Bane's intake has changed. He will only have a few mouth fulls before leaving it, resulting in the rest being binned (flys etc ). He doesn't appear to be losing weight but when i took him for a walk in the field today, he only lasted about 1/2 hour before he was knackered and couldn't do much more than walk ahead of me. He didn't respond as usual to commands to go left, right and search etc. I am unsure if he is got the hump at the new arrival or if he doesn't like the adult food. He is now on James Well Beloved Duck and Rice which was changed from JWB, lamb and vegetable which he appeared to dislike. Has anyone experienced a similar pattern when changing from puppy to adult food and if so, what food has been accepted or do i presume he is protesting to the new arrival and if so, long lomg should i expect the hunger strike to last. thanks You will probably find that the lack of interest in food, and the short walk is more a matter of the hot weather than a sulk/strike. Try taking him out early, before the sun is up, you will probably find him a different dog, also feed him when it's cooler. My cocker is exactly the same in hot weather, imagine wearing a fur coat in this heat, would you want to run around and play?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinP Posted July 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 Ahh, fool moi, makes sense. b Will keep this in mind. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted July 25, 2008 Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 (edited) when did you change his food? If his intake and eating habit changed as soon as you switched to adult food it is not down to hot weather. It is very rare that a dog will starve itself so if you have changed to an adult food and his eating habits changed straight away then change "flavours" as you have done until he finds something he has some enthusiasm for and then stick with it, offer it for 15 minutes at meal times then lift it and nothing else in between. But keep a close eye to make sure he doesn't take on so little it will lead to problems. Regards behaviour, I'm with bob on that, it is likely just too hot. Would doubt the new arrival has anything to do with it otherwise there would be more signs when your dog was near the baby (congrats by the way). Good luck & keep us posted. WGD Edited July 25, 2008 by wgd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted July 25, 2008 Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 The dog won't starve to death, although that has happened before, add a few gravy granules and I mean a few. LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustyfox Posted July 25, 2008 Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 Or change the food gradually like 25/75 then 50/50 and so on. But Im with Bob its the hot weather. My dog when out in hot weather does not work as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob300w Posted July 25, 2008 Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 And don't be surprised if he gets the squitters as well, this has also always happened with my dog in hot weather! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinP Posted July 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 Ta guys, today cut down food a little and gave him it with gravy granuals. He ate 1/2 his morning feed afterwhich i topped up with a little. didn't give anything between meals and he ate the same amount this evening. Is still half his daily dose but more than he has eaten over the past few days. will carry on with this regime and see how things go. thanks for the advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob300w Posted July 25, 2008 Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 Yep, that's about what mine does also, 1/2 of her normal intake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted July 25, 2008 Report Share Posted July 25, 2008 My young GSP bitch Bree is and always has been a dog seemingly uninterested in her food, she eats it but is very leisurely and at times I have to encourage her to eat. I sometimes find if give her a dog biscuit or a small treat if she turns it down in the first place, it seems to wet her appetite enough to start her eating. I have been told by many people that GSP's can be strange in thier eating habits. A chap I met over the field last year told me his GSP dog would starve himself for a day or two every so often, point blank refuse any food then back to normal..........strange them GSP's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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