is a poor appetite normal? - Page 1

my 7 month old GSD female just doesnt seem to care about food anymore.  she will scarf down any raw meat I give her, but she turns her nose up at the Wellness Large breed puppy food.  I switched her to TOTW, thinking she was ready for big doggie food and something new.  she sniffed and walked away.  I mixed it with can food.  she still didnt want it, until my older dog strolled into the room.

I gave up trying to feed her 3 times a day soon after I brought her home.  she doesnt want food early in the day.  so now, here it is almost 3pm and I am trying to feed her the first of her two daily meals, and she doesnt want it.  she weights about 57 pounds.  Is she spoiled?  I don't want to go the all meat route with her for various reasons.  It just seems like her appetite has really decreased this past 3 weeks.

am I worrying too much?

Once a day would be better now. 
I prefer evenings, or early morning.
Changing feed should be done gradually.
Has she had her first heat cycle yet?
Yes I'm sure she is spoiled.....lol.

Skip a whole day, mix everything your feeding together, and yes my dogs will eat anything rather than leave something for the other.  
Wet dry food just a little, it helps.
Its not normal per say, but not uncommon.
Not to worry.

I think you have just spoiled her taste buds with the raw meat.  She'll eat if she gets hungry enough.   If she eats when the other dog comes near, she sounds fine, just a tad picky.

Around my house we have the nose out rule, If the nose comes out of the bowl while eating the bowl comes off the ground. You would be amazed how well it helps food drive and obedience. Every body works for food before they eat.  

Freda -- She is spoiled.   The same thing happened with my dog.  He is 7 1/2 months now.  I feed Orijen with Wellness Canned meat as a mixer....I divide one can of meat into 3 portions.   I started twice a day feedings when he was about 5 months.   Anyway, when I started adding Ground Beef is when it all started.   He would go to the bowl and smell the food ....and if no Ground Beef was in it,  he would walk away.   After about 30 minutes, I would take the food away.   I would try again a few hours' later, and the same thing would happen.   Many times it would be 11:00 p.m. before he would eat his first meal of the day.

Sooooo, I changed things around some and so far it is working.  I feed him just 1 Cup of Orijen mixed with an Egg Yolk around 8:00 a.m.   He eats it all.   Then I feed him his big meal in the evening -- 3 Cups of Orijen, a little Wellness Meat, and a portion of Ground Beef --  X-Large Meat-ball size.   (I microwave the GB w/some water -- I do not cook it completely.  Then I add the GB w/the water, and he eats the entire meal between 8-9 in the evening.)    Good Luck !!


PS   Don't forget to let the GB / Water cool off before adding 

thanks for the info and tips.  one thing that I read when i brought my puppy home, is that larger dogs should not be fed only once a day because it can cause bloat.  If for some reason I did just feed her once, I would only do the 2 cups she is used to. 

and OMG, I listened to my puppy trainer and taught her to ring the bell when she wants outside,   the back door is through the kitchen.  by the time I get there, she is waiting for me, but not at the door where the bell is, but back in the kitchen sitting in front of the treat drawer!   she has outsmarted me!  I just open the door anyway when she does that and if she doesnt go out, I walk away.  little pest   lol  I am cutting down on doggie snacks for sure, though I usually only giver her two a day.

and no, she hasnt had her first heat yet.  I was wondering if it might have something to do with this, like PMS maybe, affecting her appetit.

Freda, That is so flippen funny, she is ringing the bell for a treat, I am still laughing.

Freda -- What type of bell?   How did you get her to ring it?   It sounds as if she can walk around your house?   I can never leave my dog in a room by himself -- he would wreck it in a matter of minutes !!!

She will NOT eat if you starve her -- that's dangerous.

MANY gsd's have significant GI issues, allergies, and digestive problems.

This is a terrible breed for people who want to throw down anything and have their dog scarf it up. 

I had a dog who under pressure from an idiot vet nearly died of starvation while I waited for her hunger to kick in.  Her kidney was destroyed in the process.

Feed your dog what she will eat and stop worrying about dogma about how she "should" eat.  Sell her if you cannot afford to feed her what she needs.

And Bob McKown's "nose out" rule is just another sign that some people should not be allowed to own animals.  He is a control freak and abusive, if he is telling the truth.  (I suspect he is nicer than he is letting on.)