He's starving, She's a Tubby

[Evie&Adam]

Over the last few months, Adam has been on strike. He refuses to eat his kibble. So we have tried switching foods a couple of times. For about a week each, he will eat his food. Then back to refusing. I have tried to the point I cannot stand it, to leave his food and pick it up if he won't eat. But he is starving!! Adam has become so hungry that he will leap the kitchen table to take a bagel from the kids, and even has figured out how to get into the pantry to help himself to cereal!!! Around 2A.M., Adam is so starving that he will annoy DH and I endlessly!!

So, I started mixing homecooking with kibble. Now, he eats about half of the kibble, but he is still terribly hungry. AND to make it worse, Evie is gobbling up his left overs.

Adam has now lost about 30 pounds. The vet says he's still healthly, just super slim, and we are waiting for the blood test results for any potential medical problems. Though we don't think there's any medical issues. Evie has pretty much chucked out with the over eating despite our best efforts.

While I don't mind homecooking, it's ending up being much more time consuming that I anticipated - and expensive. I would much prefer to feed kibble. So, before I go out and give another food a try, I thought I'd ask for suggestions......

I'm looking for a top quality food that will entice Adam to eat, but cannot have corn or wheat as Evie is allergic. They both really like the homecooking, so maybe if there's something close???

 

[gmacleod]

If it's kibble you're set on, then I'd be inclined to make the suggestion of something like Innova EVO (there are a couple of formulas to choose from). It's a high meat and protein food, with no grains. Can't guarantee that it's going to tempt him since it is still a dehydrated biscuit food - but it may be worth a try. Being a pretty nutritious kibble, he shouldn't have to consume a great deat to meet his daily needs.

Providing the kibble isn't preserved with citric acid (EVO is not), you could perhaps try pre-soaking it. Some dogs find it a bit more palatable that way. And another thought is to replace the homecooked component of what you're currently feeding with a high quality, grainless canned food.

Other suggestions: If cost is not an issue, you could perhaps look into something like The Honest Kitchen. That's a dehydrated food that you rehydrate prior to feeding (not a baked/extruded kibble) and may be a bit more appealing to him. On a similar note, you could always consider feeding pre-made raw food. That's no more time consuming than remembering to defrost a portion daily. Only downside is that both of these options can be a bit costly.

 

[Cami]

Boxers are WONDERFUL at guilting us into thinking they are starving. This prompts US to give them something WE think would be far yummier.
It is a true FACT that a healthy dog will NOT starve with a bowl of dog food available.
The fact that you have changed foods numerous times can only lead to a picky eater.
They will and CAN wait for something better and lose weight along the way. He seems to be doing this and training you at the same time.
Try the EVO and STICK with it until he realizes that this is his food. You can always change flavors to keep the variety going, but do so before he grows bored with it.
The canned food is another great idea. Even just a tablespoon, mixed with some water to make it a gravy-like consistency mixed in with dry kibble will work wonders.
Of course all of this ties into him getting a clean bill of health!

 

[Evie&Adam]

Update

Good news... Adam is eating wonderfully! Evie loves the new foods too!! I am now feeding Innova low cal mixed with 1/2 can Merrick Stew (hides Adams enzymes and meds too )

Now my problem is that they want MORE ALL THE TIME!!! arg!

I am currently feeding Adam 4 cups Innova and 1/2 can Merrick per day. Evie (who needs to loose some weight) is getting 3 cups and a drop of stew a day.

But they are always begging for more food! They act like they are starving. Adam will even harrass me ALL NIGHT trying to get more food! According to the Innova package, I am feeding the most recommended per day already.

Is this something I should give more time? or are they really still hungry???

 

[gmacleod]

Given Adam's recent bout with pancreatitis, I'd be a little cautious about giving him more food. Granted, he's probably got some weight to gain back and a low calorie food is likely to have him a bit hungry. But even so, better that he's a bit hungry and a little bit lean than suffering another bout.

If he's really that hungry, maybe adding some cooked green beans might help. He's not going to get much, if any, nutrition out of them - but that's kind of the point. It's a low/no fat filler that doesn't really have much of a downside.

In the longer term, you should monitor his weight and perhaps increase the food intake somewhat if he continues to lose, or doesn't gain back needed weight.

As for Evie... the beans might replace a little of her food also That would be mostly for weight loss purposes.

 

[Evie&Adam]

As always, thanks for the speedy reply!!

Honestly, I feel like I may be feeding Adam too much - ug. He is putting some weight back on, but is still extremely lean. Although he looks really good!!! I just worry that Adam will fill back out and I will have to cut his food back leaving me with a hungier guy!

I will try feeding some green beans and a little closer to bedtime (they usually eat around 6:30 pm)