Our 2 year old black lab has lost his appetite over the last couple of weeks. He has always been fed kibble (Orijen) and been happy with it, but now on some days (not all) he simply doesn't want to eat. All other signs are normal, he looks healthy, his weight is fine, he seems happy, not in pain, walks as usual, runs around, still as energetic as usual, playful etc. Just not hungry. We have never fed him other food and expect that if we start him on canned meat there will be no way back. Any thoughts?
There are loads of reasons for loss of appetite. Illness, bitches in season, just gone off the food, too hot maybe the foods off or tooth problems. I've had dogs go off food for various reasons over the years. They've always picked up and started to eat again. If you are worried get him checked by your vet.i know some people have had trouble with food that's gone off and the dogs refused to eat it. Is he just not hungry It's never been a problem moving from tinned back to kibble for my dogs, if they like it they eat it. I often if they seem tired of their food mixed a few spoonfuls if tinned into their kibble to encourage them to eat. I wouldn't worry about them becoming picky eaters.
If he'll eat a tasty treat I would be suspicious of the bag of food, either it's off or he's fed up with it, if he won't eat a tasty morsel either I would be taking him to the vet.
Labs are remarkably resilient and can put up with a lot of discomfort. Just because he's acting normal doesn't mean that everything's OK. I agree with @mandyb - if he won't eat a tasty morsel then maybe a trip to the vet would be a good precaution.
Thanks all for the replies. I think and hope it may just be a rogue bag of kibble. Having bought a different kibble, he has eaten it without hesitation; so I think his nose is telling him something...
You say that, but I do wonder. I've seen the things that get past their noses and into their bellies!
True. I give Tatze an apple now and again. She refused it yesterday, I cut it open and yup - it had a rotten core. Good nose for off food. Not so much yucky horse poo ‘tho, she’ll eat that no trouble .
Oh my goodness if you could see the state of decay of the apples Cassie will eat -- fermenting practically, sometimes I wonder why I don't just buy her a pint of cider Horse poo though, she doesn't touch. Taste's vary to they not!
