Ruby has stopped eating (kind of)

[Ruby B]

Ruby only came to us a couple of weeks ago. 7yo female Lakeland terrier, overweight. First few days she ate everything, was a bit quiet and didn't mind a walk.

Last few days she has been a bundle of energy getting plenty of exercise but no longer wants her doggie food. is always looking for human scraps though

We're feeding same as her last keeper, she didn't get out much there.

Anything I should be worried about?

 

[JudyN]

What food are you giving her - make & variety? How often does she get human scraps?

I wouldn't worry yet, but I'd monitor her weight if possible - if she's OK with being picked up you could carry her while standing on the bathroom scales, then subtract your weight.

 

[Ruby B]

Was eating 100g Winalot pouches with a handful of mixer couple of times a day plus god knows how much previous owners were giving her from the table.

We're trying to cut out the table scraps but she's barely eating a single portion of her own food.

Saw the vet when we first collected her last week, she needs to lose about 3k apparently

 

[lurcherman]

Shouldn’t be a problem yet as the dog is overweight so do normal routine, put food down, if he does not eat pick it up and give it evening time and so on, you will win the battle I’m sure,

 

[Ruby B]

Thanks lurcherman, let the battle commence!

 

[Finsky]

Thanks lurcherman, let the battle commence!

All my Lakelands have been 'temperamental' eaters..they might eat something happily for a day or two and then point blank refuse after that and instead they rather 'starve'
So to get over this issue, I don't feed same stuff more than two days in the run and then give it a break for at least a week before offering it again. It has also been important that I've not tried to feed mine until they've clearly shown they are hungry and ready for the food. Food has been never focus of their life with Lakies...they can take or leave it and mine have always eaten more for 'fuelling' rather than for great pleasure like with some other breeds.
Rather than feeding your dog routinely certain times of the day...see if her tummy has its own feeding needs. Mine rarely eat proper food before 12...they might just have just have a teeny nibble of something and they don't show hunger signs until afternoon and have their second meal few hours after that and some days they like to nibble their food as and when they walk by rather than clearing the plate in a one go. Those days I keep some food back and add on the plate as the food goes down....I'm feeding the 'with the flow'. When the food is nutritious, they won't need a lot in quantity.
As your dog is in need of loosing little bit of the excess weight...don't worry about the feeding. Like mentioned, offer the food and if she is not showing any interest and turning her nose up, cover it and put it away and offer it again later on

 

[JudyN]

Winalot's not a great food - check out the opinion of the All About Dog Food website: The Dog Food Directory - now listing 2168 dog foods! You can use that website to recommend foods based on your dog's characteristics and what you can afford. I would try her on something better quality, but you'd need to transition over 10 days or so.

 

[Ruby B]

All my Lakelands have been 'temperamental' eaters..they might eat something happily for a day or two and then point blank refuse after that and instead they rather 'starve'
So to get over this issue, I don't feed same stuff more than two days in the run and then give it a break for at least a week before offering it again. It has also been important that I've not tried to feed mine until they've clearly shown they are hungry and ready for the food. Food has been never focus of their life with Lakies...they can take or leave it and mine have always eaten more for 'fuelling' rather than for great pleasure like with some other breeds.
Rather than feeding your dog routinely certain times of the day...see if her tummy has its own feeding needs. Mine rarely eat proper food before 12...they might just have just have a teeny nibble of something and they don't show hunger signs until afternoon and have their second meal few hours after that and some days they like to nibble their food as and when they walk by rather than clearing the plate in a one go. Those days I keep some food back and add on the plate as the food goes down....I'm feeding the 'with the flow'. When the food is nutritious, they won't need a lot in quantity.
As your dog is in need of loosing little bit of the excess weight...don't worry about the feeding. Like mentioned, offer the food and if she is not showing any interest and turning her nose up, cover it and put it away and offer it again later on

Thanks finsky, sounds familiar. Her energy levels are good, get the feeling she's just waiting for roast chicken with all the trimmings