I have got a 10 month old long haired GSD bitch, she hasnt eaten a full meal for about 3 weeks, when she first stared this I changed her food from prize choice mixed with Beta Junior to Bakers complete she ate nearly all of it the first time, but then would only eat maybe a handful a day, then she stoped eating it all together, after a couple of days I took it she didn't like so I've gone back to the prize choice and Beta which she has not eaten at all.
At first I wasn't to worried as I saw my vet in town and told her Saffy was not eating she said it was the hot weather and lots of dogs were the same, but this has gone on a long time now and I'm starting to worry it looks like she has lost weight. She is also behaving badly at the moment its like shes gone back to her puppy nipping could this have anything to do with her not eating she seems to as playful as ever,
I just cant work out whats wrong I hope someone out there can help?
Thanks K

Hi, I have read here that GSD's often do well on Chappie tins and a good quality mixer. The standard diet for a dog that wont eat/has tummy upsets is chicken and rice - plain boiled deboned chicken and rice ditto + a good vit/min supplement like SA37. You could try that for a fortnight and then gradually re introduce a food to try and keep her on. .

Hi I have a 3yo. GSD bitch, & she will only eat winalot tinned food & pedigree small bite mixer, if I buy anything else, she either leaves it for the cats to eat, or she eats some & can't go to the loo for a poo.

I have a 17 month old longcoat GSD bitch and she was a very picky eater up until she was spayed at 13 months of age. Like you I would try one brand and she would eat it for a few days before turning her nose up at it, so I would try something else. GSDs are a clever breed and she may be testing you to see if you will keep feeding her something new - and therefore more interesting. I tried Flame (my bitch) on James Wellbeloved, Arden Grange, Burns and Naturediet before deciding enough was enough and was going to have to just eat one brand. She is now on Naturediet and can't get enough of it. I think you have to be strong, choose one brand, give her a reasonable amount of time to eat it and if she doesn't then take it away until her next mealtime. I very much doubt she will starve herself for too long - and if she does then take her back to the vet as she may be unwell. Have you tried Naturediet? Most dogs seem to love it and Flame looks very well on it. Also, are you getting your bitch spayed? - as you may find her appetite increases after this.
Let us know how she gets on.
Kirsty

Unfortunately by changing her food you are encouraging her to become picky.Decide what YOU want her to eat.When you feed her leave it down for 5 mins then take it away and dispose of it.Do not give her ANYTHING else until her next meal time.It might take a couple of days but stick to your guns and it should work.
Archer
P.S.If this doesn't work I would have her spayed as it could well be hormonal

Hi K

GSD's are unfortunately notorious for dodgy tummies and weird eating habits. My own are no exception. I've had to live with a dog who didn't like to eat and it's a real pain in the butt :(
There is so much choice with diets around and what works for some will not work for others. The recommendation of a particular diet is not necessarily going to make any difference to your dog.
My own fussy eater suffers terribly with health problems so what works for him is leaving his meal down all day and he eats here and there when he wants to. He has a complete dry diet. It hasn't always been possible for me to do that with him because I have had other dogs living in the house.
Picking up his meal after half an hour or so and taking it away never taught him to eat while the food was available. It works for some but my dog just got thinner and thinner :( The less he ate the less he wanted to eat.
Do you feed lots of chews and treats through the day? These could be appearing more desirable than her meal.
Sneaking her food into her is an option if you use a complete diet. When you are training her use a handful or two and offer pieces of the biscuit as rewards. It soon goes down and counts toward the full portion.
Regarding the chewing - this can be perfectly normal. Dogs go through more than one chewing phase when they are growing up and when they finish teething the second exploratory chewing phase can be worse than the first. Give her plenty of toys to chew on.
Lara x

Hi, Just joined the board and I wanted to add that I too have a GSD (11 months old) wont eat. He has only been here a fews days with us, so I know I have to give him time to settle in, but he is painfully thin already and so we really can not let him continue this way for long.

I'd juts like to say thanks for everyone that answered K, you have helped me too.

I will let you know how I go on with mine, I hope yours is now eating properly?

Chris

Hi Chris just to let you know that Saffy is eating ok now well most of the time! I am giving her chappie with pedigree mixer she seems to eat that, I used to feed her prize choice which is raw minced meat you can get that frozen in most pet shops, I still give her that sometimes but I cook it first and add some gravy. As for the weight I thought Saffy had lost loads when she was not eating she looked so thin and still does look thin to what she did, but the vet weighed her and in fact she has put on so I'm not worried about that, the vet said she looks a lot thiner because she is in her summer coat, shes long haired and thinking about it every day I had a carrier bag full of hair. She is nearly 13 months now and alot better behaved I have had a few problems with her mostly puppy biting which has only just stoped about 6 weeks ago I was always covered in bruises, I have found this site a great help and I have learned alot from it and everyone is always so helpfull, so I thank them all too. I hope you get on ok with you dog. Also the hot weather does not help much with the eating problem. Keep me imformed how you get on.
K
Sooz, No she wasn't in season it was mid way though her cycle, But thanks anyway. K

Hey K

GHr8 to hear that have things are more sorted there, we are still a ways off here, better than we were after 4-5 days rice, etc, but not right yet.

I think now that he may be trying it on a bit, seeing what he can get his hands on.. only reason is that he has taken two lots of dried food in a row and eaten both bowls, not what I would have thought from a dog that was on tinned food.

Best be off

Take care

Chris

Could she not be in season????