Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My dog is just turned two and weighs 110 pounds. Last time we saw the vet she recommended that we go from one feeding a day to multiple smaller meals. Since then he's been acting like he is constantly on the verge of starvation.

He's not the kind of dog that suffers in silence either. When he's hungry he complains, drags his empty bowl (or his full water dish) around the kitchen, or sits by his food bag and sighs.

He wasn't overweight to begin with (he's just big boned, really). He's getting the same amount of the same kind of food (Purina One Large Breed) that he was getting before, plus treats. He has never gotten table scraps although he'll eat anything he can find that doesn't eat him first (compost, ear mite medication, rusted metal from an old grill, aerosol disinfectant, antifreeze(!!!!), and a lightbulb).

Is he overreacting? Am I just a soft touch? Is there really something behind this?

>>My dog is just turned two and weighs 110 pounds. Last time we saw the vet she recommended that we go from one feeding a day to multiple smaller meals. Since then he's been acting like he is constantly on the verge of starvation.
>>
>>He's not the kind of dog that suffers in silence either. When he's hungry he complains, drags his empty bowl (or his full water dish) around the kitchen, or sits by his food bag and sighs.
>>
>>He wasn't overweight to begin with (he's just big boned, really). He's getting the same amount of the same kind of food (Purina One Large Breed) that he was getting before, plus treats. He has never gotten table scraps although he'll eat anything he can find that doesn't eat him first (compost, ear mite medication, rusted metal from an old grill, aerosol disinfectant, antifreeze(!!!!), and a lightbulb).
>>
>>Is he overreacting? Am I just a soft touch? Is there really something behind this?

Hooray for your vet. One meal a day can be downright dangerous for breeds susceptible to bloat like the GSD.

I suspect your relationship with your dog may be based too much on food. Branch out! You have one of the geniuses of the dog world living with you. Teach her stuff, do stuff with her, learn together. Get into a training class, teach her tricks, get busy! That will get her mind off her stomach.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

I'd worry about over weight. definately feed sev. times a day. there are lots of excellent posts about nutrition on different forums. Check out Pharoh hound, you may have to scroll down or go back a page or 2, but there are lots of natural things that you can feed that won't add weight. I agree that keeping him busy could help as well. Have you done any blood work, like thryoid comes to mind. I am not an expert, just relaying what I've heard on other boards. Also RAW bones, fresh meat some swear by, there is a photo in the Pharoh forum of 1 hound with a whole raw rib cage of ? a deer ? or something big! Its scary to go raw, but it really works for lots of us.