sugarsmomma
Grey Lover
Maelle captured by the fantastic Leslie Town
Posts: 551
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Post by sugarsmomma on Feb 27, 2011 2:17:14 GMT -5
For the past couple of days, Maelle has been going to her bowl at strange times like 10 pm, 11 pm or later. We're usually up until 12:30- 1 am, she stays with us of course and this is the norm for her. At first, she would come up to me and stare at me for no apparent reason, and I had no idea what she wanted. One of those times I saw her go to her bowl looking for food on the way back to her bed so I put a small amount of food in her bowl just to see if that was it and she gobbled it right up. The only reason I've been giving it to her so late these past few days (again, a very small amount) is because I wasn't the one who fed her dinner and Kevin wasn't home to ask him how much he fed her. I was afraid that maybe he'd not given her quite enough so I'd rather her have a little extra than be hungry. Tonight, Kevin showed me how much he gives her which is consistent with what we have always done. We've been feeding her the same amount for 6 months so why all of a sudden now is she going to her bowl so late? She's never done this before now. Anyone else have any experience with this?
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Post by Heather (& KC) on Feb 27, 2011 8:56:30 GMT -5
Yes. Max is eating more these days. I think he's more active with the warmer temps. I put down more than the bag says and sometimes he eats it all and sometimes he leaves some. He's under his race weight by 5 lbs and right now has a bit more rib showing than he has had. He's an only dog so I actually put all his food down in the morning and he eats a little in the morning, some in the afternoon and the evening and night. I used to put half down in the morning and half in the evening but it didn't change his eating pattern so I just fill it up in the a.m.
He's not a real foodie (only for cheese and black things....dehydratedlivertreats.com). But, sometimes he runs out of food and comes and gives us "the look". I give him more because he has no weight problems and is very active. As long as he's not eating a lot at once I don't worry. Of course if he gained weight I'd handle it differently.
I'm sure he'd be different if we had another hound around that was interested in his food!
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Post by Heather (& KC) on Feb 27, 2011 9:05:01 GMT -5
And p.s......Yes I'd say she's hungry if she eats the extra you put down!
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greytluck
Grey Addicted
Hobbes- Always loved, never forgotten.
Posts: 2,335
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Post by greytluck on Feb 27, 2011 10:04:12 GMT -5
If she is maintaining a good weight and her exercise level hasn't increased I doubt she is really all that hungry. Corinna would eat until she burst if we let her. I'm sure if we feed her an extra time even once she would figure it should be done again every day. She is just a chow hound so we have to regulate her food so she doesn't become fat.
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sugarsmomma
Grey Lover
Maelle captured by the fantastic Leslie Town
Posts: 551
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Post by sugarsmomma on Feb 27, 2011 11:11:22 GMT -5
See, that's the thing. Maelle is not a "chow hound" as you called it which is why I think this is so weird. Sometimes when she's fed in the morning she doesn't eat all her food, and will go back a few hours later for the rest. But, then she usually eats all her food at one time at dinner. She's only been doing this the past few days after 6 months of being here, and her exercise level has not increased. In fact, she's been getting less exercise since December since we can't get her to runs as frequently due to weather or weekend commitments. She's gotten a few laps in some backyards and gets her usual 4 walks a day and seems to be maintaining her weight. Maybe I'll just try giving her a little extra at dinner and see if that solves the problem because like you said greytluck, I don't want her to get into the habit of expecting food at 11 pm.
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quietstorm
Hound Nut
Officially at Capacity!
Posts: 1,593
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Post by quietstorm on Feb 27, 2011 11:16:04 GMT -5
I was just talking to another greyhound owner about how skinny our dogs were this winter!
My boys have been eating a ridiculous amount of food and still they are skinny. I've up'd the treats as well with little change. I do see a bit of weight back on Force but Ranger I'm still seeing ribs.
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Post by krissy on Feb 27, 2011 11:31:09 GMT -5
Summit is a "chow hound" but even he doesn't come looking for more food in the evening. He always checks in his bowl when he walks by the kitchen though, 'cause sometimes I throw left overs in there while I'm putting around in the kitchen... so you never know. He's a skinny boy I guess. I can JUST see most of his ribs. He gets 3 cups of kibble, has since we got him. Recently with all the obedience training his treat intake has skyrocketed. I decided to wait and see if he'd put on weight and if he did I'd drop his kibble. But so far, nadda. In spite of getting 3 or 4 times as many treats he is still maintaining his weight. I hope to have his metabolism when I am an equivalent age (ha! Not likely).
But yeah, he'll look in his bowl all the time but I don't think he's hungry. I think he's just a food mongrel.
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Aradex
Junior Grey Lover
Posts: 319
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Post by Aradex on Feb 27, 2011 16:28:17 GMT -5
It might be that she's been burning calories because of the cold and has been needing a little extra. My two get just over 3 cups each per day in the winter and just under in the summer because the cold makes them burn their food and the warmth helps them retain it, even though they're getting 4 times the exercise in the summer.
First, I'd check her stool for worms. I know those can cause hunger while bloating the stomach so the dog doesn't look as underweight. If she's clean, I'd reserve a half cup or so from her evening meal and give that to her at night for the next week or so and keep an eye on her condition. If she starts losing weight, then she likely needs more food. If she staying the same, it might just be that she feels there's a bit too much time in between her meals and wants the evening snack.
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Redhead
Grey Lover
Teague (Natural Red Head)
Posts: 823
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Post by Redhead on Feb 27, 2011 18:10:35 GMT -5
My pups usually eat dinner at around 4-5:00 so they sometimes get a bit hungry later on. I always give them each a kong before bed each night, which has solved the problem for me. I just put in a few little liver treats, some cheese or peanut butter, and then I stick one of those dehdrated chicken strips in. They go potty and run upstairs next to the bed just waiting for it each night. A nice little bedtime snack!
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sugarsmomma
Grey Lover
Maelle captured by the fantastic Leslie Town
Posts: 551
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Post by sugarsmomma on Feb 27, 2011 21:27:22 GMT -5
I just had a worm check done on her a few months ago and it came back negative. I'll keep an eye on her, and try the little bit of extra food or some extra treats at bedtime and see how that goes. Thanks for the tips everyone!
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Post by luvastorm on Feb 28, 2011 14:47:11 GMT -5
Could she be burning extra calories to keep warm? Does she have any garment that she wears in the house? Maybe she needs one.
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