Poppy is Starving...

[BabyElephant]

I don't know if I should up her food intake or not, but Poppy is starving hungry these past few days. She has her normal food and then she will start crying and whining for more a few hours later. I swear she could eat a horse.

Now this gives me several problems, firstly I only ever defrost her meal allowance, no more in case she wastes it. I have it frozen in meal sized packages. Secondly, she is a lab, and labs are known for eating like pigs and ending up looking like pigs if you let them and I don't want this to happen.

So I'm wondering, is this normal? She has put on another 4.5 lbs in the last month. She is still within the breed standard and acceptable weight for her frame so is this her final growth spurt? She is now 18 months old. Or is it because it's suddenly become VERY cold over here and she needs more energy?

Any ideas?????

[southern_girl09]

Haven has been doing the same way.. I usually give her a can in the morning.. dry in the afternoon and a can at night.. (can food and dry food)
I was thinking maybe its because she may need more energy for the cold too.. HYm..

[Dax]

Merlin does this too. He eats more than Ariel and still looks for more. I would ignore her or better yet, keep some of the ration as an after dinner snack.

Maybe there are some low cal treats you can make up for her - small chunks of apple or other fresh vegtables might fill her desires.

[ravybaby]

I can only go off my labs and Darren has always up their food intake in the winter, as they use more calories keeping warm, all of them are greedy lol, barley has been winning for more but she has just come into season,! Does poppy’s food disappear as soon as you put it down, with our three you turn round and its gone, but the cockers take their time with their food?

[southern_girl09]

Yeah, I always give Haven a bone after she gets threw eating just so she will have something to eat on.. Even though she still begs..

I would either give her little treats sometimes after.. or do what Dax said.

[gradysmomma]

I don't know about you but I feed my dog like I feed my children if they hungry feed them, to me it all balances out in the end because animals and children alike there are times when they are just plain not hungry and don't eat properly for a day or two.
If it has become very cold all of a sudden Poppy may be looking to build some fat up to keep her warm or it could be a final growth spurt.

[BabyElephant]

That's the thing, she doesn't bolt down her food, she does take her time eating it. She never, ever used to even clear her bowl, she would always pick at it but since she's been on raw she has been eating it all up nicely, it's only been these past few days. She does have other treats as well which I take out of her food allowance but it seems she wants more food...

Dax, "I" would ignore her, but hubby won't Actually I'm going to make some of the treats from the doggy recipe book you sent me for Christmas, I think I might eat some too! Hmmmmm, I'm not sure how low cal they are though!

[ravybaby]

Could it be hormonal? Ive given up with barley I had her booked in for her hips to be scored next tuesday , then she goes and comes into season again when she only had one 41/2 months ago,? will have to wait till feb now!!

[Dobified]

Is she loosing weight ? If she is loosing weight up her food, add more veggies and up the meat. I never weight the food I eye it.


Add things like Milled flax seed, that is high in good fats and vitamins and Omgea's.

If she is not loosing weight and maintaining it where you want then you are doing just fine.

[Aria]

my oldest dog was doing that, you would think we never fed her, but i was told a long time ago, that if you give your dog a plain rice cake ( stuff you would buy for yourself) as a snack between meals, it helps with the weight issue, and also makes them feel more full b/c it puffs up in their tummy... this may be a fix for ya =)