I have witnessed the aging process of many dogs. I personally had a Pitbull that was puppy for so many years that when asked how old she was, I would say, “five.” However, I had her since she was about two, and at least five years had passed. “Oh,” I corrected myself, “she’s seven or eight!” I believe that is because most of us want to deny our dogs are seniors even before they hit their early teens.
From the age of twelve to thirteen, it was evident there is truth to the concept that dogs age approximately seven years to our one. To me, it appeared she literally aged in a few months. Sure, denial played a part, but so did the fact that our dogs are proud creatures. They will rally and pull it together to please us at times when if they were human, they would be curled up in bed making certain we knew how bad they felt!
I have also learned that dog hours are very different than ours. Moby will assure me at 3:00 that it is at least 6:00 or 7:00 in dog-time. He comes to me asking for dinner, as I assure him, “it’s only 3:00 so you’ll have to wait, Bud.” Just to keep things interesting, some days, I will put the food down early. All it means to them is a full belly and nap time. When the real 6:00 rolls around and they look at me like I’m forgetting something, I remind them they already ate dinner according to human time.
It’s ok to honor dog-time. Some would encourage tough love – I say, “pick your battles.” If feeding a dog at 3:00 (actually 6:00, their time), is the most you give in to your dog, you’re doing great!
No one wants to talk about over eating, yet most of us are guilty of it. We all know what excess calories can do to our bodies. I am not so sure that has translated yet to how we care for our dogs. Maybe there’s more that travels down the leash than our energy.
I’m speaking figuratively. While food doesn’t physically make its way from our hand down the leash, it can and does find its way from our hearts. If we feel sad for an animal that was once starving, we may over compensate by giving them too much food. If they are our dining buddy, we may give them food that would be better left on our plate (or in the garbage.) We “reward” them excessively because they are such good dogs!
When a dog becomes an extension of the human family, it may take on the habits and certainly the behaviors of the humans where it lives. Not all dogs can be free feeders in that if food is left out for them on a constant basis, they will overeat (a lot of humans can relate.) It’s not likely a dog living without human intervention would ever face the diseases and/or illnesses of what they experience from eating the doggy-junk food and from being over weight – even if that weight came from healthy excess calories.
Much like the Mother who tells a child to clean their plate, I witness as humans acknowledge feeling like they need to feed their dog proportions that are excessive because they feel bad that the dog was once starving. If their dog doesn’t eat what is placed in front of them, they add all sorts of goodies to entice the dog to indeed clean their plate. What if they were full? What if that particular day, they just weren’t that hungry. Of course, they will eat when tempted with what to us would be desert!
Below is an excerpt from an article about things our vets may not tell us. Why won’t the veterinarian talk with us about it? Talking about our dog being over weight is as sensitive a subject as speaking about it human to human. If you notice, there are isles in the pet stores dedicated to products that are equivalent to fast food for dogs. Unfortunately, it has the same affect on them as it does on us. Considering they age much faster than we do, the negative affects of a poor diet or excessive consumption shows up exponentially.
1. Your pet isn’t “extra-fluffy” or “big-boned.” According to Bernadine Cruz, DVM, member of the Iams Pet Wellness Council, it is estimated that 40 percent of pets in the U.S. are overweight. Obesity in pets can cause a number of health problems, from heart disease to diabetes to skin inflammation. “I wish that more pet owners monitored their pets’ weight,” says board certified veterinary nutritionist Edward Moser, DVM. To do so, Dr. Moser recommends visiting the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine website to help determine the presence or absence of body fat. Though ideal weights vary within breeds, there are general indicators of an overweight pet, including not being able to feel their ribs, seeing a pooch in their abdomen from the side, and panting and shortness of breath. After noting these factors, consult your vet to figure out if your pet needs to be put on a weight-loss plan.
If you have questions about a dog that is a picky eater or one who eats anything (and does), I am happy to assist in any way I can.
How important is the height of a dog’s bowl? I have read a lot of information regarding barrel-chested dogs (Great Danes, Boxers, Standard Poodles, etc) and how they should be fed from an elevated bowl. The school of thought is this would help to prevent bloat. Having known of several dogs who died from bloat even with the use of an elevated feeding bowl, I am not so certain it is necessary.
It may look more comfortable for the dog to not bend over; however, if they were eating in a more natural setting; i.e., a rat, rabbit, squirrel, they would not carry it around in order to find something to put it on so they could be more comfortable as they ate.
I have tried elevated and the eat-like-the-rest-of-the dogs bowl on the floor and Mac (who is very tall and barrel chested) prefers to get very comfortable. Since a contributor to bloat is caused from inhaling too much air as a dog eats quickly, I think Mac may be on to something. There’s no chance of that with him…
I have heard from numerous clients that their dog is a picky eater. They either say that or, “he doesn’t eat very much.” Typically, I suggest moistening the food with a little water and perhaps adding a few snippets of something a little more tasty than their kibble. This works for some dogs. There’s something about a little gravy that turns meal time into a treat!
I have had several of these “picky” eaters boarding with me, and guess what? When they were around other dogs eating, they paid more attention to their food bowl and making sure the other dogs did not move in on their what-used-to-appear-bland kibble.
It may not be feasible for you to have your dog eat with another dog, but I can almost guarantee, they would have a new appreciation for the food that is set before them! I don’t suggest feeding dogs out of the same bowl, but this was a photo opportunity I couldn’t pass up…
By the way – notice that two of the dogs are Pit Bulls. Somone forgot to tell them to be aggressive!
Do all dogs need to have their teeth cleaned? Tooth decay is very common in dogs. Some breeds, much like some humans, are prone to plaque and issues with their teeth. Genetics and nutrition play a huge part in it. There aren’t any bones in the soft toys our dogs love to disembowel. Perhaps if there were, the dog would also get a teeth cleaning while they chewed.
Clients often look to me for advice and ask if I clean my dogs’ teeth. I have to say I don’t. Not that I wouldn’t if it were needed, but thus far, it hasn’t been an issue. I’ve been known to be the common sense trainer. So, here’s my advice, if you have a dog that needs preventative care or will face infection, clean their teeth. However, if your dog’s teeth look good and there’s no concern, don’t!
I was in the pet store and a woman was asking if she should buy the peppermint or chicken flavored toothpaste for her pup. I suggested she get the kitty litter flavor and her dog would welcome teeth cleaning.
It’s not news that dark chocolate can be toxic to your dog. What to do? If they have ingested the chocolate within an hour or two, you can induce vomiting by giving them hydrogen peroxide. It varies by the size of the dog; however, it doesn’t take much. For small dogs, give them a Tablespoon and follow with another Tablespoon until you get the desired result.
Recently, a Great Dane ate a lot of dark chocolate. It could have been hours since she ate it, so they chose to wait and monitor her behavior. This Dane inherently exhibits some of the behaviors you should watch for when a dog consumes too much chocolate – she’s already restless, exciteable, and at times pants excessively. The point. . .it is to be taken seriously, but don’t panic and attribute their normal behavior to being a reaction to chocolate.
Since it was too late to induce vomiting, the Dane didn’t go to the vet and was monitored at home. Fortunately, she was able to “pass” the chocolate and process the caffeine and theobromine (stimulants) that were absorbed into her system.
I don’t doubt there have been a lot of sick dogs due to chocolate prior to our knowing it’s potential harm; however, I have heard so many dog owners say quietly that they used to give their dogs oreo cookies as treats. Some were even given chocolate kisses! My guess is they weren’t given enough to do harm and we weren’t nervously looking for symptoms.
Information is knowledge and may save you a trip to the vet. My best advice is to eat the dark chocolate and give the dog a dry, nearly tasteless dog biscuit. No wonder they too love chocolate!
Feeding time in a multi-dog family can be an event not suited for someone who is weak when it comes to multi-tasking. Who eats where and who eats what?
Once you establish a routine, it’s not so difficult; however, the dogs have learned to pay close attention to what goes in each bowl. Even if they are in another room and unable to see the food being placed in the bowls, they will look around as dinner is served and keep a close eye and nose on what everyone else is getting.
I have learned that the dogs are smart, but not that smart! I mix soft food in a couple of bowls to entice the dogs who need to eat more. The other dogs hear that something more is being added, and are keeping a close eye on those food bowls.
So, I started adding water to the dog food for those who don’t get the soft food. It might as well be fairy dust! Mix around, make it sound like something amazing is going in the bowl and that each dog is getting something special.
Makes me wonder what tricks my Mom had for getting me to eat when I was a picky kid!
When asking clients if their dog has food aggression, I may get a response similar to, “no, they growl if we or the other dog gets near the food bowl, but that’s normal.” Let me share something – it may be considered normal when dinner is served in your home, but it is not good to allow it.
If your dog even begins to growl when you reach for their food as they are eating, immediately get your hand out of the way! That’s what you do to keep rom getting bitten! The real response would be to give a quick correction (use a leash if necessary) and then pick up their food bowl. Hand feed them and let them know the food comes from you. Place your hand in their food bowl as they eat and touch them as they eat.
If their aggression is directed at another dog, do the same thing. If you are not going to supervise when feeding, then feed them separately. A scuffle over food may seem normal and for some dogs, it’s a tough trigger to break; however, you should be the one determining who eats where and when. You want to be the provider and be clear that until they are able to go hunt and fend for themselves, you make the rules! (how parental of me, I know!)
If this is an issue you are dealing with, please contact me for more specific guidance on your situation.
This may not be a question you’ve contemplated – lately; however, I want to explain what I now know.
Bugs stink and they also taste bitter so they will not be eaten by dogs! Who knew! Now you do. I was observing as my dog (who will down a bird or lizard in record time), was paying close attention to something on the floor. The object of her attention was so small I almost didn’t see it.
She would bend down, sniff, attempt to lick, and then re-coil and wince as if the scent and taste of the bug was horribly bitter. It wasn’t biting her, it didn’t stand a chance at that, but it was definitely designed to be uneatable to a dog. This particular insect didn’t know enough to be still. It’s motion was far too intriguing.
I could have intervened with a “leave it.” but this had become a science project and study worthy of animal planet.
I can’t answer why it is necessary for an insect’s taste or scent to be so repulsive to a dog since they aren’t a natural predator. It would have lived a much longer life if a human hadn’t intervened.
I didn’t run a taste test, but my guess is this bug would have tasted quite nice to the cat!
Oh, the dynamics of dogs and their food. I think if dogs were allowed and capable of snacking throughout the day on whatever was in the refrigerator or pantry, they would be less overtly protective of the one (or perhaps two) meals they are allotted each day.
Melody, the little foster Yorkie in the home, learned quickly which plate is hers and when the chef (that would be me) announces who is being served and where, she promptly goes to her place. I have been feeding her more often as she could use a little more weight.
Today, she stood up for herself. As the declaration was made, “Melody, here’s your food” she hurried to her place as the others watched in angst as they were missing out on a small portion of softened kibble. Try though they might to take a morsel from her plate, she let them know that if their name IS NOT Melody, step away.
I am in charge of the food and make certain that the dogs know who controls their tasty meals. Just today I traded a small dry dog cookie for a recently killed squirrel. The power I have amazes me. I guess I should say – “if your name is not Melody or Gayle – step away from the food!”
