Dog Community

Hot weather - eating less?

Posted : 6/12/2006 10:02:52 AM

Let me preface this by saying that if this is what is going on, I totally understand, because it is exactly the way I am, I have difficulty eating in hot weather too.

We have been having really hot weather here for about 10 days. Since about the time the heatwave started, Ben has not been happy eating during the day...he just wants to lay about and drink water. In the early mornings and late evenings, when it's cooler, he will wolf down his food with gusto and wants to play much more. Because of this, I have started feeding him larger than normal meals in the morning and evening, and only offering a little food during the day. Is this OK to do? I tried keeping his feeding schedule normal but he would barely pick at his food during the day but eat all of it in the evenings, and I was afraid that he wasn't eating enough. I still measure out his food allowance for the day every morning, he just gets more of it in the morning and evening - and at those times he is eating all of the larger portion. I tend to use the remainder as rewards during the day.

He has plenty of water at all times and I am giving him the occasional ice cube as well.

Is this "normal"?

Kate

Benedict

Posted : 6/12/2006 10:03:56 AM

Forgot to say that Ben is a 9 week old black Lab puppy, and is supposed to eat 4 times a day.

willowchow

Posted : 6/12/2006 10:08:21 AM

Yeah, I would think that would be fine in this case. I mean, what can you do if he's not going to eat it during the day.

Benedict

Posted : 6/12/2006 11:19:21 AM

Thanks willow....hot weather is kind of a freak phenomenon here, and it came on pretty suddenly. Hopefully it will cool down after this storm we're having right now.

Kate

Xerxes

Posted : 6/12/2006 12:22:47 PM

I think it's perfectly normal what he's doing. Most dogs are sensitive to weather changes. My dog goes into a semi-hibernation where he likes to do nothing but sleep and barely eats during the changes in weather patterns. After it settles down he'll start acting normal again. Some dogs are more sensitive to the weather than others, I think.

Debbie Ray

Posted : 6/19/2006 8:45:01 PM

It's perfectly normal. I live in the south and needless to say the summers can get really hot. I had one GSD several years ago that would frequently go off her food for several days at a time in the summers. When she did eat she would eat like a little pig but otherwise if she didn't want it, it would sit.

As long as your puppy is healthy, alert and playful I would not be too concerned. If you do see weight loss ot other symptoms of ill health then I would take him to the vet for further inspection.

Good luck with your pup.