Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 3:34 pm Post subject: Help ! Am I starving Milo ?
Hello All,
So on your good advice - 6 months ago - I changed Milo over from Eukaneuba (which her breeder recommended) to Burns. She's been loving Burns (all the flavours) ... and lately added a dash of the new IAMS Gravy range for variety. I do think we've seen an improvement in some of the conditions we reported previously - more specifically - her dry skin. She's still very excitable but ...for now... I'll put that down to her being a puppy (14 months old).
So whats the prob now you ask ? Well, like all labs ... she enjoys her food. However, more recently she's been going back to her food bowl REGULARLY during the day and nudging it, licking it. In my angst, I consulted the Burns portion guidelines and I'm giving her at least 400g's a day where they recommend 300 - 400g. She also gets treats (Markies) on our walks and at least one Denta Stick every day.
Our vet remarked that she's looking lovely - really good figure, no weight gain and she often gets comments on how "fit" she looks.
Now, I'm not trying to get the best looking, ultra slim lab - I just want a happy lab. So what do you guys read into her recent tendency to nudge her bowl and lick it till it sparkles at least three times a day ?
Just a greedy lab or a hungry one ?
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Milo (2 years old and still a bundle of puppy)
Scotty (the Kiwi) & Sarah (the Saffa)
more recently she's been going back to her food bowl REGULARLY during the day and nudging it, licking it.
Is her bowl always on the ground??
If so, pick it up. Do not leave her bowl sitting down low, or on the floor.
After Leo's finished his food, i pick up his bowl and put it up high. He has a special cupboard where i put all his items and his bowl goes in there so its out of sight.
The most likely reason for nudging the bowl is because she thinks is she does thi, she will get fed. Labs are greedy and will seize every opportunity to get what they want- Food!
It doesn't sound like you're starving Milo to me. It just sounds like she's like most Labs. They live to eat, not eat to live .
Why do you think you see so many fat ones. They all have that pleading "I'm soooo hungry" look down to a fine art . Your's is just trying the "please refill my bowl method" . It's not used as often as the hungry eyes but is still used none the less .
I wouldn't worry unless she was underweight or thin. Try picking the bowl up when she's finished her meal, that way it won't be there to remind her of her belly.
I always know if Alfie enjoys his dinner because he'll spend what seems like 5 minutes licking the bowl after he's finished and if i don't take his bowl away straight after he's finished then he keeps going back to check if he's missed any it normally happens if i add mackeral, sardines or pilchards to his dinner, if he has just plain kibble then he'll eat it and walk away I think labs are just naturally greedy it doesn't sound like you're starving her as she's not under weight
Thanks - that's good advice. She has one of these raised feeder systems which obvioulsy stores both her water and food bowl. I'll start putting her food bowl away from now. As she's quite a good dog for giving "signals" - i.e "I need a wee", "ouch, this part hurts" and "I'm scared, get me out of here" - I just thought it might be something more than her being a greedy guts ... but I know I should be more sceptical with her being a lab and all
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Milo (2 years old and still a bundle of puppy)
Scotty (the Kiwi) & Sarah (the Saffa)
I agree with the others, Milo is trying it on!, typical lab , as the vet is happy with her and if she doesn`t look thin to you then your not underfeeding her
Typical Lab. You are certainly not starving her. They are master manipulators --that is why so many Labs are overweight! 400 grams a day sounds just right (my dogs get the same amount).
To make her meals seem longer and thus more forfilling (most Labs wolf their food down in seconds as I am sure you know!) you can do a couple of things. Give half her kibble in the bowl as you normally would. With the other half, scatter some of it outside in your garden and stuff some of it in an interactive toy like a Kong or Buster Cube. This will give the feel that she is eating more but really it is just the same amount only spread out.
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. Your's is just trying the "please refill my bowl method" 
