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Nutrition with Lucy eating Disorders By Lucy Postins An eating disorder isn’t among the list of challenges most dogs owners expect to encounter, but the problem actually plagues a surprisingly high number of animals. There’s a lot of speculation about the cause of a dog’s refusal to eat his meals, and a wide array of approaches, when it comes to how owners choose to deal with the situation. Eating disorders may involve a perceived (or even owner induced), behavioral problem that’s brought about by the way mealtimes happen in a household – for example, an intermittently skipped meal now and again, natural fasting on a more routine basis, a naturally minimal appetite, a reaction to hot weather, or flat out failure to eat anything at all (which might result from something like past severe emotional trauma such as that which occurs after abandonment, cruelty, grief or illness). But failure to eat can also be a sign of a serious underlying medical issue that results in a diminished appetite over time, and the accompanying weight loss, lack of energy and general malaise. As a pet owner, witnessing an animal’s refusal to eat can be unnerving, or downright frustrating, depending on the cause and circumstances. Some dogs are just predisposed to eat less (smaller breeds generally have a less ravenous appetite than their usually more greedy, larger breed counterparts). Other dogs are just picky individuals and some are actually made worse by their owner’s constant worrying and watching while they try to eat, or by owners who decide to free feed their animals rather than sticking to a more regular schedule of defined, spaced out meal times. It’s natural that, when a dog begins to exhibit appetite problems, the owner becomes concerned. Sometimes, distraught owners hover near the dog at meal times, or even take a seat on the floor to observe the meal’s progress, or lack thereof. When the root of the problem is nervousness or anxiety, the owner’s behavior can exacerbate the situation by causing a further increase in anxiety and self consciousness on the part of the dog, making him even less inclined to eat than he was before. Some owners actually resort to hand-feeding or spoon-feeding their dogs, or offering a selection of food alternatives and unhealthy additions if a meal is refused or goes unfinished. The net effect of this can be teaching the dog that if he doesn’t gobble up his whole meal right away, something better is sure to be offered by hand, or dropped into the bowl. It’s important to identify what’s causing an apparent eating disorder, especially if the issue is happening for more than a couple of days. There could be a problem with a particular batch of food, or an allergy or food sensitivity may be present or just developing. It’s also possible the dog may have a serious underlying health concern that’s making him reluctant to eat, or trying to send a message to you that something’s wrong. Dental issues and other medical problems like cancer and kidney complaints can also cause a loss of appetite. However, if a medical reason can be ruled out, it’s generally better not to give an eating disorder too much charge, by maintaining a low key approach to meals. In some cases, grief can cause a dog to fast, and in this situation, lots of patience and the use of complementary thera- 46 May/June 2012 | Dogs Naturally Magazine
pies such as flower essences or homeopathy can help with the emotional aspects of the problem. If the grief is for another pet, introducing another dog or puppy to the home when the time is right, can (in addition to providing some companionship), create a little bit of healthy competition for food, which usually helps to improve appetite. Other dogs however, actually become more nervous or distracted when there are multiple animals in the household. For some dogs, this problem may originate from a past situation where the dog has been attacked by another animal who wanted to steal his dinner. It’s helpful to experiment by feeding dogs in a crate, or in another isolated environment, instead of a group setting. For those animals who have some kind of psychological issue surrounding meal times, another tactic is making meals into a game; for example placing the food into a stuffable plastic or rubber toy to help take away some of the emotional pressure off eating and make it a more light hearted affair . Another option is to hide small portions of the meal in different places for the dog to seek out. This doesn’t always have to be undertaken long term and the idea is that, once the appetite starts to pick up, it’s possible to gradually ease back on the tactics and transition back to normal mealtime behavior, such as putting the food in a dog bowl! a one-click shop... for all your Holistic Needs • Supplements • Homeopathics • Essential Oils • Treats and Food FREE Shipping! No minimum purchase Coupon Code: DogNat www.endoftheleash.com Occasionally, the bowl itself is the issue. Some dogs can’t stand the jangling noise their tags make, bumping against the side of a steel dish. Other dogs are averse to plastic and the taste that appears to permeate into their food. A tough pyrex or glass bowl may help with this situation. For dogs with flatter faces, any sort of bowl maybe offputting, and a plate is more comfortable. Offering much smaller portions instead of a giant bowl of food can help a sensitive dog feel less overwhelmed and a routine of three petite meals might be better tolerated than one or two larger ones. Spoon or hand feeding should really be avoided, however, except in extreme circumstances. Sometimes, a dog simply doesn’t like his dinner – or he’s been fed the same food for so long that he just can’t stand the thought if it for one more day. Sheer boredom with food is quite common in dogs, and it’s hardly surprising, when so few domesticated canines get to enjoy any dietary variety whatsoever, because a monotonous, homogenous diet has gradually become the accepted way to feed dogs in this country. A more varied diet is great for alleviating boredom and provides different foods (and a broadened array of nutrition), every day or two. Simply rotating the protein or varying the mix of add-ins can help; a spoonful of plain yogurt or a little cottage cheese can work wonders. The quality and overall taste of the food of course play an essential role as well. A poor quality food made with lots of by-products, fillers and cheap cereals might be a lot less appetizing than a higher quality meal that’s made with whole food ingredients and contains plenty of real meat. Of course, many dogs are scavengers and there are those who love the cheaper foods because of all the added salt, sugar and sprayed on flavorings that the manufacturer applies to entice their taste buds. But as a general rule, as with human food, a quality meal is much more delicious than a cheap alternative. There’s a balance between pandering to a picky pet and paying attention to a situation that actually needs some corrective action. A low key approach or a simple adjustment to routines may be all that’s needed to resolve the problem for good. If a major weight loss isn’t occurring and a routine vet exam has been done to rule out serious problems, it’s generally better to stand back and allow the dog to regulate his own intake without too much outside interference, which could entrench the problem in the long term. f Lucy Postins is a companion animal nutritionist and founder of The Honest Kitchen, a natural pet food company in San Diego, CA. More nutritional resources are available on www.thehonestkitchen.com or (866) 437-9729. Dogs Naturally Magazine | May/June2012 47
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