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Your milage may vary of course. You may have a picky set of paws, placing you in the precarious position of persuading your pup without the chow. More often than not though, you dog should be eating with an obvious appetite twice a day.
| A Good Appetite: |
Is obvious when your dog gets excited to eat meals - when she hops up and heads to the food bowl in anticipation.
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| A Bad Appetite: |
Is harder to spot. It is sometimes hard to differentiate between a picky dog and a dog who has lost its appetite. This can depend on the owner as much as the dog. If you switch foods too often, your dog will eventually learn to not eat what it's had before, because it could be getting something different, and will quickly become picky. Some dogs also have a tendency to eat slowly, a bit at a time, even over hours, but usually finish before the next mealtime.
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| An Increased Appetite: |
Could be the result of a change in daily habits, precipitating an increased need in energy intake. Dogs who have a lot of demands placed on them, such as sport dogs, hunting dogs, pregnant dogs, sheep herders, you get the idea, may need more energy, and so eat more food. If there is a cold snap when winter hits, an extra layer of fat might be warranted, so your pup will seem to want more than you can give them.
But, increased appetite can also be a sign of some diseases. Some diseased interfered with digestion or energy conversion itself, and some affect the metabolism and can increase energy demands a great deal. If an obvious increase in appetite doesn't have an obvious cause, or if your dog has been eating more but losing weight, its off to the vet with you. |
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| Basic Dog Health |
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| Adult Dog Care |
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