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  1. #1
    Real Retriever PinkDragon14's Avatar
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    Not eating from dish?

    So, now I have a new problem.

    Murphy refuses (or most of the time) to eat out of his dish. He still has an appetite, playing, normal activity, etc. He just won't eat out of his dish. He'll drink from his water dish but he won't eat from his regular dish. The only way I solve this is by hand-feeding him, putting the rest in his kong (if he eats any from his dish at all), or putting a few pieces on the floor at a time (which isn't good to do I know, but he needs to eat). In the morning, however, he goes and eats from the bowl but leaves a good 1/4 behind.

    I'm feeding him his normal amount, same food. This just started happening the other day and I'm extremely confused.

    Any suggestions?

  2. #2
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    What type of bowl are you using? Plastic bowls can have an odd smell to a dog and is really not a good choice. I've been using stainless steel for years. Have heard that a dog was not eating out of the metal bowl maybe because of reflection. How about trying a small cookie sheet.
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  3. #3
    Senior Dog
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    Danny started to refuse food out of a stainless steel bowl and much trial and error left him eating out of a clear glass bowl (made for dogs but think Corningware casserole for looks). Sunnie eats out of a Corningware casserole and that's what I have for their water, too, although neither dog minded the stainless for water (casserole with "ears" for carrying is better for me).

    Sunnie also refuses to eat off the ground...from the day we brought her home, she wants her bowl held up by me (or in a raised table).

  4. #4
    Senior Dog
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    just fed the dogs....where was my brain....I meant Pyrex, not Corningware....

  5. #5
    Real Retriever PinkDragon14's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by POPTOP View Post
    What type of bowl are you using? Plastic bowls can have an odd smell to a dog and is really not a good choice. I've been using stainless steel for years. Have heard that a dog was not eating out of the metal bowl maybe because of reflection. How about trying a small cookie sheet.
    I'm using a plastic slow feeder bowl. I ran it through the dishwasher the other night for the first time (this was after he refused to eat from it, figured it was dirty and he didn't want to eat from a dirty bowl. Bowl is dishwasher safe btw) and he still doesn't like it. I tried a stainless steel dish (which is what his water is in) and he still refused to eat from the bowl.

    Quote Originally Posted by SunDance View Post
    Danny started to refuse food out of a stainless steel bowl and much trial and error left him eating out of a clear glass bowl (made for dogs but think Corningware casserole for looks). Sunnie eats out of a Corningware casserole and that's what I have for their water, too, although neither dog minded the stainless for water (casserole with "ears" for carrying is better for me).

    Sunnie also refuses to eat off the ground...from the day we brought her home, she wants her bowl held up by me (or in a raised table).
    I'll have to try the Pyrex bowls tomorrow during one of his meals. I just don't understand why all of a sudden he doesn't like the dish?

    Side note (or question): Could it be that his teeth are hurting from teething? But still, why would he eat from my hand or off of the floor?

  6. #6
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    Another vote for the bowl. Plastic holds odors and bacteria no matter how hard you try. Glass is always the best just to eliminate that possibility.

  7. #7
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    Some people say their dogs prefer ceramic bowls over plastic or stainless also.

  8. #8
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    Another vote to try changing to glass and see what happens. I tried one of the plastic, slow feed bowls and Maxx promptly dumped the food on the floor. I think it was because he was not happy with the effort it took to eat out of it though. It could be teething and taking it from your hand is one piece at a time so that would hurt less. (If he is actually chewing his food, mine don't chew their food, they pretty much inhale it!)

    Is your puppy chewing toys and other items? If not that could be a sign his mouth is sore from teething. Their appetite can be a bit off during teething also.
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  9. #9
    Real Retriever PinkDragon14's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Maxx&Emma View Post
    Another vote to try changing to glass and see what happens. I tried one of the plastic, slow feed bowls and Maxx promptly dumped the food on the floor. I think it was because he was not happy with the effort it took to eat out of it though. It could be teething and taking it from your hand is one piece at a time so that would hurt less. (If he is actually chewing his food, mine don't chew their food, they pretty much inhale it!)

    Is your puppy chewing toys and other items? If not that could be a sign his mouth is sore from teething. Their appetite can be a bit off during teething also.
    He's perfectly fine otherwise. He chews his toys (stuffed animals, rope, frisbee, sticks in the yard, us) and runs around like a nut. He usually chews his food a little (in the morning he's a Hoover though). I tried using the glass dish this morning for his first meal. I started with it on the floor and he kind of picked at his food and walked away. I got him to come back and held the bowl so he could see my hands on the bottom. No problem after that. Ate all of his food and walked away like usual. I'm still not sure what his problem is. Even when he eats, I stay nearby so he isn't alone (our desktop computer is about 10ft from where he eats, so I usually log on and surf the web while he eats).

    Also, this may or may not be related, but: When he was using the plastic dish, he'd always finish his food and then run off with the dish to chew on it. Obviously, the dish is somewhat destroyed from his biting, but it isn't to the point where it's uncomfortable for him to use.

  10. #10
    Senior Dog shellbell's Avatar
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    Tux won't eat from stainless steel bowls, I'm pretty sure his reflection scares him. I don't like the idea of feeding on plastic, so I use glass plates.

 



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