Lab being picky with food

Question
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Followup To
Question -
Hi all,

My year old lab has been acting a little funny the last 2 days. He will not eat his food right away. We feed him twice a day (morning and evening). He will just look at us when we tell him to go eat. He then goes up to his bowl and will sniff it. I have been putting a few pieces in my hand and he will eat them from my hand. He will eventually eat his food. This morning i moved the bowl closer to him and he jumped back like there was something wrong with his bowl. He seems fine, no changes in behaviour, and he plays just the same. What could this be? I know any changes in regards to food should be checked by a vet. I will be taking him if this continues. But for now since he is still eating what could be the problem? Let me also add that he does not get any table scraps. We have given him boiled chicken mixed with his food, though very rarely (maybe 4 times in the past year). TIA

Answer -
A sudden change in appetite could mean he needs to see a vet.  On the other hand, how old is he?  If he has slowly lost interest in eating, he could be completing his growth and no longer needing as much food.  Common as a Lab approaches a year old.  Check his ribs.  If they are well padded, cut back a little and see how he does.  If he is already on the lean side, not eating could be a sign of a serious problem.

Purina now has a new version of their illustrated guide to determining a dog's body condition on their web site.  See http://www.puppychow.com/products/popup_body_condition.aspx  We spent part of last week at my brother's.  He has an 8 year old lab that is way over weight.  She is on a diet.  Maybe I will send him the link too.  My 7 month old Nita, was very disappointed that the 8 year old wasn't interested in playing with her.  She was a big hit with many of the people we saw on our trip.  

Thanks Labman. Well today we put his food out and told him to go and eat and didnt. So we let him be. My wife then took some out and put it on the floor beside his bowl. He slowly approached the food and ate it. he then went away. we then put it in a tupperware bowl and he slowly ate that. he then went back about 15 minutes later and slowly ate the rest out of his bowl. I dont know what to think, i might just take him to the vet if he doesnt eat for a few days in a row.  

Answer
That is strange.  What kind of a bowl is it?  A plastic bowl could have somehow picked up a bad smell, or maybe even a metal one would.  I have switched to the skirted, tip resistant stainless steel bowls.  Big Lots has them for $2, you can hardly go wrong at that price.  I think maybe one of my puppies was dragging the plastic bowl around the house and I switched to the metal ones.  

You might try scrubbing the bowl good.  Rinse well.  It only takes a little soap ot clean out a dogs digestive tract.