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Can dogs have eating disorders? I really think my Hank has one.

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Shell Beau Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 01:14 PM
Original message
Can dogs have eating disorders? I really think my Hank has one.
Edited on Wed Oct-15-08 02:03 PM by Shell Beau
He is obsessed with food and not like most dogs are. It is beyond that. Really, can they have a disorder? He would eat himself to death if he were allowed to. He has really started getting bad. He digs through the garbage now and gets food off of the counters. He NEVER did this before. This behavior started when I brough Bella home and it has gets worse every day. He acts like he is starving all of the time. He doesn't chew his food. He swallows it whole.
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supernova Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 01:16 PM
Response to Original message
1. Aww, is he feeling insecure
now that you have a new little love?
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Shell Beau Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 01:39 PM
Response to Reply #1
7. He must be!
When my other dog died, I saw Hank go through a depression. He wasn't himself for about 2 weeks, but this is sooo different. He got on the counter the other day and grabbed 2 hamburger patties. He even left his greasy paw print for proof. I really was surprised because he would have never done this before. Then Saturday night, he got on the patio table and ate all of the appetizers we had out there. I left them out there because we were all about to go back outside and I didn't even think about it because I never had to before. Well, now I know.
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TZ Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 01:16 PM
Response to Original message
2. Dogs can have anxiety disorders..which is what this sounds like
I've heard about dogs being successfully treated with Prozac for certain behaviors. I would talk to your vet about it.
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flvegan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 01:18 PM
Response to Original message
3. Breed/age/how long have you had him?
Not likely a disorder. Big changes in a household (like bringing home a newborn) can be times of great stress and anxiety for a pet.

Are you giving him the same amount of attention as pre-Bella? This is important to do, much as it is with another child after bringing a baby home.
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Shell Beau Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 01:30 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. We have had him for almost 4 years. And he is also almost 4 years old.
He is a mixed breed. Golden Retriever/Australian Shepherd. I try to give him as much attention. I make a point to get on the floor daily with him for a play session. My husband also does the same. He has always been a huge eater, but now it has gotten ridiculous.
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LeftyMom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 01:24 PM
Response to Original message
4. My mom's cat is like that.
Joe's pretty damned pear shaped, she has to limit his portions and pick his food up right away, and he'll eat too fast and then throw up.
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Shell Beau Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 01:31 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. I have to grab my other dog's food because when Hank is done, he
tears into Lolly's food. I feed them separately now.
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dawgmom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 01:39 PM
Response to Original message
8. Do you feed at specified times, or just put food out?
A couple of things could be at work here. Anxiety over the change in the household, as others have said. Or...if you put out food and just leave it out for them to eat as they want all day, it's possible the new dog is eating his food when you're not looking. That happened with Buddy when I first brought Peggy Sue home. So, I went back to feeding them at specified times, in separate areas, and taking up the unfinished food when they walked away. They learn pretty quickly to finish their entire dish, when they know there won't be any more coming later.
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Shell Beau Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 01:50 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. He eats at the same times every day. Trust me, his food
wouldn't be out all day. He makes sure it is gone immediately.
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dawgmom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 01:58 PM
Response to Reply #8
13. I think it's probably anxiety/adjustment -- but a trip to the vet wouldn't hurt
Just to rule out parasites.
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DS1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 01:53 PM
Response to Original message
10. Sounds like he's eating all the precious before the nasty babys stealses away
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SOteric Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 01:56 PM
Response to Original message
11. Errr...Have you had him checked for worms?
Rule out the possibility with a vet. Parasites can cause voracious hunger and indescriminate eating.

Also, most critters begin an instinctive 'bulking up' period before winter. Even the indoor only ones.
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Shell Beau Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 01:58 PM
Response to Reply #11
12. No worms. He just had all his vaccinations and his check up.
Maybe it is that the winter is coming. :shrug:
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marzipanni Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 02:00 PM
Response to Original message
14. Did you take your dogs for walks before the baby was born?
I regret not training our old dog better on a leash. Her 'dam' was Malamute-Australian Shepherd, her 'sire' a Blue Heeler, and the Malamute genes were expressed by her ability to be a sled dog! I should have trained her to use a harness and pull my kid in a wagon. She was so happy whenever I put him in the baby back pack, because it meant she got to come with us for a walk. She pulled so hard on her leash it was too hard to hold her back and push the stroller. After my son was an infant my mom gave us an old-fashioned one-handled folding stroller when we visited her, and that made it easier to steer while holding a leash.
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Shell Beau Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 02:01 PM
Response to Reply #14
15. Yeah and we are still walking them. Now anytime I pull out the
stroller, they go crazy. Which sucks because we aren't always going walking when I pull out the stroller.
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graywarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 02:31 PM
Response to Original message
16. Hank.
Gotta love it.
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Shell Beau Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 02:39 PM
Response to Reply #16
17. That is what happens when I leave it to my husband to name the dog.
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graywarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 02:42 PM
Response to Reply #17
18. Hey, my cat's name is Kamere....as in come here.
Mr Gray's creation.
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Shell Beau Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 02:44 PM
Response to Reply #18
19. Sounds like something my husband would do.
Hank was the best that my husband came up with.
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graywarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Oct-15-08 02:55 PM
Response to Reply #19
20. They have more important things to think about
What that is, I have no clue.
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