My German shepherd has a normally healthy appetite,but when the weather is hot she doesn’t eat much.She drinks plenty,she is still active,plays,runs,etc-she just refuses to eat much?Do your dogs do this?Is it normal?
Tags: Dogs, Less, Months, Summer, Your
February 5th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
My dog is pretty obsessed with food, but even she shows a little less desire for food in the summer.
It is very normal for dogs to eat less in the summer months, so you need not be worried that your dog eats less. And it is good that your dog drinks a lot of water in the summer – when it is hot, be sure that your dog does drink plenty, which it sounds like you’re doing.
One reason why dogs eat less in the summer is because metabolism is a method of keeping warm, because animals’ metabolism (of food) produces heat. So, dogs try to eat less in the summer so that their metabolism is slower and so that they therefore don’t produce as much heat. For that same reason dogs will eat more in the winter – they eat more in the winter so that they stay warmer by metabolizing more food. Basically, in order to stay cooler in the summer, dogs eat less food because that makes their metabolism slow down, producing less heat.
So, don’t be worried if your dog eats less in the summer. Do make sure that he still eats, but don’t fret if he eats less than he does in colder months.
Best wishes!
February 6th, 2010 at 12:46 am
It is perfectly normal to eat less in hot weather. Wolves in the wild sleep the hottest parts of the day away and hunt in the cooler morning and evenings, so it is natural for our domestic canines to be the same way. It makes us sick to eat and get too hot so it makes sense. All of the animals on our farm ate less when it was hot but kept a routine. She knows what is comfortable for her so don’t worry – she is fine!
February 6th, 2010 at 6:50 am
Yes. Especially if your dog spends time outdoors, she will eat less. No one likes to eat alot when it’s hot out! If this concerns you, have plenty of “cool down” time for her. Let her eat when she is nice and comfortable indoors. Not to worry, as long as she is eating some, she is fine. You’ll probably notice that she will eat a bit more in the winter if you are in a area that gets noticeibly colder during those months. Good luck with your beautiful dog!
February 6th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
my dogs seem to eat less during the hottest hours of the day. They seem to be eating about the same amount over all but they must be eating at night when its cooler. if i haven’t seen them eating for a while i just make sure to keep their bowl full when i go out or go to bed
February 6th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
My dogs are the opposite becuase we (us & the dogs) are out most of the day in the summer they eat more because there using up all there energy but in the winter months the eat less because there not doing half the amount of excercise.
February 6th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
I think it’s normal for all living creatures, also humans. About 70% is used to keep You in 36,6 C or 95 F. It’s perfectly normal, that in summer time you need less energy.
February 7th, 2010 at 1:36 am
yes, they eat more in the winter due to instinct, they want to bulck up, so as if to survive the winter, instinct is an awesome thing lol
February 7th, 2010 at 7:55 am
Perfectly normal, my dogs eat less in the summer, and more in the winter.
February 7th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Of course cause its hot out! Don’t force your dog to eat more than it should even in the winter months. Just go with what your Vet recommends.
February 7th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Mine did it too…he drink a lot & still run as much as usual but he eat a little less.