Pet tips

Of the two of us, my wife is the more nurturing one. When our daughter doesn’t eat a meal, she’ll whip up another choice, sometimes two or three, while I’m more apt to force option #1 or give up, reasoning she’ll eat later when she’s hungry. My wife’s also a chef by trade and food people hate to see people not eating. Our little one is a hearty eater, thanks in large part to Mommy who is (a) talented and (b) all about organic and homemade. Murray, our four-legged 2-year-old, skipped his first meal last week. He’s not fed homemade meals, but does get high quality dog food — Dick Van Patten’s Nature’s Balance, potato and fish formula (yes, the same guy who played the role of patriarch Tom Bradford on the television sitcom Eight is Enough). So, Murray skipped breakfast. Should I worry? Vets get this question often, especially from dog owners. Or, they get this one: "I was adding wet dog food to my dog’s dry food for a while, then stopped. Now he won’t eat his dry food.” Not to worry in either case. Dogs can go a day or two without food, as long as they have plenty of water. Most will go back to their "boring” food in 24 hours after they realize it’s not that bad. Keep in mind, some circumstances may lead to temporary loss of appetite: side effects from meds; hot weather; changes in routine or surroundings; addition of a new pet or loss of a longtime partner pet. Murray, in case you’re wondering, gobbled up dinner the same day he skipped breakfast. More gastrointestinal advice ... no one is sure why, but pumpkin — canned pureed pumpkin, not the pie filling — remedies diarrhea and constipation. A couple of teaspoons (small dog) or tablespoons (large dog) daily mixed in with regular food may do the trick.