I have a 6 month lab that has started refusing her breakfast. She did this about a month ago with her lunch time feed so has only been on 2 meals a day. She always eats her evening meal but i'm worried that she may be a little young for 1 meal a day.
Any thoughts?

What are you feeding and are you following the manufacturers recommended amounts ?

im feeding wainrights puppy kibble and have been feeding to the lower end of the recommended amounts. She's never been a greedy dog but feel that she's too young to only have one meal.

Have you thought about changing to junior ?

i did think about that but the puppy food is for up to 1yr. Do you think it would be ok to change at 6 months?

Yes I have always changed to either adult or junior at about that age so long as it is a good quality food

should i then just give her the one meal or still try and get two down her? Sorry for all the questions

What I have found over the years is  that my dogs vary in what time they eat their first meal so I went over to free feeding and let them eat when they want.

the problem with that though is i have 3 terriers, one being an elderly, castrated male. If i left food down he would eat it all and end up looking like a pot bellied pig (his waistline is not what it used to be).

Stilled two feeds and if you find she still doesn't eat in the morning try and reduce the amount in the evening.

My lot get one main meal (fed raw now) and snacks during the day , fruit , veg, pig ears etc .

They also get the left overs in the morning if there is any or suitable , we had hot curry last night so no left overs this morning !!

thanks LJS. will have a trip to PAH and get some junior to try

Her hormones could be kicking in, about the time to look out for season.  My GR always goes off her food just before a season and a little picky whilst in it.  My little ones can go off during their season.  Evening primrose could help to get her appitite going.

Don't own Labs but think even when adult 2 meals a dog is best they are a deep chested breed and I would think that bloat is not unknown.

Would reduce the evening meal feed and offer at about 5pm or 6pm no later and continue with the morning one, would also change to Junior or high energy adult at around 6 months.

When mine got to 16 weeks,they refused lunch and by 6months refused there suppers,so two meals a day now,a smaller feed at breakfast and a big tea.at 5pm

Sheila

Don't know how apetising or rich Wainwrights is but my youngest bitch was very difficult to feed. I agree about switching to Junior at 6 months. I wouldn't stick to puppy at that age. Most of mine are on adult somewhen between 6-9 months. Make sure the evening feed isn't too late and is no more than two thirds of the daily amount. She should then be hungry in the morning. Don't feed straight away, so that she has time to get her systems going. Is she otherwise well in herself? Mild tummy upsets can be easily missed. They can linger with a mild nausea for a prolonged period of time so that she will only eat when very hungry. She could be struggling with something in the diet. Most dogs can tolerate the way food is produced nowadays but dogs do not need any form of grain in their diet and labradors in particular can find it difficult to digest cereals. Perhaps a grain free food such as Fish4dogs or Arcana or Orijen might suit better.

I have changed her onto the junior and started her on a different flavour, i think she was bored of the duck and rice. I've also started feeding her an hour earlier on an evening and have been giving her a small amount in a morning which she has been eating straight away so hopefully we've cracked it now

Glad you've sorted her feeding out.  You could be right about getting board, mine (the pups) are refusing the morning feed at the moment so trying different things for them.  Hoping it won't make them think they can eat only that.  I put their normal food down still but leave a few hours inbetween so hopefully no association.  Sea air gave them an appetite and morning walk so i think thats a little of it.  Mine are also teething still which adds to the mix.

Hope she keeps it up xx