loss of appetite - heat cycle

[nanney1]

My young bitch started her heat cycle on Tuesday. For the last few weeks, she and my older male had seemed disinterested in their food, so I started a gradual switch to something else.

The switch seemed to make a difference as both returned to be being chow hounds, gobbling up the combination of old and new foods. But a couple days into her heat cycle, she showed a complete disinterest in food while my male ate his up and even moved to take hers. She showed no interest. Eventually, she would eat about a 1/2 to 3/4 of her usual amount. This has persisted over the weekend. I feed two meals per day and she has skipped one of the meals twice, including this morning.

She is sleeping more than usual, but is her usual self when awake and alert, showing plenty of energy. And though she has eaten less, she seems to have no digestive upset and she has firm stool with no apparent issues from the food switch.

Is it normal for a female to lose interest in food during her cycle?

[ezzy333]

The females will not eat sometimes for a day or two and probably not eat well for a couple of weeks. The males may almost quit or at best cut way back for a couple of weeks or more.

This is just a natural response but it points out that we are just plain foolish to get so concerned when an animal doesn't eat for a few days. It is a normal response to many things and sex is just one of them.

[nanney1]

Ezzy:

When I made the switch on the foods, it was a seemless transition. I gradually switched and saw no digestive issues. By the time I completely switched over, the same applied. No problems and good, firm stools.

Then, the loss of appetite.

Now, in the third week of the cycle, her appetite has returned and she's gobbling up the food and looking for more. Now, I've got what looks to be upset stomach. One day fairly solid poop, the next, runny. So, I back off the food a little, but still get inconsistent results.

The food?... or possibly just hormonal changes resulting in upset stomach?

[ezzy333]

Would be my guess! Cut way back the amount for a couple of days and then gradually build it up to where you want it over the next week or so. Everything sounds normal to me.

Ezzy