How long survive without food?

[Manchester-Mike]

Hi, ive just been on facebook and there is a woman on there who has her own dog bwhaviour solutions page, ive heard both good and bad things about as you normally do. But i just noticed a girl i know from a while ago has posted on there about her dog not eating its food. The trainer told her the dog is manipulating her and to take it uo after 20 mins etc. That was 5 days ago though because shes just put another post on saying 'its day 5 now im really worried' but the trainer replied saying dont give in and offer something else, a dog can survive a full month without food. I was gobsmacked, a month??? Is she right? Im sat there thinking surely thats going to cause some sort of illness or sickness the stomacg would shrink so much i would imagine??

[jayne5364]

Bloody hell. I couldn't bare to think of mine not eating for that long. I have been guilty of pandering when I first got both of mine. I would cook fresh chicken every day for them and have beans on toast myself if it meant they were eating.
Can't see how any animal would last a month, sounds like a wierd sort of trainer to me.

[raffaella]

I don't know how long a dog can survive without food but I personally would not live my dog to starve to find out..I think it depends also what type of dog..is it a tiny pug or a big Newfoundland??anyway I'm way to soft with mine and I could not leave her without food for more than 2 days,she's not really fussy anyway thank god..

[Caryll]

While agree that if a dog is being picky, then take it's food up after a time & wait till next meal time. But a healthy dog won't starve itself. So if it's still not eating after 5 days I'd be worried sick & straight down the vets!

[jesterjenn]

I don't know how long they can last, but when Jess refused her kibble for 5 days, I tried her with raw and she suddenly gained her appetite back That was after a lot of deliberation over kibble with Jess though as none of the sort that we tried suited her.

[wildmoor]

a dog can lose 30-40% of its body weight without dying - but a dog can starve itself to death and annorexia has been diagnosed in dogs
my vet agrees with me has hany goes off her food if she doesnt eat much within a few days I mix fresh cooked chicken in her food to stimulate her appetite, then she goes back on her normal food and eats fine for a few weeks to months it varies

[Stuart]

The longer the dog goes without food, the faster the stomach srinks, if it continues to shrink the dog cant eat properly anyway

A human can live about three weeks without food, I doubt a dog could live that long.

If this dog has not eaten for five days, then there is probably another reason [other than food] for it

[Manchester-Mike]

Just spoke to the girl whos dog it is. He was originally eating pate and tripe (never heard of it myself its from pets at home apparantly) and he was eating it fine and no problems but she met this woman for training who told her her dog needs to be on wagg as it is by far the best dog food you can buy :-\ So shes got this dog food in the coubard that her dog will eat but hes not allowed it because hes got to eat this equally rubbish one after he is so hungry that he has no choice but to eat it. Un effing believable. This is from a woma. who calls herself a canine behavourist i cant understand it. Not annoyed at the owner she doesnt really have any idea and you would expect 'dog behavourists' to give you decent advice

[Stuart]

I am annoyed at them both,.. to me they both sound as daft as each other,.. food on the shelf that they know it will eat, yet neither wants to `give in`,... as if the dog is going to be any better behaved if its starving

[Caryll]

Originally Posted by Manchester-Mike

Just spoke to the girl whos dog it is. He was originally eating pate and tripe (never heard of it myself its from pets at home apparantly) and he was eating it fine and no problems but she met this woman for training who told her her dog needs to be on wagg as it is by far the best dog food you can buy :-\ So shes got this dog food in the coubard that her dog will eat but hes not allowed it because hes got to eat this equally rubbish one after he is so hungry that he has no choice but to eat it. Un effing believable. This is from a woma. who calls herself a canine behavourist i cant understand it. Not annoyed at the owner she doesnt really have any idea and you would expect 'dog behavourists' to give you decent advice

Bloody hell, who does this behaviourist think she is? What qualifications does she have? None, I bet. Wagg, a good dog food?

Ask the owner to come on this forum & introduce herself, it sounds like she needs some decent advice!