Midnight eater after not eating all day - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Her Name Is Rio · 05-10-2010, 08:30 AM

Rio has gotten into this pattern of not eating any of her kibble all day, sometimes not eating her first bit of kibble until 4pm. Then she may eat some more through the evening until bedtime at 9:30p. She then will wake us up to let her out to potty, and will eat voraciously at 1:30 in the morning!

I would take her food away at night to break this habit, but she is only 3 lbs. and I worry that she's not getting enough food or that she may get hypoglycemic. She is 14 months old, so hopefully she be less likely to have hypoglycemia.

So I free-feed her, but that's such a misnomer since she doesn't eat all day! She doesn't seem underweight, although I can feel her ribs and spine.

She loves her food (I feed her Canidae lamb all-life stages) when she actually does eat, she just doesn't eat consistently.

Do any of you have midnight eaters like Rio? How do you encourage them to eat in the morning?

carissa_ · 05-10-2010, 08:40 AM

hmmm in the last week Rex has been doing this to. he wants to eat on his time not when mommy says so! it worries me to because hes around 4 pounds but i think its because his routine is all messed up...i took a week vacy and haven't been consistent. so this is my fault.

so long story short...has her routine changed at all? maybe thats the problem.

motomomma317 · 05-10-2010, 08:47 AM

Free for all eating may be your problem. But she may just be odd on her timing. My outside dog chooses to eat late at night, and because I dont have to keep track of his potty pattern I dont worry too much about that.

I would try enticing your little gal to eat in the morning with some extra goodie of your choice in her food. You know her likes and dislikes. Leave it down for an hr then take it up. Then put the food back down for her dinner feeding. After an hr take that up too. Allow her a late night treat. Always keep the water out.
keep a close on on her if you feel shes getting hypo feed her. Even if she hasn't eaten much all day I'm willing to bet that all the food she normaly eats at the 1:something feeding will be eaten for the breakfast feeding the next day.

AllDogBoots · 05-10-2010, 08:54 AM

Cooper is a "ready for bed?" eater. I'm sure I did that to him somehow. He will nibble here and there throughout the day but won't eat until I say "are you ready for bed?" At that point it's a game. He runs full speed, sliding into his food bowl because he knows I'm going to pick it up and put it away. He'll start eating. He teases me with it. If he starts to walk away he'll keep looking back at me. When I go to pick up his bowl, he runs full speed again because he now knows this is his last chance. He'll eat the whole bowl before bed.

If i take the bowl away at night without him eating, he'll sit in the kitchen growling and barking for food. Sometimes he'll wander off to bed, but then i'm afraid he's hungry because he didn't eat all day!

Her Name Is Rio · 05-10-2010, 09:16 AM

I am hesitant in adding things to entice her to eat, because we finally got her eating dry kibble after almost a year of doctoring up her food to get her to eat in the first place. We used to add a teaspoon of cottage cheese or canned dog food and she got to a point where she didn't want to eat that concoction either! She's a smarty pants - I think she was holding out to see what else we would add to it!

I will try picking up her bowl at bedtime on a day where she ate relatively well to see if she'll be hungry enough to eat the following morning. I'm just a softy though - breaks my heart when she runs to her bowl after her 1am potty break and there's nothing there for her.

Her Name Is Rio · 05-10-2010, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carissa_

hmmm in the last week Rex has been doing this to. he wants to eat on his time not when mommy says so! it worries me to because hes around 4 pounds but i think its because his routine is all messed up...i took a week vacy and haven't been consistent. so this is my fault.

so long story short...has her routine changed at all? maybe thats the problem.

Her daily routine hasn't changed at all. She just slowly stopped eating in the morning/early afternoon.

kdreamson · 05-10-2010, 09:30 AM

Her name is Rio, and she dances on the sand,Oh Rio, Rio dancer on the Rio Grand....Mabel is a late eater too. I am a total pushover about the food! I free feed her because i'm afraid she won't eat at all! I am going to try scheduled feeding in the morning...That is if i don't wimp out and give in and put the food down when she looks at me with her pitiful,starving look!

I've been told they won't starve but Yorkie's are so stubborn and obstinant she might!LOL!!!

RONLYNN · 05-10-2010, 09:54 AM

My Teddi is 3 lbs as well as I used to free feed but found it is so much better now that I am feeding her less and feeding her 2X a day. Now she actually eats when she gets her food. She eats about 8:30 in the morning and about 8:00 pm. You also should break you dog of the peeing at 1:30 am. Maybe restrict water after a certain time. They should go out when you go to bed and be able to hold it until the morning. That is a bad habit (specially if you want someone to babysit your dog). You just need to re-train your dog on a new schedule. It shouldn't be a problem at all! They are quick leaners.

Her Name Is Rio · 05-10-2010, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdreamson

Her name is Rio, and she dances on the sand,Oh Rio, Rio dancer on the Rio Grand....Mabel is a late eater too. I am a total pushover about the food! I free feed her because i'm afraid she won't eat at all! I am going to try scheduled feeding in the morning...That is if i don't wimp out and give in and put the food down when she looks at me with her pitiful,starving look!

I've been told they won't starve but Yorkie's are so stubborn and obstinant she might!LOL!!!

Yaaaaaayyy!!!! Someone who finally understands Rio's name! Duran Duran rules! LOL!

OwnedByJezebel · 05-10-2010, 10:10 AM

Next time you need to buy another bag of kibble, try something new to see if she will get excited about it and eat right away.

I used to let my dogs free feed on kibble all day long, but then I decided to try a little raw to go with it. I feed raw in the morning. They beg for it before I even start to get it out of the fridge, and they finish it right away when I put it down. I like that I can put something down after they've fasted all night long and they get a good meal right away.

kdreamson · 05-10-2010, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Her Name Is Rio

Yaaaaaayyy!!!! Someone who finally understands Rio's name! Duran Duran rules! LOL!

Who wouldn't get that?! Are you old? I am quite old...48! LOL!!

GREAT! now i've got that song in my head!!

Good thing i like it!HAHA! Maybe if i got my "own personal Jesus" i'd feel better!

ArmaniMan · 05-10-2010, 10:42 AM

Armani used to be like this when I free fed... he wouldnt eat much during the day but would always eat at some point during the night... as long as he was eating it at some point, I didnt care.

Now I had to stop free feeding because with two there was no way to keep track of who ate what... now they both just eat their bowls down when they are placed in front of them.

Her Name Is Rio · 05-10-2010, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArmaniMan

Armani used to be like this when I free fed... he wouldnt eat much during the day but would always eat at some point during the night... as long as he was eating it at some point, I didnt care.

Now I had to stop free feeding because with two there was no way to keep track of who ate what... now they both just eat their bowls down when they are placed in front of them.

That's another reason I need to break Rio's habit, as we are getting a new puppy in 3 weeks and potty training will be a nightmare if I let both of them free feed.

Should I worry about hypoglycemia though???

KJLive · 05-10-2010, 11:21 AM

I have a 3 lb.-er (Biewer a la Pom Pon) and he is the best eater in the house. He's 9 months old and very active, so he burns a lot of energy.

He eats at 4:30 AM when we get up and he eats again at 4:30 PM when I get home from work. Whatever food is not eaten from those two times I leave in the dish. And it is not uncommon for him then to nibble around 8:00 PM just before bed. My other Biewer (6 lbs) and my Yorkie (8.5 lbs) rarely eat after the 4:30 PM feeding but my little 3 lb guy will!

At 3 lbs (and with a puppy coming) I wouldn't consider picking up the food. I would have food available all the time.

IMH(humble)O, I would want the 3lb-er to have food available whenever he/she wants it. And with the puppy coming...they eat more than an adult dog because they are far more active.

I never put more food out for them than their daily requirements. I don't use one of those big "dispensers" that you fill up with days worth of food. I put fresh food out twice a day.

Again, this is what works for my little guy. Everyone is different....

LGizmo · 05-10-2010, 11:41 AM

My Hailee does the same thing. She is 4 years old and I try to get her to eat before I go to work, sometimes she will and other times she doesn't. If she doesn't, then she won't eat until around 5:30. She then eats off and on until 9:00. She sleeps a lot too. I have had her thyroid checked and everything is in the normal range.

05-10-2010, 08:30 AM	#1
Her Name Is Rio Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fremont, CA, USA Posts: 487	Midnight eater after not eating all day Rio has gotten into this pattern of not eating any of her kibble all day, sometimes not eating her first bit of kibble until 4pm. Then she may eat some more through the evening until bedtime at 9:30p. She then will wake us up to let her out to potty, and will eat voraciously at 1:30 in the morning! I would take her food away at night to break this habit, but she is only 3 lbs. and I worry that she's not getting enough food or that she may get hypoglycemic. She is 14 months old, so hopefully she be less likely to have hypoglycemia. So I free-feed her, but that's such a misnomer since she doesn't eat all day! She doesn't seem underweight, although I can feel her ribs and spine. She loves her food (I feed her Canidae lamb all-life stages) when she actually does eat, she just doesn't eat consistently. Do any of you have midnight eaters like Rio? How do you encourage them to eat in the morning?

05-10-2010, 08:40 AM	#2
carissa_ Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: BC, canada Posts: 117	hmmm in the last week Rex has been doing this to. he wants to eat on his time not when mommy says so! it worries me to because hes around 4 pounds but i think its because his routine is all messed up...i took a week vacy and haven't been consistent. so this is my fault. so long story short...has her routine changed at all? maybe thats the problem. __________________ My little man REX xoxo

05-10-2010, 08:54 AM	#4
AllDogBoots Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Delray Beach, FL Posts: 7,984	Cooper is a "ready for bed?" eater. I'm sure I did that to him somehow. He will nibble here and there throughout the day but won't eat until I say "are you ready for bed?" At that point it's a game. He runs full speed, sliding into his food bowl because he knows I'm going to pick it up and put it away. He'll start eating. He teases me with it. If he starts to walk away he'll keep looking back at me. When I go to pick up his bowl, he runs full speed again because he now knows this is his last chance. He'll eat the whole bowl before bed. If i take the bowl away at night without him eating, he'll sit in the kitchen growling and barking for food. Sometimes he'll wander off to bed, but then i'm afraid he's hungry because he didn't eat all day! __________________ I'm Karen - Devoted Mama to the Drama Boyz - Cooper & Max www.alldogboots.com

05-10-2010, 09:30 AM	#7
kdreamson YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dacula GA Posts: 342	Her name is Rio, and she dances on the sand,Oh Rio, Rio dancer on the Rio Grand....Mabel is a late eater too. I am a total pushover about the food! I free feed her because i'm afraid she won't eat at all! I am going to try scheduled feeding in the morning...That is if i don't wimp out and give in and put the food down when she looks at me with her pitiful,starving look! I've been told they won't starve but Yorkie's are so stubborn and obstinant she might!LOL!!! __________________

05-10-2010, 09:54 AM	#8
RONLYNN Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Manhattan Beach, CA Posts: 1,635	My Teddi is 3 lbs as well as I used to free feed but found it is so much better now that I am feeding her less and feeding her 2X a day. Now she actually eats when she gets her food. She eats about 8:30 in the morning and about 8:00 pm. You also should break you dog of the peeing at 1:30 am. Maybe restrict water after a certain time. They should go out when you go to bed and be able to hold it until the morning. That is a bad habit (specially if you want someone to babysit your dog). You just need to re-train your dog on a new schedule. It shouldn't be a problem at all! They are quick leaners. __________________ Ronda & Teddi PPU - Petite Pups United Member The PINK Club Member **

05-10-2010, 08:47 AM	#3
motomomma317 YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: ohio Posts: 319	Free for all eating may be your problem. But she may just be odd on her timing. My outside dog chooses to eat late at night, and because I dont have to keep track of his potty pattern I dont worry too much about that. I would try enticing your little gal to eat in the morning with some extra goodie of your choice in her food. You know her likes and dislikes. Leave it down for an hr then take it up. Then put the food back down for her dinner feeding. After an hr take that up too. Allow her a late night treat. Always keep the water out. keep a close on on her if you feel shes getting hypo feed her. Even if she hasn't eaten much all day I'm willing to bet that all the food she normaly eats at the 1:something feeding will be eaten for the breakfast feeding the next day.

05-10-2010, 09:16 AM	#5
Her Name Is Rio Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fremont, CA, USA Posts: 487	I am hesitant in adding things to entice her to eat, because we finally got her eating dry kibble after almost a year of doctoring up her food to get her to eat in the first place. We used to add a teaspoon of cottage cheese or canned dog food and she got to a point where she didn't want to eat that concoction either! She's a smarty pants - I think she was holding out to see what else we would add to it! I will try picking up her bowl at bedtime on a day where she ate relatively well to see if she'll be hungry enough to eat the following morning. I'm just a softy though - breaks my heart when she runs to her bowl after her 1am potty break and there's nothing there for her.

05-10-2010, 10:10 AM	#10
OwnedByJezebel YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,921	Next time you need to buy another bag of kibble, try something new to see if she will get excited about it and eat right away. I used to let my dogs free feed on kibble all day long, but then I decided to try a little raw to go with it. I feed raw in the morning. They beg for it before I even start to get it out of the fridge, and they finish it right away when I put it down. I like that I can put something down after they've fasted all night long and they get a good meal right away. __________________ Life is merrier with a Yorkshire Terrier! Jezebel & Chuy ... RIP: Barkley Loosie & Sassy

05-10-2010, 10:42 AM	#12
ArmaniMan I ♥ Armani & Chloe Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 3,895	Armani used to be like this when I free fed... he wouldnt eat much during the day but would always eat at some point during the night... as long as he was eating it at some point, I didnt care. Now I had to stop free feeding because with two there was no way to keep track of who ate what... now they both just eat their bowls down when they are placed in front of them. __________________ Armani & Chloe

05-10-2010, 11:21 AM	#14
KJLive Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lebanon, PA, USA Posts: 1,162	I have a 3 lb.-er (Biewer a la Pom Pon) and he is the best eater in the house. He's 9 months old and very active, so he burns a lot of energy. He eats at 4:30 AM when we get up and he eats again at 4:30 PM when I get home from work. Whatever food is not eaten from those two times I leave in the dish. And it is not uncommon for him then to nibble around 8:00 PM just before bed. My other Biewer (6 lbs) and my Yorkie (8.5 lbs) rarely eat after the 4:30 PM feeding but my little 3 lb guy will! At 3 lbs (and with a puppy coming) I wouldn't consider picking up the food. I would have food available all the time. IMH(humble)O, I would want the 3lb-er to have food available whenever he/she wants it. And with the puppy coming...they eat more than an adult dog because they are far more active. I never put more food out for them than their daily requirements. I don't use one of those big "dispensers" that you fill up with days worth of food. I put fresh food out twice a day. Again, this is what works for my little guy. Everyone is different.... __________________ Sherry, Sophie, Ivan, Alfie, Addie, and Winston Click Here for Information on Biewer Rescue

05-10-2010, 11:41 AM	#15
LGizmo YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 1	My Hailee does the same thing. She is 4 years old and I try to get her to eat before I go to work, sometimes she will and other times she doesn't. If she doesn't, then she won't eat until around 5:30. She then eats off and on until 9:00. She sleeps a lot too. I have had her thyroid checked and everything is in the normal range.