Who is right?

[Snappy]

My boyfriends family has a dog who i love as much as my own, he loves me too. I don't agree with the way they do certain things with him, the biggest at the minute being his food. About 2years ago he ate a pair of tights (Lab!) and had to have an op to remove a lot of his gut. Since his poo, understandably, has not been the same. My boyfriends parents were trying to firm him up and they think that 2slices of toast+2scrambled eggs for breakfast and a bowl of boiled rice with 2raw egss mixed in for dinner is a suitable diet for him! I dont agree at all. His dad got the idea from when the vet told him to have chicken+rice after his op. Thats fine but only until he recovered from the op. He turned his nose up at it last night and breakfast this morning. How can i make them see this isn't suitable? My bf's mam doesnt like the fact that i know a LOT more about dogs than her, i breed my own labs, and will not take any of my advice!! She doesnt really like me anyway+is probably just doing it out of spite but i dont think the dog should suffer! What do you think?

[littleoldme]

A labrador turning down food? That must be a first! :-)

My lab usually eats James Wellbelove wholefood kibble, with some boiled rice on alternate days, a diet he loves and never seems to get fed up with. He does have something of a delicate constitution though, and on occasion when things get a little loose, we switch him to chicken and rice until he firms up again (48 hours is usually enough). He also loves the bits of dry wholemeal toast he gets as an occasional treat. I shouldn't think a constant diet of eggs is a particularly good idea for a lab though, especially in enclosed spaces!

[shaneystar]

Chicken and rice and white fish and rice is fine.Not so sure about so many eggs though.I hope they stand down wind from him!! If he is turning his nose up they should introduce a bit more of his normal food day by day into the rice etc..then gradually cut the rice and chicken down.I mix white fish and rice into my dog's dinner a couple of times a week just to give him a bit of variety. Or sardines or tuna.

[Snappy]

I know! He loves food of all kinds but who would want to eat cold rice and raw eggs every night! I think he would benefit much more from being on a complete dry food. My labs get Burns food, sometimes with gravy. He is still also very slight and needs to put on weight. Its been two years since the op and he still looks the same. I always give him treats like a rawhide chew when he comes, they dont give him any other food except a rich tea biscuit! They dont like to let him off the lead in case he runs off (he doesn't, i let him off) He wears a HUGE choke chain, which i detest and i've only just got them to use a halti and collar on him instead. I just feel as if he has no real life with them.

[shaneystar]

I didn't realise it was two years since his op.
He is not getting enough to eat.Not enough protein.
Labs are a big hefty dog and need good food for their bones and muscles. He needs chews and hard biscuits for his teeth and a good dry food . .They are doing the wrong thing in feeding him this pap.
We have a cross GSD lab and he weighs 39 kilos.
I am not keen on choke chains either ..we use a harness.
Have they ever owned a dog before ? It seems to me from what you say they don't have a clue...

[Snappy]

They had a setter x years ago. It's very frustrating when they wont take my advice!

[spudqueen]

Chicken and Rice is a dog food you buy, you don't cook chicken and rice for the dog!!! LOL

[Eels]

Have they tried Chappie?  Comes in tinned and dry versions, and is very bland and gentle on delicate tums.  He may benefit from extras such as chicken or fish mixed with his meals, but bear in mind that he is probably thin largely because if he has lost a section of his intestine he will be less efficient when absorbing food.  Some dogs which have undergone similar surgery are left with diarrhoea pretty much permanently.

I would suggest they approach their vet and try to work out a balanced diet which meets his needs but which his compromised enteric system can cope with!

[Snappy]

Yeah i no all that, im just asking do you think im right to be concerned?

[Snappy]

Yes you do cook chicken and rice spudqueen. I no thats a flavour of food but when they have a delicate stomach you cook rice and chicken

[Eels]

Snappy, there's no need to live up to the name.

Basically, I think they're possibly a bit misguided but aren't really neglecting the dog.  The dog probably quite enjoys the egg - mine only get eggs on high days and holidays! 

If you are genuinely concerned for the dog's welfare then perhaps you should try and steer the subject away from a competition between you and your BF's mum, and towards what's best for the dog.  The way to achieve a better quality of life for him may be to take a step back and try to explain things to your BF instead.  The last thing you want, I am sure, is to have the dog suffer because of antagonism between you and his owner.  Remember, this isn't your dog and your misplaced advice may well lead you to being seen by his family as a stickybeaking know-it-all, which achieves nothing.