My pointer pup went on a hunger strike on my trip this week. Left Wednesday morning, she didn't eat that evening. Hunted her Thursday morning and again that afternoon. She ate about 1/4 of her normal ration. Friday evening after getting home she ate her normal ration amount. I've noticed that she usually eats about 1/2 normal ration on road trip, this trip was abnormal. Anybody ever have this issue with their dog?

Been there. Try buttered white bread.

A few years ago I had a male pointer that pretty much just quit eating during hunting season. I'd crack a raw egg over his food and he would eat. Then I had to start mixing it with the food, he'd just lick the egg off the top

Take a bottle of squeeze margarine and a loaf of bread. All they really need is calories. Some get over it. Some don't.

I'll try that next trip. Thanks

Pretty common. I give them canned mackerel or sardines in brine or oil on top of their dry food. A little more expensive but a lot more protein than canned food which is pretty much trash.

This

Had a friend that would stop in local store and get raw chicken, every pointer I saw would wolf that down like crazy.

I keep it simple, pour a little bit of chicken broth over the kibble. And if that don't work, peanut butter on bread.

If you normally feed kibble, try mixing canned dog food with it. I had a problem and it disappeared once I did this...

Long hunting road trips I take some canned food that has a soupy texture or even cans of chicken soup or stew to pour over the dry food when they get finicky. Works every time.

Lots of good advice, thanks!

I've always used boiled chicken thighs. Boil them up before the trip, dice them up into small pieces and throw them in a ziplock in the ice chest. They are cheap, easy to handle/add to dry food and they are high in protein and fat.

I used to have this problem with a couple of setters I had. They just did not travel well. I took a recommendation of pouring a can of chicken noodle soup over their feed while on the road.They tried to eat the bottom out of their feed pan. Chicken noodle soup is now a staple in my dog supply locker box. I have never seen it fail.

Headed back tomorrow. Wasn't able to get any chicken to boil today, but found a can of chicken broth in the pantry. I'll try that first tomorrow evening

Any luck with the broth?

She did eat about 1/2 her normal ration with the chicken broth poured over the top. The second night I picked up a microwavable can of chicken and stars and heated it up before pouring over food. Only ate 1/4 normal ration with that. Would have thought she'd eat more heated with the cold temp that night. i'll try something different next trip

My lab used to go on a hunger strike when we would travel too. Sometimes he would look like a skeleton when we would get home from a weekend trip. As others suggested, I finally started taking a few cans of wet dog food to mix in with his dry food. He loves it, and its easier on his stomach than other human foods mixed in.

Can dog food works too if you like a nasty box the next morning. I stopped doing that a long time ago. 1/2 normal ration would be good enough for me.

I don't care for the canned food either. It's pretty rank smelling.

canned dog is also a lot lower ranked nutrition wise than good dry foods. That's why I use cheap canned fish. You don't really need to get the dog to eat a regular portion on the road. Feed the amount of dry (enchanced) that you think they will eat. You can step up if they eat it all. If you are on the road long enough, they will start eating more.

Don't forget peanut butter. I have never seen a dog that wont eat a half a peanut butter sammich. I keep Chicken broth and PB in the toolbox on the trailer at all times.

I've used milk to get them to eat. Some really like buttermilk. They will eat eventually.

I'll get more chicken broth and some pb next time I go

Chicken Vienna Sausages dumped in food and mashed up with the juice turns their appetite on too.