So, Zack has proven he has an iron stomach. He has not lost his appetite/had any nausea at all despite the amputation, medications, chemo treatments – not that I'm complaining.

BUT……he is waking up earlier & earlier each morning ready for breakfast. He was getting breakfast around 6:00a and dinner around 7p. Then, a Greenie treat around 10:30p. But, he's been getting up as early as 4a and whining for his breakfast. We've held firm at not feeding him earlier, and have had to endure 2 hrs of whining!!!

To try to combat it, we've been feeding him a little less at each meal, giving him his Greenie earlier, and then right before bed, giving him a little kibble mixed with some veggies – hoping it would help keep him full until the 6a breakfast time. But, so far it hasn't helped.

Any advice for a low-calorie, stomach-filling food we can try?

Interesting dilemma…is this because your dogs are on Prednisone?  I'm pretty sure Trouble is?  Is Zack?

Will Zack eat raw carrots maybe? 

Tracy, Maggie's Mom

maybe the greenie is actually making him hungry.  It's wheat gluten right??  I know white rice and other high glycemic stuff actually raises your blood sugar really fast and triggers your body to think you're hungry ( this website covers it http://www.calo….._sugar.php ) .  Maybe try reversing the pattern give the greenie at 7pm and then dinner closer to 9pm. 

Mousie eats too much too. She is starting to look like a football, tapered at the ends but big and round in the middle.

 I wouldn't be able to refuse Comet anything either and Trouble's face would do me in too.

Don't have any advice to help with Zack's demands for food at such hideous hours of the morning. No experience with that at all. 

Comet is just adorable!  I would find it hard to say 'No' to that face!

And, I think Zack & Trouble could be twins.  Your description sounds all-too-familiar – almost exactly what Zack does.

Mousie is too cute.  I laughed out loud when I read your description, coupled with the picture.

To answer some of the prior questions, we mix chicken in with both his breakfast & dinner (which is Nutro Natural Choice Lite dry kibble – only rated 3 stars on dogfoodadvisor.com, but it was also the only food that worked to bring down his weight, which we tried for years to do…)  A few years ago, Z was up to 85 lbs, and for the last 2 years or so, he was down between 70 & 72.  Since his surgery, he's been maintaining between 66 & 68 lbs.  So, we definitely don't want him to gain.

And, the Greenies aren't used as a supplement to Zack's diet – they are just a treat he thoroughly enjoys – we call them 'doggie crack' because he knows and reminds us exactly when it is time for one – even waking from a sound sleep on the couch to whine for it.  I will definitely look into the Power Mushrooms – thanks for the tip.

Thanks for the other suggestions, too.  I think we'll try switching his normal dinner & late-night snack up a bit – maybe a ligher dinner, and then more chicken/veggies closer to bed. If that doesn't work, maybe we'll have to try giving up the Greenie for a few nights (although I'm not sure we're equipped to deal with a crack addict going through withdrawal   )