Dog Growls At Food Bowl?

A friend of mine at work mentioned a new problem she is having with her 11 year old Yellow Lab (female, spayed) and I thought I'd post here about it.

Recently her dog has started growling at her food bowl - not at someone who might get near the bowl, but at the bowl itself.

Any ideas? Is this food guarding?

Any recent changes in older, trained dogs that can't be related to a trigger (has there been a change in their lives?) often indicate a health problem-I'd suggest she has her dog checked out by the vet.

Thanks, that was the first thing I thought of and I suggested it.

when our beagle started losing her sight (she was food aggressive) she started growling while eating...guess to warn other off, but she was the only dog in the house....

Is the bowl stainless steel? I've heard of puppies being afraid of their reflection in them. Other shiney surfaces might give off reflections too, even when full of food, from the side.

I think I'd be most inclined to first suspect vision or hearing loss. Vision for seeing threatening reflections or hearing for suspecting something creeping up on her.

I think most of us feed our critters with their bowls placed so the dog or cat is facing into a wall or corner. This leaves them vulnerable at their back ends. This is just a wild guess and at her age might not be good to change her feeding spot. But perhaps isolation in the room would reassure her no one is there?

I think I'd be most inclined to first suspect vision or hearing loss.

My first thoughts as well. A vet visit is definitely in order. I'd also recommend a thorough blood test including thyroid.