How to entice dog to eat?

[Richard]

UPdate: (and to repeat, I'm aware she could simply be at the end of her extended life.....she's already had a brush with death and the wife totally found her and bailed her out of that one)

Anyways....

I personally was dubious that she'd make it through last night...again, I credit the wife. She grabbed a can of dog food, dumped about 1/4 cup into the blender with some water and puree'd it. We fed Chloe via syringe. Not a normal amount but given that she'd not eaten hardly anything in 4 days, I'll take a quarter cup!

Just got done feeding her again this morning.

I did the pill down the throat thing with her antibiotic. She took that fairly well but she really seems to detest the pain killer so we're holding off on that.

Found out yesterday that our neighbors had a sick dog recently. Also found out they've had some Dcon (or whatever it's called) rodent poison out. We're not sure if that's the cause but it would certainly explain the suddenness of events.

Wife is taking Chloe back to vet today, considering some Xrays (for obstructions as mentioned) and also to have them do a poison test.

Vet should also have the Tick results back today.....

Chloe noticeably perked up once we got some water & food in her.

We've all lost our little buddies / little princesses at some time or another..... doesn't make it any easier as we all know.

 

[dragoneggs]

Thanks for the update. Some encouragement it sounds and you are doing everything you can do.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Its very sad to see your best friend suffering, especially when you can't seem to help. The thought on the ticks is a very good possibility even if you are using tick killer on the dog. Another possibility is a bad tooth. An infected molar is all but impossible to see even by the Vet.

I lost on dog due to eating palmetto seeds. Little did I know that they are extremely poisonous. Later I looked up things that are poisonous to dogs and cats, and was flabbergasted. It's all but impossible to keep them away from everything, but we try.

Best wishes to saving your friend.

 

[davesl708]

UPdate: (and to repeat, I'm aware she could simply be at the end of her extended life.....she's already had a brush with death and the wife totally found her and bailed her out of that one)

Anyways....

I personally was dubious that she'd make it through last night...again, I credit the wife. She grabbed a can of dog food, dumped about 1/4 cup into the blender with some water and puree'd it. We fed Chloe via syringe. Not a normal amount but given that she'd not eaten hardly anything in 4 days, I'll take a quarter cup!

Just got done feeding her again this morning.

I did the pill down the throat thing with her antibiotic. She took that fairly well but she really seems to detest the pain killer so we're holding off on that.

Found out yesterday that our neighbors had a sick dog recently. Also found out they've had some Dcon (or whatever it's called) rodent poison out. We're not sure if that's the cause but it would certainly explain the suddenness of events.

Wife is taking Chloe back to vet today, considering some Xrays (for obstructions as mentioned) and also to have them do a poison test.

Vet should also have the Tick results back today.....

Chloe noticeably perked up once we got some water & food in her.

We've all lost our little buddies / little princesses at some time or another..... doesn't make it any easier as we all know.

If they are doing poison test have them specifically look for arsenic. The problem with rodent poisons are they are persistent. If the dog ate a dead bird or mouse she gets the poison too.

All the best for her.

 

[Trials]

Re: concerns of rat poison; that stuff generally makes the animal seek out water.

If you think it's hard to get a pill down a dogs throat, you should see how hard it is to get a pill down an Owls throat! I had to do that many years ago when I was minding somebody's pet Owl for a few weeks. :| It looked like a scene from the exorcist the way that thing could turn its head around.

To check for dehydration, gently pinch a fold of skin and watch how quickly it returns to form, if it doesn't snap back in place fairly quick that is an indication of dehydration. It's not difficult to obtain the correct saline solution and IV supplies to address that problem if it should arise.

13 years is a very good life span even for a small dog. You are obviously a proper and caring pet owner, you should feel good for your dogs having given them the best and fullest possible life that could be had. The animals to feel badly for are those who do not receive the same care and respect. You will know when it is time to cease with the continuation of revival efforts.

Continued thoughts and best wishes going her way.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

If the dog won't eat, and the tests come back with everything in line, the Vet might want to check the dog with an Xray for a blockage.

I agree with this statement. A blockage could be the problem.

Also, we have a 13 year old Jack Russell who does not want to eat a times. But one food he has never turned down is a scrambled egg; give that a try.

 

[Paddy]

Canned tuna for pills, smashed up to a powder. Real chicken broth, not those salty bullion cubes. Gets liquid and calories in her system.

We had a Jack Russel go through this about 8 years ago. Turned out to be kidney failure but he was only 4 years old. We hydrated him with a bag of saline solution, grab a pinch of skin on his back push the needle in. He died within a few weeks.

I could not understand how a young dog could die of kidney failure. A bit of research showed many dogs have been exposed to contaminated dog food. My recollection was they blamed cross truck contamination, same trucks hauling ground rice, also hauled plastic powder. Melamine, as in that partical board shelf material. Made in China : (
Melamine Pet Food Recall of 2007

our vet did not confirm.....

I sure hope this is not the case with your girl.

 

[jfh28]

antibiotics are VERY rough on the stomach.......there are gentler versions of them...talk to your vet......did she stop eating before or after she started the antibiotics?......have never had a problem with pain killers and eating.....rymadil is flavored and they act like it's a treat.........in general when a dog doesn't eat or drink there is something wrong inside them.......unfortunately they can't tell us what it is......as they age they may show less interest in food and need less but when they stop eating completely there is a reason beyond age........the poison you mention is a bit concerning.....what did the vet say about that?....you may need to take her to an internist specialist to find out what's going on........hope she bounces back.........Jack

 

[Richard]

(I've tried scrambled eggs)

We had taken her to a vet in town because my wife had to go that direction and was unable to take her to our normal vet (who's taken care of her for her life. Side story.... walked in their office once, the receptionist (the Vet's wife) was out of the front and in the back of the clinic. We were there unannounced and unexpected... walk in with Chloe who barked a couple times. As the Vet's wife came walking around the corner, BEFORE she got into the waiting room, she said "Is that CHLOE I hear barking".... I was very impressed that she recognized the bark)

Anyways....

Today, wife took her to our normal vet and talked about the poison topics. Two of the Tick tests are back (from the other vet) and those two are negative, other two are due back tomorrow.

Hadn't thought of the infected tooth thing. Chloe DOES have an issue with tartar/plaque on her teeth.

 

[om21braz]

Maybe one more food to try I didn't see mentioned - cat food. Local Vet. here says it's what he always uses in your case. Just not healthy long-term. Been in the same place you are and hope the best for Chloe.

 

[/pine]

Have you tried mashed chicken livers?

 

[dragoneggs]

It is all a ploy by your dog to get you to prepare gourmet meals for the rest of her life... sorry just wanted to inject a little levity. Continued well wishes coming your way.

 

[Clint S]

I second rice and boiled Hamburg. Very easy on the stomach. Hope things turn out.

 

[Green Power]

Try pouring olive oil, or milk on her food.

 

[Boiler74]

I'm sorry for what you are dealing with. I've been there. When my Great Dane didn't want to eat due to cancer treatment, I took a gob of peanut butter and wiped it on the roof of his mouth. Lots of calories in PB and they have no choice but to lick it off. I also fed him Kentucky Fried Chicken dark meat for a time too. Good luck.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I second rice and boiled Hamburg. Very easy on the stomach. Hope things turn out.

Both of our two Toy Rat Terriers, both age 13, has bad teeth, probably due to our not brushing them and always feeding the soft food like Caesars. One was much worse than the other and ended up having 3 teeth pulled. But before she got to that point, we found that the cheap canned food at Tractor Supply was by far her choice.

Before the teeth pulling though, she wouldn't eat, or eat VERY little. She started out at 5.5# and dropped to 4.1# pretty darn quick. We thought she was surely gone, suspecting some sort of intestinal problem. After removing the infected teeth, the Vet put her on steroids. That bumped up the appetite almost immediately. She's now back to 5.0# and much spryer. She's once again, a live wire.

I get really depressed when I think about when the time comes to have to put either one down. That's as bad, or the same, as loosing a member of your family. I can only hope for the best for Chloe, and for her family.

Lesson Learned: Don't feed your dog ONLY soft foods. They need something to keep those teeth clean, be it dog bones, dry food, or brushing.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

The best way short of an IV I have found to keep an animal from dehydrating is salt free chicken broth mixed with water 50/50. The broth has some food value and flavors the water so it tastes good to them. Keeping an animal hydrated is much more important than keeping them fed.

 

[Dftodd]

Bacon flavored cream cheese worked best for us to give our dogs pills.

 

[jfh28]

any update on how she's doing today Richard?.........Jack

 

[Alien]

Try some Spam. That's the only thing our Pug will eat to take his pills. He loves the stuff!

Our Pug will eat ANYTHING we eat. If we don't eat it he is suspicious and just sniffs it.

But getting back to Richard. Hopefully by now there has been an improvement. We never feed any of our dogs 'dog food'
Contrary to what they tell you is in it, it is also full of offal etc. Dried food is the worst. It is rubbish and they spray it with fat so the dogs will eat it. Do some research and you will never feed it to your dog again.

Try Chloe with some stir fry steak meat or lean mince. Just leave it close by with some fresh water.
Not much else you can do as they are the ones in control. She will tend to herself when she feels inclined. Lots of good suggestions and probably a bit overwhelming. I wish you a happy outcome.