Dog Gone Fussy With Food

[Ravyk]

My dog Peggie has all of a sudden become very fussy on what she eats.

She is fed a raw diet, normally consisting of chicken wings/necks/carcasses/drums, red meat [beef or lamb] and normally eats everything with gusto.

Lately she will only eat meat or small bones, and normally to get her to eat it we either have to cut it up small or 'play' with it. Or she will just sit there and guard her food.

We have noticed that she isn't closing her mouth fully, just leaving it open about 1/2 a cm most of the time. I had a quick look in her mouth and couldn't see anything that looked wrong

There have been two major changes recently. First she got desexed and two I started house sitting a few weeks back.

Can anyone shed some insight or should I take her to the vet?

[Jaxx'sBuddy]

i would take her to the vet. most dogs shut their mouths at some time during the day. that with starting to be fussy with food and it off for a trip to the vet i think

[persephone]

My first thought- when you say she was desexed, and anaesthetised/intubated that there was some injury to her jaw??

Definitely vet visit!

[puggy_puggy]

How old is she? Have you actually checked her teeth and gums? Does she have bad breath?

Saying that really a good vet should have noticed any rotting teeth or gum problems whilst intubating but you never know.

[CP*]

When they intubate for surgery the tube can sometimes scratch their throat and mouth and it can become infected and therefore sore to eat.

If it isn't from this she might just be going through a stage - I would try sprinkling a little garlic powder on the food to see if that interests her.

[Gayle.]

Have you tried her with soft, boneless food such as chicken mince and rice? Just to see if she's actually hungry but can't physically handle the more chewable food, then you'll know something is definitely not right with her mouth, throat or teeth.

[Rappie]

Can she still chew?

If she can't shut her mouth at all and there is no physical obstruction or abnormality, then trigeminal neuritis is a possibility that I would consider. It's not particularly common and is not painful but affected dogs cannot close their mouth and often require a gruel-y type food or small chunks that can be swallowed. Any sudden change in appetite is worth a vet check up though.

Edited September 13, 2009 by Rappie