Not Eating

[cowanbree]

I have a 9yr old sheltie that I have been having issues with not eating for over a mth now. He picked up a bug which left him coughing and vomiting for 3-4days and then all symptoms cleared. Since then though he hasn’t really been 100%. He seems bright enough but it has been very difficult to get him to eat.

He won’t eat his normal dry food and only about 50% of the time will eat the special meals I am preparing for him. Tonight for instance he was having mutton mince with rice, he didn’t even look at it. He is not a fussy dog, there is something wrong. I have had him to the vet 3 times now and he has had bloods and x-rays done but my vet said everything is normal. Obviously everything is not normal or he would be eating but I am a little stumped as to what to do next. It is so frustrating as other than the not eating he has no symptoms at all. He is currently on Baytril but he is nearly finished the course and there has been no improvement.

Any ideas?

[sandgrubber]

Best luck.

This may not be helpful in your case, and won't cure any physical ailment. I often find that some dogs who won't eat in the boarding kennel suddenly become good eaters if they sense that someone else will steal their food if they don't get on with it.

[JulesP]

Will he eat anything at all? Talking super yummy stuff.

[Koemi]

i went through a similar experience with my Bambi when i first got her, but our situations aren't really similar enough to offer advice. She was from the pound and was a very sick dog, which the RSPCA didn't pick up on.

Good luck, i hope you can figure out what is wrong soon.

[cowanbree]

Believe me I have tried everything to get him to eat and he is only picking. Going back to the vet today as we have given him blimps (?) 12hrs ago and are now going to x-ray him to look for a partial blockage. Was quite interesting, they are little balls of various sizes that show up on x-ray. Ran full bloods again and still normal. He has lost another kg since last week which is a lot considering he only weighs 11kgs

[Aziah]

Have you checked if the Baytril has side effects such as poor appetite, I know antiobiotics such as Rilexin do?

I hope it's nothing serious and he's back to his old self soon

[Aidan]

There is a possibility that he has formed an association between food and feeling ill.

One approach which can be very effective is outlined here:

http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/Writing/TeachEat.html

...best to follow the instructions without modification.

[cowanbree]

Thought I would update re Cowan. Took him back to the vet and had the blimp tests done and they indicated a partial blockage. He seemed happy enough within himself so my vet wanted to wait until this week so we could do a scan which wasn’t available last week. On Saturday night he vomited a few times so I took him to the emergency vet who kept him in overnight on a drip. Picked him up last night and he was fine until about 12pm when he started vomiting. Had surgery this morning and he has a tumor blocking the small intestine which they have managed to remove. Said his bowel is not in a good state with one end being quite swollen but they have sown him up and we are hoping for the best. Will know more after 48hrs.

I can’t quite believe it. Other than not eating overly well he seemed completely normal right up until Sat night. He had more x-rays done on Friday and everything appeared normal

[sandgrubber]

I can't quite believe it. Other than not eating overly well he seemed completely normal right up until Sat night. He had more x-rays done on Friday and everything appeared normal

Glad you found a cause. Sounds pretty awful. Hope the surgery does the job.

Never underestimate a dog's ability to remain stoical in the face of pain.