shekhina Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 Daegon has been hardly eating for the past, I'm guessing, 4-6 weeks. I have been very strict with him and pick his food up in 10 minutes if it's not eaten but it's not making a smidge of difference. He was a fussy baby for a while, but after getting strict with him then he ate well again and has done up until recently. He is thin (not dangerously thin, but he looks like a Dobermann, not a Rottweiler) and not even the new road work exercise is increasing his hunger. I NEED him to eat more and gain weight, this is getting ridiculous and I am starting to get extremely frustrated. I've tried satin balls, didn't even want those...even the mince stuff he used to love he doesn't really care for. He eats just enough to get by every day and that's it, even with Kovu eating right next to him now for 'encouragement'. I just don't know what to do anymore Can anyone tell me a sure way to get him really hungry so that he will eat? PLEASE?? Why can't he be like other dogs and want to eat all day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peibe Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 Have you ever had him checked over by a vet to see if there is something wrong internally? What about Nutrigel? Tried it? I hate fussy eaters, goodluck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashli Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 Hey Shekky sweety!!! I know how you feel in regards to the frustration of trying to get them to gain weight, except satin balls and lamb flaps did the trick for me (eventually ) Have you tried Iams Savoury Sauce??, that might encourage him. It sounds kinda yummy http://us.iams.com/iams/en_US/jsp/IAMS_Pag...amp;articleID=3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shekhina Posted October 6, 2006 Author Share Posted October 6, 2006 (edited) No, I haven't him checked out for his eating issues...he did get a general check up before his first adult booster shot around 2-3 weeks ago though and he was fine. What could be wrong internally? Perhaps I should take him back and ask about this particular issue? Bloody hell, I want some of that sauce Will look out for it in the supermarket next time I'm in there ETA: no I haven't tried the Nutrigel, I have been meaning too though. My mum suggested Pentavite...I think that is the human formula? Apparently I was worse than Daegon as a baby...I was a non-thriver...wish I was a non-thriver now Edited October 6, 2006 by shekhina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 Have you tried Zinc ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 Could it be his tonsils? That will stop them eating. On Ozshow somebody mentioned a medicine called Periactin which can get them eating again. I've googled it and it is an anti-histamine. Pharmacist Only so you'd have to ask for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norskgra Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 (edited) Another thing you could try is Incremin. It is used to stimulate the appetite in babies and children and is available at any Chemist. Personally, I have had great success with Nutrigel/Nutripet. Edited October 6, 2006 by Norskgra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shekhina Posted October 6, 2006 Author Share Posted October 6, 2006 Thanks guys. Yes Warley Daegon has been on one tablet of Zinc everday since you told me about it. I am so frustrated some days I could honestly strangle the bast...ah, darling. I think I'll try the nutrigel first...but geez it's pricey, especially when you're giving it to such a big, heavy dog. If that doesn't work I'll then try the Periactin...I don't feel very comfortable shoving anti-histamines down his throat. If that doesn't work, I'm going to shoot the bast...ah, darling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 don't feel very comfortable shoving anti-histamines down his throat. About five other people agreed that the Periactin doesn't hurt so I certainly wouldn't have any qualms about trying it. Not that I have that problem....my problem is that everybody is on the portly side and go foraging for more the instant their ration is gone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shekhina Posted October 6, 2006 Author Share Posted October 6, 2006 I wish Daegon was scoffing his food down looking for more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 I'd get his tonsils checked too. They can make a dog feel very poorly and definitely affect the appetite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shekhina Posted October 7, 2006 Author Share Posted October 7, 2006 What should they look like and what should they definitely not look like? I just know I'll be wasting another $40 getting him seen to only to have them tell me he's stubborn...I know that already Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 Is the back of his throat red and inflamed looking? Does he hang his head when he's on the lead or pull back at all when you put pressure on his throat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SALTWOOD Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 I don't know your dogs history so can I ask what are you currently offering him to eat???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shekhina Posted October 7, 2006 Author Share Posted October 7, 2006 He gets either Bonnie Working Dog or Great Barko kibbles, with sardines in oil, egg, natural yoghurt etc. every few days. He also gets a meat mix of all kinds of stuff as well as chicken wings/frames/drumsticks (which he has also refused at one stage in this 4-6 week period). I'm going to check his throat soon, I'm just waiting for my foster to be picked up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SALTWOOD Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 If it was me I would be taking a deep breath and try a fresh start. Presuming you have eliminated any health issues I would leave the dog 24hours without food then introduce a bland chicken & rice diet(cooked), like you would feed an invalid. I would ensure that I only fed small meals, leaving the dog looking for more each feed. I would feed twice daily and be content with the dog just eating - not wanting to fatten it up at this stage. If this food was tolerated and totally consumed I would start introducing a little raw minced chicken frame (available from Lenards) into the cooked chicken & rice mix gradually increasing the percentage of raw and reducing the percentage of cooked - still feeding twice daily but making sure I didn't overfeed. After a while & would introduce Vets All Natural Dry Mix and then continue on gradually introducing raw chicken necks, lamb flaps, etc. I wouldn't be worried about too much variety too soon but would always ensure to underfeed rather than overfeed. The stomach has to get used to having food in it. Feeding three times daily can put weight on but if you feed too much too soon you will be back in the same situation you are currently in. You have to re-educate your dog in its eating habits. When you have your dog eating readily then, and only then, you can increase its food, add different foods, try to put weight on, etc. This might take 4-6weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shekhina Posted October 7, 2006 Author Share Posted October 7, 2006 OK well Daegon's throat is fine, he's just being a stubborn bastard...some days I could strangle this dog :D Thanks for those tips Saltwood, I will definitely give them a go if the Nutrigel doesn't fix his appetite to start with Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shekhina Posted October 14, 2006 Author Share Posted October 14, 2006 Well after two days of feeding Kovu in front of him and not even offering any food to Daegon, he is now eating again Yesterday I offered him food twice and he cleaned the bowl both times, today so far he's had two meals, he'll have at least one more. I'm starting off with small amounts and will gradually increase them to get the weight back on him. Even after just eating for two days he looks much better, he's usually impossible to get weight on but now he's making a liar out of me Thanks for the tips Saltwood, making him look for more food each meal seems to be working, and I'll increase what I offer him gradually. He really didn't like not even being offered food...he looked so sad like he felt he was never going to get fed again Worked though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarasMum Posted October 14, 2006 Share Posted October 14, 2006 I am not sure if it is related but my staffy x wasnt overly keen on Barko. She thought it was ok at first but after a few days you could tell she wasnt keen. She would eat it but reluctantly. I changed over to Supercoat and she devours it. My GSD loved it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shekhina Posted October 14, 2006 Author Share Posted October 14, 2006 It wasn't the kibble he didn't like he was just refusing to eat, even the kibble he'd been eating since he was first moved to adult food. He's just a stubborn dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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