Our dog isn't eating....
Discussion
Last Wednesday we homed a Bulldog...He's been great and we've instantly bonded.
Only thing that concerns me is he eats very little and is losing weight. He's happy and full of beans so I don't think he's depressed...Gets plenty of attention and walks. We don't give him any of our food. Rather than leave his bowl out all the time i've started putting it down for about 30 min then moving it so it encourages eating time but that's not working.
His previous owners said he only eats a certain brand and flavour which we've stuck too.
I hope he sorts himself out before he loses too much weight.
My gf has suggested we add some raw mince to his food tonight in the hope to kick start his appetite.
Puzzled as he's not unwell and seems very happy in his surroundings and us.
Any advice?
The culprit...
Only thing that concerns me is he eats very little and is losing weight. He's happy and full of beans so I don't think he's depressed...Gets plenty of attention and walks. We don't give him any of our food. Rather than leave his bowl out all the time i've started putting it down for about 30 min then moving it so it encourages eating time but that's not working.
His previous owners said he only eats a certain brand and flavour which we've stuck too.
I hope he sorts himself out before he loses too much weight.
My gf has suggested we add some raw mince to his food tonight in the hope to kick start his appetite.
Puzzled as he's not unwell and seems very happy in his surroundings and us.
Any advice?
The culprit...
Mr Roper said:
ali_kat said:
Name?
Age?
History?
His name's Marley..He's 3 1/2 and originally from Middlesborough Age?
History?
Previous owners had him from about 8 months old. He's come from a great home and very much loved.If it were I, I'd have him checked out by the vet and then just leave his food out. Assuming nothing's wrong, he'll eat when he's hungry!!
Catz said:
Maybe he's over-excited about the move!??
When our dog's off her food she responds well to scrambled egg, cooked chicken or rice mixed in with her food. Mind you that might just be her ...
Nope, you're not alone. All three of our GSDs would happily eat scrambled eggs, chicken and rice but even when they were off food enough to not eat all of those they would still eat pilchards.When our dog's off her food she responds well to scrambled egg, cooked chicken or rice mixed in with her food. Mind you that might just be her ...
Edited by Tyre Tread on Tuesday 3rd February 14:14
The Moose said:
No likey, no lighty?!
If it were I, I'd have him checked out by the vet and then just leave his food out. Assuming nothing's wrong, he'll eat when he's hungry!!
That was my first thought...leave him to it and he'll eat when he's ready but it's been a week now and his bones are showing. He's not the biggest bulldog as it is and now starting to look a bit gaunt.If it were I, I'd have him checked out by the vet and then just leave his food out. Assuming nothing's wrong, he'll eat when he's hungry!!
I've got an appointment next week at the local vets to get him registered so will bring it up then if nothing changes.
Pilchards are on the shopping list
Some dogs are really stubborn and will rather starve than eat what is being offered. I have known dogs go 3-4 days barely eating! (usually by then an owner gives in understandably) However some will eat well one day and very little for a day or two. This is fine if healthy weight is being maintained.
Firstly what is the make of food you are giving. Secondly I would offer some white fish, scrambled egg and rice or potato etc just to get the appetite going again, could risk anorexia becoming chronic otherwise; if he is losing weight he needs to get eating properly again. He sounds well otherwise but I should suggest a vet check to be safe!!
Firstly what is the make of food you are giving. Secondly I would offer some white fish, scrambled egg and rice or potato etc just to get the appetite going again, could risk anorexia becoming chronic otherwise; if he is losing weight he needs to get eating properly again. He sounds well otherwise but I should suggest a vet check to be safe!!
Edited by bexVN on Tuesday 3rd February 14:23
Best to get him checked out. I wouldn't be leaving food out for him though, just encourages them to graze, it's best to have set meal times as dogs need routines.
My b
h can be fussy sometimes and will refuse a meal now and again (usually if she got something nice and tasty in her last one), if she doesn't eat it then it gets taken up and she'll get another next meal time.
Cute dog btw
My b
h can be fussy sometimes and will refuse a meal now and again (usually if she got something nice and tasty in her last one), if she doesn't eat it then it gets taken up and she'll get another next meal time.Cute dog btw
He's on James Wellbeloved turkey and rice and has been for a long time. Stubborn would make sense...He's very inquisitive about his food but will snub it and walk away. I bought another brand of similar quality on the weekend but he wasn't interested.
I've got a load of eggs so tonight he's getting scrambled eggs and pilchards. Jammy get.
I've got a load of eggs so tonight he's getting scrambled eggs and pilchards. Jammy get.
Our Golden puppy is on Wellbeloved. We tend to ring the changes round fish, duck and lamb. Occasionally he likes a bit of wet food. Wellbeloved or wainwrights.
He was weaned on Beta chicken and he hates it got bored.
Show him a bowl of boiled chicken and rice with some veggies in though.
Pilchards eh?
Our vet says dogs don't suffer from anorexia and they can go three days. Assume he's not eating poop which they will do when starving.
When Charley gets to a year old he's going off commercial food onto home prepared stuff, not raw but example chicken, rice, carrots, apples and some green stuff eg broccoli. Just need to consider if he needs supplements and what. Being a Golden he's a greedy git so it's down to us to keep weight in check.
He was weaned on Beta chicken and he hates it got bored.
Show him a bowl of boiled chicken and rice with some veggies in though.
Pilchards eh?
Our vet says dogs don't suffer from anorexia and they can go three days. Assume he's not eating poop which they will do when starving.
When Charley gets to a year old he's going off commercial food onto home prepared stuff, not raw but example chicken, rice, carrots, apples and some green stuff eg broccoli. Just need to consider if he needs supplements and what. Being a Golden he's a greedy git so it's down to us to keep weight in check.
So did he trough his eggs and pilchards?
I've heard a few times now that some dogs can take literally weeks to adapt to major changes/stresses in their life.
And a common behavioural manifestation of stress is being "off" food...
-at the risk of making him even fussier in the long term, I would ring the changes on his food to see if you can find something to entice him to eat. As Bex said, a week is a very long time to not eat, even if the rest of his behaviours are relatively normal and healthy.
(What's his 'business' like? No issues when things reappear from the back end? No discomfort/straining?)
I've heard a few times now that some dogs can take literally weeks to adapt to major changes/stresses in their life.
And a common behavioural manifestation of stress is being "off" food...
-at the risk of making him even fussier in the long term, I would ring the changes on his food to see if you can find something to entice him to eat. As Bex said, a week is a very long time to not eat, even if the rest of his behaviours are relatively normal and healthy.
(What's his 'business' like? No issues when things reappear from the back end? No discomfort/straining?)
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff