Dog / Poodles - Answered 1333 days ago
I have a question about dog food. I gave my dog "First Mate", but because I had been topping it with chicken breasts and breast strips, her BUN had gotten too high. Since then I stopped adding the chicken, but now she won't eat dog food by itself. She will eat food samples at first because they're new to her, but I'm thinking of what I should do. Could you please give me some advice?
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Silvia Rodríguez
Spain
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Belinda
Poodles, 4 years old spayed female
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It can be a really worrying time when your dog is off their food. Unfortunately ‘anorexia’ or loss of appetite can be caused by a whole host of reasons. In order to determine the treatment to give to your dog, it is important to identify what the underlying cause of the reluctance to eat is. Loss of appetite in a dog can be a sign of illness so it’s important to seek veterinary help if you notice changes in your dog’s normal eating habits – particularly if your pooch is normally a good eater. It’s best to get to the bottom of the problem as early as possible, as if left untreated for several days it can lead to dehydration and malnourishment. There are different types of anorexia. True anorexia is when your dog simply refuses to eat – this is often associated with serious illnesses. Pseudo-anorexia is another type which is when your dog is hungry and really wants to eat, goes to the food bowl, but can’t eat due to a difficulty chewing or swallowing. If your dog stops eating for a day or two, but is otherwise active and alert, then it’s ok to keep a close eye on them initially. You could offer them some bland home cooked food like boiled chicken and rice, which is a tasty but easily digestible diet. Try warming it up a little in the microwave, as this sometimes will entice them to eat. You could offer smaller meals more frequently. Take away any leftovers that they haven’t eaten within 15 minutes and offering again a few hours later. Avoid chopping and changing the diet and offering too many different types of food. Sometimes a quick change in food can cause an upset tummy, which may complicate matters. Be careful to avoid any toxic foods such as onions and garlic. If your dog is quiet, not themselves, or displaying any other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness or lethargy; or has not eaten at all for 2 days then you should seek veterinary attention. Treatment will very much depend on what the underlying cause of the anorexia is. Often once this has been addressed, their appetite will return to normal. Sometimes this may take a few days and additional measures may be required. Depending on your dog’s condition your vet may give an injection or tablet to stimulate their appetite. These need to be given with some care, as they don’t fix the problem – they simply make the dog want to eat. In some cases, if it’s going to be longer than a couple of days while your pet heals, or the treatment takes effect they may suggest placing a feeding tube. This is passed into the oesophagus (food pipe) so your dog can receive a liquid diet via the tube. This isn’t permanent – it’s just to keep them fed until they start eating by themselves. If you are worried about your dog’s appetite, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with your vet. Finding and treating the underlying cause is the best way to approach this situation. To get your dog back up and about again. Thank you All the best
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