Chihuahua with elevated liver enzymes?

Question

My little guy is a VERY picky eater, the vet suggested changeing to a senior formulated dog food, I couldn't find one he would eat, and I tried every brand on the market. At the next vet visit his liver enzymes were higher and the Vet prescribed a multi-vitamin. The vitamin is liver flavored, he won't eat it. He doesn't eat treats so I can't even camouflage it. I tried grinding it up and putting it in his food, and having a test of wills, he went 3 days without eating. He's 6 years old, weights 5 pounds, and is too small to go without eating for 3 days, I gave in. Trying to force it down his throat is a fight worthy of a Las Vegas showdown. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

My dog is the same way, she's very picky. I feed her Purina and Beneful...adult chow. However your dog is much smaller and the bites might be too big for him. When my dog was sick, I had to force the pills down her throat but she'd cough them back up. Something you might try is crushing the pill up and putting it in some water then get an eye dropper and suck the water and crushed pill up into the dropper. It's not hard to get it in the dogs mouth, stick the end of the eye dropper in the corner of his mouth and he can't help but swallow it. I'm not sure what else will work. I finally figured out that my dog liked her pills wrapped in tiny bits of bread.

Answer 2

Chance his diet to a low fat, low protein, high fiber diet. He may not eat it for a while but when he gets hungry enough he will eat. Absolutely NO people food especially fried foods. If you don't control his liver enzymes he will die. My mini poodle had a liver enzyme count that was so high the vet wanted to put her down. I made people mad because they wanted to give her hot dogs, french fries and I wouldn't let them. She didn't like the change in her diet either but she finally got hungry enough that she finally ate. I know that it is hard but you have to stick to getting him hungry enough to eat what is good for him. Science diet has a canned food that might work. I can't remember which one but read the labels and find the lowest fat and protein content that you can. Good luck

Answer 3

I've had problems myself trying to get meds down a dog. We have two Chihuahuas but luckily they will eat anything. I have had some luck by dissolving the pill in a small bit of warm water and then using a syringe squirt it into the back of his mouth. by just sticking it in trough the back side of his lips, for a lack of a better word. I have also had luck by wrapping it in cheese or liverwurst. I do understand the frustration you are going through and I wish you the best of luck

Answer 4

Try holding him by the scruff of the neck while you are giving him the pill paste, then all you have to deal with are his front paws and clenched jaws. Or you can wear jeans and put him between your legs with only his head sticking up, then you will have two hands to deliver the pill paste with the feeding syringe. If he is 6 years old and 5 lb he can go 3 days without eating, as you have seen. If he collapses he has gone too long. I doubt that he will go to those lengths. You are bigger and smarter than he is, you can win.

Answer 5

Well that happens to most chihuahuas, and the smaller they are the more trouble they give to owners, I guess you can put the grinded vitamin in his water or have your vet give him a vitamin shot.
my suggestion is get rid of that dog when you have a chance and get a blue heeler

Answer 6

Crush the tablet, mix it with a tiny amount of water, just to make it mushy, and either spoon it down him or, as I do, put it at the back of his mouth with a feeding syringe. You can get the syringe at your vet's clinic.... he'll get mad, but he'll forgive you.

Answer 7

Make up a holistic dogfood
visit this web sight
http://www.urbanwolf.cc/

Answer 8

http://www.talktothevet.com/VETERINARIANS/veterinarians.HTM