I dont know whats wrong with my dog??

Question

he refuses to eat any type of dog food ive tried. from purina to ol' roy. he wont eat it. i adopted him from an animal control center and i was told he used to be a farm dog, so that may mean they just fed him table scraps so hes used to human food. only, im not much of a cooker. im going to try kibbles 'n bits. maybe that'll have more of a homecooked feel? but also hes been sort of depressed... i try to exercise him as much as possible because he needs to gain back some muscle mass from being in a cage for the past few months and also neglected. but he still wont perk up. i was thinking of adopting another dog to keep him company, but im not sure if i can afford the expenses. oh and hes a black lab/britney spaniel mix... i just dont know?

oh and yes he likes cat food, but thats no good for his digestive system.

Answer 1

I had a similar problem with the Lab I adopted. He hates all dry Dog food. Can foods give him diarrhea. After trying most of the different foods out there, the brand he finally settled on, was Recipe "Moist & Meaty".

My lab was also very depressed when we brought him home. We just gave him a lot of attention.

Pet him a lot and talk to him in a sweet voice as often as you can. It worked for us.

Getting another Dog might makes things worse. He could become even more depressed.

Answer 2

First of all, Ol' Roy is cheap dog food... after being impounded, trust me, you want some really good food.
It could be that your dog is used to canned food or the softer kibble. How are his teeth? If he has an oral problem then it could be that he is unable to eat the dry food.
It could also be that for some reason the food you have used has gone bad. Do you store it in a moist area? Is the food outdated? Maybe it's stale or infested with bugs which can also happen. I had once opened up a can of catfood that had maggots.
It is possible that your dog was used to table scraps as you say...If he gets hungry enough and you don't want him on table food, he'll have no choice but to eat like a dog, will he?
If he just came from the animal control, it could even be that he's sick. Many animals that come from those places often are. Is he tired and listless? Do his eyes run? Does he have stained fur around his mouth eyes and rear end? Are his stools solid? Has he been dewormed? Many dogs will become very hungry with worms and eat a great deal without gaining much weight. Sometimes parasites will do opposite if they have a sore tummy. They may refuse to eat and get bloated. If you see him scoot then there's a strong chance he is wormy. Also fleas will sometimes cause tummy aches and weightloss in an animal.

Answer 3

Start by pouring hot chicken broth(not much) over his food. DO NOT feed him people food. He'll eat. He's just adapting to change. Trust me; the pound gave him regular food, and he was OK when you got him, and if the pound got him from someone else, he was probably neglected. Plus, a farm dog won't agree with being crated after the freedom he used to enjoy. Adopting a farm dog for a crated environment probably wasn't a good choice on your part either, but you'll be alright if you take your time and work with him. Just show him love, and keep at it. He'll warm up. I read the other answers before mine and aaron and MAGNUM are the only ones on the right track. Try any of the three, but mine is the cheapest and easiest. Your dog might respond better to the canned and slowly transitioning, and just to let you know, when your dog's stomach starts to get upset, the rice and (slight) beef content is the best remedy. Start w/ the chicken broth, and take it from there. Good food is also KEY! Try a good quality lamb and rice formula. Corn based food is NOT an option. Read the ingredients on your dog's food.

Answer 4

Dont feed your dog cat food or what you eat it wont do his health any good. Your dog has been used to being around other dogs so competition was there for the food, he doesnt have that competition to encourage him to eat..he has also needs time to settle to his new surroundings you need to give him time. I know it will make you worry that he is not eating...but he must be eating some of the food on offer and then refusing the rest..so you go and buy something new...you could be making him fussy in what he is eating..there clever animals!!
Try percivereing with one food he will not let himself starve. Try to get him to eat a complete dry food it is better for him than tinned food which contains a lot of water. If his muscle mass needs built up buy a food with a high protien content or try adding bone meal to his food. Purina that you tried is made with real meat and is good it is not made from meat derivitives which could be anything. There are a lot of good foods on the market ask advice from a pet store..try a small local shop rather than a large store. A tip i once got from a shepherd try pouring some tuna oil over the dried food. Good luck would be nice to know how things go enjoy your dog.

Answer 5

Right... this happened when we got our Great Nan's dog when she died. She used to feed his animal like steak and stuff, and we just thought - there's not a chance. Leave the dog food there, and don't give him ANYTHING else. When he is hungry enough he will eat it.

To make him happy he has to trust you. Remember his last family gave him up and he's been in a cage since then. You have to spend time with him and play with him and give him alot of attention. Don't get another dog, that's just ignoring that he is unhappy. Maybe buy him some toys or let him run in a big big field for like an hour or so. Only reward him and don't try and discipline him because he is unhappy.

Answer 6

He has been used to a certain type of food that you do not know what it is, so he has to get use to being fed something he has probably never had before. He will eat when he gets hungry enough, but you may try mixing leftovers into his food, or maybe making a gravy and mixing it in his food. I am not saying you are feeding him the wrong dogfood, but you are feeding him cheap grain based dog food. I bet he has been fed maybe the raw diet since he was a farm dog. quit changing food and he will eat when he gets really hungry, but try mixing tasty food into it and i bet he will eat it.

Answer 7

pick a healthy brand with nutrients he needs and stick with it. No dog will purposely starve themselves. He might go without eating for a few days hoping for table food but dont do it. Just put down fresh dog food and water every day at whatever time you want him to eat. Leave the food down for about 20 minutes. Take it up after that. I promise you he will eat it eventually. Always leave the water for him. they will look at you pitifully but if you stick to it he will eat the dog food. I forgot to get dog food so I gave her a few table scraps 1 day. I mean only 1 day. Picked up the food the next day and she would not eat it after eating it for years. Took almost a week of putting the food down and taking it up to get her to eat it again. They love table food but it is so fattening for them and I really think the better dog foods have all the vitamins they need. She is finally back on her dog food. Give it a try. m

Answer 8

Hi you just have to persevere, try dried complete food.Just make sure that your dog has plenty of water to drink. Leave his food down, he will not starve himself and will eat when he gets really hungry. Dried food is best as it wont go off. Don't give in, if he has not eaten after a week then get him checked out by a vet as he may have a blockage or an ulcer but only after a week.Just ensure he has plenty to drink.

Good luck

Sphere

Answer 9

Make sure he realises the food you put down is for him, he may have been trained not to eat until he was told. Give him the dish then say "There, thats yours" to let him know; try different words to see if you can find the command that means "you can eat that."

This diet is really good for depressed dogs and picky eaters;

1 can (60g) sardines for every 20kg bodyweight.
Twice the volume of plain biscuit.
1/2 the volume of cooked green veg (I use frozen spinach nuggets) and carrot.

Or;
Recommended amount 'Butchers Tripe' or 'Butchers chicken and tripe' brand dog food if you can get it, with equal volume plain biscuit.

Answer 10

first off...the food you've been feeding him is garbage. look at the ingredients... if it lists..corn meal, corn syrup or wheat....its JUNK. that's like feeding your dog candy. if it lists a meat first but only says chicken, lamb, beef, pork...*that is made with by-products* some even say by products. by products in the crap that humans won't eat like feathers, skin, hoofs, hair, intestines, even diseased or cancerous tissue. that's is nasty for your dog.
Look for foods that say CHICKEN MEAL, LAMB MEAL, BEEF MEAL, etc. those are good quality foods. they are a bit more expensive...but hell at least your not giving your dog crap. Kibbles 'n bits is crap.

second...you just got him. he is scared, and unsure of his surroundings. make him a comfy quiet place he can retreat to. in time he will adjust to you, and your home. poor thing. he's been in "doggy jail" no its no wonder he's upset.
just give him time.

make sure he is up to date on his shots..i know that the shelter has probably done that, but it couldn't hurt to get a physical done.
make sure he's on heart worm prevention, (bad disease caused my mosquito bites) a six month supply is about $38 for a large breed, cheaper if smaller.

don't over whelm him.

I've had many dogs, that have behaved this way when they first came home with me. i foster for the SPCA. just love him, and let him come out of his shell on his own. he'll perk up soon.

do NOT give him table scraps...that is not good for him either..our food is not prepared for dogs, there are preservatives and vitiamins...etc that can harm his body!