Can certain medications cause my dog to have a loss of appetite?

Question

My dog, who is a 1 year old golden retriever, was his by a car on Wednesday, 9/20. We brought him home from the hospital yesterday and he still won't eat. He hasn't eaten since the accident. He is drinking water. When we first brought him home, he ate a bunch of treats. Now.. nothing. The hospital had us bring him back and they don't see anything physically wrong with him to keep him from eating. They did say that we need to stop the codeine because that could be what's doing it. He is interested in the food we present him, he just won't eat it. He has broken ribs and had surgery on his pelvic bone. He's been on morphine, anesthesia, and now codeine. The doctor told us to force feed him if we have to. He has until Friday to eat "something" or he has to be brought back to the hospital. Any suggestions!

Answer 1

Boiled chicken liver will stimulate the appetite if anything will..Allow him only 2 chicken livers..then one daily..However, do boil chicken and offer the meat..Not too much at a time as he begins eating, but gradually.
As he is drinking, you might offer the broth, with a little liver in the bottom to get him started..

My dog was hit by a car, too..with similar injuries..last summer..chicken liver and broth did the trick..

Mine pushed the screen out of the window to escape...Now, I can't even leave the window open when I leave home...lol

Answer 2

When it's clear they are suffering. With my Shar Pei, she had cancer and one day she had 2 seizures in a row and we knew it was time. With my Miniature Schnauzer he had diabetes and after 3 years he had a seizure and we knew it was his time. With my cat, he had kidney failure and was so lethargic and didn't want to eat anymore that's when I knew it was his time. The decision is never easy and it's not one to take lightly. I will tell you that I have had an experience where I found one of my dogs dead. She was a chow and her stomach was HUGE but she was really skinny. The vet said it was a gas bubble and it would eventually go away but 6 days later I came home and she was dead, I suspect it was stomach cancer. I will tell you this, that I much rather have had her put down than to find her dead. Although this happened in 05 is still feel horrible that she died without me with her. If I were in your situation, I probably would put him down. If he's not acting right, it's probably the hardest decision you'll have to make but it will have to be done eventually. Animals will let you know when it's time, it's hard to explain how but they just do. I'm so sorry for what you are going through and I want you to know I understand what you are going through.

Answer 3

First let me say to you im so sorry that your pet was hit. And he will be in our familys prayers. I used to work in a vets office and saw my share of pets that had been hit by cars. Codene will make a dog sick to it's stomach and will decrease appitite. I agree with your vet if you can force feed him thats ok to do but if he isnt getting better you need to bring him back to the vets. try small amounts and i mean table spoon size amounts of canned science diet or whatever brand you use. the best way is to be very patient with your pet and pet him let him no that you love him and try to slowly carefully let the spoon up to him or use plastic gloves and put the food in your hand it may be grose but thats how you may have to do it if he wont take it from the spoon. Also you need to remember your dogs been thro a tramatic experience so he is feeling badly. Morphine use as also in humans and pets will cause a withdraw of the drug. Just take your time and if he doesnt eat in 24 hours call a vet.

Answer 4

Sure, medicines have side affects on dogs too.

I had to give my dog antihistamines and he kept peeing in the floor. He was so out of it.

Do what the vet says. If he doesn't eat, then you have to take him back. They may have to iv him or something to get nutrients. I'm sure after a while he'll be back to normal though.

Try putting something really yummy in his food. My dog won't eat sometimes, but when I put a little cheese in there, you bet he wont' pass that up!!

Answer 5

I had a puppy that was sick/wouldn't eat. I was told to try some ground beef, cooked, drained and rinsed real well to get the grease off. Cook up some rice and mix together. She still wouldn't eat it, but can try it. Try some peanut butter on a treat. Also can try some baby food-they have chicken, turkey, beef in the little jars. That should be easy to force feed too if you have to.

Answer 6

i dont know, but i would go to the vet and check it out. im sorry that your dog was hit by a car, that's so sad. 2 of my dogs died from that. maybe he's pretty weak from the accident and he can't get up his strength to eat. try feeding him some wet food, he might eat it. wait a couple of days, give him A LOT of love, and if he still doesn't eat, then i would suggest taking him to the vet

Answer 7

Poor baby - yeah the medicine could change the way things are tasting. Plus not sure if like human surgery they had to put a tube down his throat to breath but that will do it too. Try getting him one of his favorite human foods (hamburger, fajitas etc.) that may get him to eat something.

Answer 8

Codeine makes me lose my appetite. Was he eating while in the hospital maybe he liked their food. Becareful with too may treat codeine also upsets my stomach and you don't want him to vomit. It really uses a l ot of muscles to vomit and he needs to relaz

Answer 9

If you went throught what your dog did, you might not feel like eating either.
Follow Chetco's advice. It should work.