My dog is a 70lb shepherd cross. He is 1.5 years old, and for the first 8 months of his life he was a stray in Greece. We have tried the BARF diet, and several high quality kibbles.
The main problem is that he seems to lose his appetite. Anytime we have tried a new kibble he gobbles it up for a day or two, then he doesn't want anything to do with it. We can hear his stomach growling and he still won't eat!
We have tried to stimulate his appetite by adding canned food, chicken broth, liver powder, and a few other things added to his food. He just doesn't care. He will however eat his treats, which is freeze dried liver primarily. He had a check up at the vet and we were given the all clear. What can I do? Home cooking is not an option because we just don't have the time to make sure the amounts and nutrients are properly balanced for him.
2007-10-20 07:52:08 · 9 answers · asked by Amylou 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
We have only switched foods a couple times, and that was actually due to the food giving him diarrhea, not because of the appetite. Eventually he eats when he is hungry enough. Part of it may be behavioural but he isn't a spoiled dog. He has to work for everything he gets, including his dinner, and if he doesn't eat within half an hour, we take the food away. But I don't think eating 3 cups of food every 3 days is healthy!
On occasion he does vomit, but there is nothing in his stomach. He vomits up foamy clear liquid. He has had diarrhea problems but hasn't had any on the current food he is eating.
2007-10-20 08:17:19 · update #1
Don't worry we don't walk him on a chain! We live across from a great dog friendly park and he gets off leash for an hour every day plus his on-leash walks around the neighbourhood. He seems happy and playful. I may give home cooking another go, he does actually like yogurt as one poster suggested. Anyone have some recommendations for cookbooks or websites with balanced recipes? I don't trust that I could meet his needs on my own!
2007-10-20 08:22:14 · update #2
Find something he does like, for instance the freeze dried liver and stick to it for a while then start adding to it. If he was a stray for 8 months then he kept himself alive on what was available so he can not afford to be picky. In my experience, difficult feeders will happily eat canned food in gravy and you can slowly add kibble to it until he is happy with it. Try soaking a high quality kibble overnight until it is soft and add gravy to it. This dog has a history of survival so he will not let himself starve. some dogs don't like being watched while they eat, try feeding him at bedtime and leave him overnight with his food. You will have to be tough and understanding at the same time, not always easy. Good luck.
2007-10-20 08:27:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, my friend, you are in for a tug of war here. ROFL A stray, guess what his diet consists of? Garbage and left overs. He doesn't want your fancy over the counter commercial profit making produce, he wants your left overs!!!!! LOL
Secondly, he may find living in an organised house hold rather stressful. I do not know how much freedom you give him or how long a walk he gets, if he is kept on a chain or when you take him out he has to be on the lead. Seems to me that your pooch is digging his heels in and says, I've had enough and am going on strike!!
He loves the liver treats, so, that is a good start. I know those pro-train liver treats, my dogs love them. Try him on bread dunked with milk and perhaps if you can afford to get some fresh liver, slightly cook it and mix with the bread. This is just to get him on a roll. Add the liver treat inside the food bowl and slowly chop and change the diet until you have it right.
If you go through the effort of getting a stray dog from Greece to wherever you live, then surely you can give him a little time towards providing some fresh food. Live yoghurt or just sour milk will cleanse his intestines and believe it or not, because he lived off the street, you probably can only tempt him with all that is cheap and cheerful.
Offer him lots of praise, but do try to walk him in an enclosed area off the lead and I sincerely hope you do not keep him on the chain. If you do not have the time to take care of this dog, why did you adopt him in the first place?
It's a little like an unexpected pregnancy, you may not like what you got, but now it is here, you have the responsibility to deal with your new friend. Don't let him down, he is with you, because you chose to bring him back home with you and a wonderful gift (I hope) that was. Be patient and love is always the key to a trusting friendship. You do not know his past and perhaps he is afraid to open his heart to you, in case you too abandon him. Dogs are very sensitive and far from stupid.
2007-10-20 15:16:54 · answer #2 · answered by Mercia Holistic Whisperer 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I always tell people, utilize your vet. Any reputable vet will have no problem advising you via telephone of his best advice. Have you tried feeding him only wet food. I don't recommend this long term, but if you are very concerned, you may want to try it. Start off giving him 1 full can of wet food, twice a day for about 2 days. Then for 2 days add in just a small handful of dry food. On the fifth day, lower it down to 3/4 can of wet and 1/4 cup of dry for a few more days. So on and so forth until you are able to eliminate the wet food alltogether. There is a food on the market called Spot's Stew, its an aqua colored can, and I'll tell you, I worked in a shelter for a while, and most of the dogs couldn't resist it. You may want to try that out.
2007-10-20 15:14:26 · answer #3 · answered by ~Jenn~ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your dog won't starve himself to death. If you are switching up his food often he may be getting picky, and accustom to a lot of variety. Don't cater to him too much, you'll create a monster! Pick a kibble that he seems to enjoy give him some variety with different flavors of wet food.
or if you have the time....
My dog can be a finicky too. She seemed to hit a brick wall with her food a few months ago. She would just lay on the floor and stare at her food, not eat a bite. I kept her on the same dry food, which has all of the nutrients she needs and mix it with a little home cooked chicken, turkey, pork or beef, sometimes I mix in a steamed sweet potato, zucchini or carrots and usually some steamed brown rice. I make one big batch once every week or two and freeze the excess. My dog seems to really enjoy it.
It's pretty quick and easy and just about the same cost as canned wet food, especially if you buy the meat that 's on sale because it needs to be used that day.
2007-10-20 15:11:34 · answer #4 · answered by Mrs. D 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dogs will not allow themselves to starve. Keep his food out, when he is hungry enough he will eat. Sounds behavioral to me. YOU pick the kibble you want him to eat and stick to it.
However, if he starts to show any secondary symptoms (vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, fever, etc.) you should absolutely bring him back to the vet for a full blood panel and x-rays.
2007-10-20 14:56:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Exercise, exercise, exercise. If it works up an appetite it won't turn down food. Walk 45 mins. to an hour a day. When it's dinnertime only leave its food out for no more than 30 mins.
2007-10-20 17:22:51 · answer #6 · answered by twjr 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If he gobbles the food at first, I wouldn't really worry. Sounds like he is just being picky. If you are worried, try alternating between different foods, so they always seem new to him.
2007-10-20 14:59:26 · answer #7 · answered by animallover131990 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I mix two different types of dog food into one canister for my dogs. They love it. Every now and then i give them white rice and chicken as a special treat.
2007-10-20 15:39:58 · answer #8 · answered by Scrappydo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dogs are so smart. Your dog is eating just not in your view. I seriously think that a dog wouldn't starve itself. Good Luck!
2007-10-20 15:06:55 · answer #9 · answered by madelynjohnson97 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋