Nube Is Not Eating -- Need Help Asap

[RaineysMom]

hi guys, I simply do not know what to do anymore.

 

starting 2 weeks ago this coming Wednesday, Nube started not eating all his food each meal, then not starting to eat at all (but eventually eating some) to now, he will not eat anything but treats. I had stopped the home-cooked on the 31st or 9/1, because he would eat kibble so I thought he was tired of the HC. He started to not eat the kibble well at all then, and I was able to hand-feed him some chicken and home made liver treats, enough so that he could get his Tramadol and Gabapentin but some times not enough to give the Rimadyl. Saturday morning he ate maybe 1/2 a scoop and some pizza crust, so I was hoping we were turning a corner, but that's the last thing he's eaten other than treats since then He got his chiro adjustment done Saturday morning and that seemed to help his back end, but he will not eat -- not kibble, chicken, I/D, pizza crust (which is his favorite thing in the world) -- just treats.

 

is there anything I can do to try to get him to eat??? I don't think he's nauseous (or having tooth problems) since he IS eating the treats to some amount. I can't NOT feed him (or try) lunch in the hopes he'll have more appetite at dinner since he can't get his meds then, and I don't want him in any more pain.

 

We actually have a call into our regular vet to have him come out on Wednesday to let Nube go but I don't know if he's ready! :( I don't know if he's just being a stinker and holding out for just treats (but I don't think so in my heart), don't know if there's something else I should be doing to get him to start eating again. I do NOT want to let him go but I don't want him to get increasingly worse and let him go when he's not doing good -- I'd rather let him go when it was a good day, not bad. I JUST DON'T KNOW.

 

help!!!!!

 

ETA we did NOT have the ultrasound done on Saturday, since he did eat a bit better that morning, and we decided to just do it tomorrow when we're at the specialist for his recheck -- but now I don't even know if we'll do that.

Edited September 10, 2012 by RaineysMom

[KF_in_Georgia]

I'd say try regular food at every meal (maybe a bit of water on his kibble and warm it a bit?). But if he won't eat the regular, go ahead and give him treats so you can get his meds into him. (Try to make his regular food more interesting by adding broth? The liquid from a can of tuna--with a bit of the tuna, too?)

 

It may be time to let him go, in which case, treats are definitely in order. And if it isn't time, he still needs his pain meds, so do what you need to do to get the meds into him in a way that they won't trigger stomach upset.

[RaineysMom]

I'd say try regular food at every meal (maybe a bit of water on his kibble and warm it a bit?). But if he won't eat the regular, go ahead and give him treats so you can get his meds into him. (Try to make his regular food more interesting by adding broth? The liquid from a can of tuna--with a bit of the tuna, too?)

 

It may be time to let him go, in which case, treats are definitely in order. And if it isn't time, he still needs his pain meds, so do what you need to do to get the meds into him in a way that they won't trigger stomach upset.

 

won't eat regular with or without water and/or broth, just walks away from his bowl when we set it down, regardless of what we put in there -- chicken, kibble, pizza crust, liver treats -- you name it, he won't eat anything now. I can try the tuna juice at lunch

 

I'm just so afraid of letting him go if there's something I can do to keep him around a little longer

[TheFullHouse]

Oh Kim, it's such a hard place to be in. Usually for me, when they stop eating completely and they are still healthy I give some DYNE and Nutritional Yeast and some canned beef dog food (thanks Diane) and that usually gets mine eating again, but then mine are healthy, just old at this point. The DYNE is a high calorie supplement so they get some nutrition in them and the Nutritional Yeast boosts their appetite. If you have an unhealthy dog who quits eating all together, my gut would say it's time to let go but my heart would be fighting that instinct. Whatever decision you do make, please know that you have gone above an beyond for Nube because you love him so. My prayers are with you as you fight this battle.

[4My2Greys]

I'm so sorry Kim, but in my very humble and heartfelt opinion I think Nube is telling you he's tired, he hurts and he's just wants relief from the pain he's in. I know this is a very personal decision that only you can make, but pretend for a moment that Nube is not yours and your reading about his last few weeks what would you think Nube would want from what you have shared with us?

[RaineysMom]

Oh Kim, it's such a hard place to be in. Usually for me, when they stop eating completely and they are still healthy I give some DYNE and Nutritional Yeast and some canned beef dog food (thanks Diane) and that usually gets mine eating again, but then mine are healthy, just old at this point. The DYNE is a high calorie supplement so they get some nutrition in them and the Nutritional Yeast boosts their appetite. If you have an unhealthy dog who quits eating all together, my gut would say it's time to let go but my heart would be fighting that instinct. Whatever decision you do make, please know that you have gone above an beyond for Nube because you love him so. My prayers are with you as you fight this battle.

 

where would I get DYNE and the yeast? a healthfood store? I'll try anything at this point.

 

I'm so sorry Kim, but in my very humble and heartfelt opinion I think Nube is telling you he's tired, he hurts and he's just wants relief from the pain he's in. I know this is a very personal decision that only you can make, but pretend for a moment that Nube is not yours and your reading about his last few weeks what would you think Nube would want from what you have shared with us?

 

I just don't know. Yesterday we sat outside and let him be off leash (1st time since all this happened) and he actually did a play leap and play bow, and had a grand time digging up his "old" hole and seemed perky. He's just not eating anything but treats, and if that stops, were out of options. His limp is a lot better and after his adjustment, he's getting around a lot better, so I don't know if it's time! I would never forgive myself if I let him go only to find out there was something I could have done. I still haven't forgiven myself for not "fixing" Rainey.

 

sorry to keep rambling on about this, I'm just so unsure of what to do.

[Guest lanielovesgreys]

I'm sorry. It's hard to say goodbye when they're still playful like that. Just know that in your heart, you'll know. You know him better than anyone. Look for his cues, they're there.

 

[Guest MorganKonaAlex]

Nutritional Yeast you get at a health food store. I mailed ordered Dyne but some feed it to horses and can be found at some equine feed stores.

 

The last year or so of Morgan's life he had bouts of eating poorly. We finally resorted to a slice or 2 of deli meat hand feed to him on his bed. It would get his appetite going and then he'd eat his kibble (again on the bed). He had us well trained.

[Remolacha]

I would start trying different things to see if you can tempt him to start eating again. Scrambled eggs, cat food, Ensure, tripe, meat baby food, spaghettios, Hawaiian sweet bread, ANYTHING he has ever shown any interest in. At this point, forget about "appropriate" food, just see if you can get him to eat. If none of this works, then I'd say yes, sadly, it is time.

[TheFullHouse]

If you have a feed store any where near you, they should have DYNE there. Nutritional Yeast you can get at most health food stores. It tastes like cheese if he likes cheese and it's full of B vitamins that stimulate the appetite. I used both on Bebe when she quit eating a few weeks back. The DYNE helped in keeping some weight on her because she was dropping weight like crazy and was down to 48lbs. Once starting on both she perked up. What really helped was the Wellness Beef canned dog food. She eats great now. She had no health issues, was just showing that old age drop in appetite.

 

Edited to add, I got my first bottle of DYNE from Healthy Pets on line. You can feed it to him right from a tablespoon if he's not eating food. The dogs love the taste.

Edited September 10, 2012 by JillysFullHouse

[JohnF]

It's always hard when they start to seriously go off their food. This was the way of 3 of mine over many years signalling the sart of end-stage CRF.

So have the necessary bloodwork done so that you know where you stand with which organ systems.

The vet can give steroids to help get appetite back; with mine it didn't and I knew for sure time was short - not that it makes it any easier.

I hope Nube turns the corner one more time for you,

[rschultz]

What about cooked chicken livers then food process it so it is like baby food?((((hugs to you))))))))))))))

[4My2Greys]

Kim, ramble on all you want . I was unclear from your post, but did he quit eating the homecooked and that is why you put him back on the kibble? Or did you try the kibble to see if he would eat it and he did for a short while? If the latter is the case I would try the homecooked again. Maybe try switching up the ingredients, if you were feeding chicken try beef. At this point you just want him to start eating again. I went through this just last year with a friend's greyhound that had a brain tumor. We tried anything and everything to get him to eat including force feeding to try to prime his appetite. One thing he did gobble down almost taking my fingers along with it was Arby's roast beef, but even that only lasted a short while .

 

Are you giving him anything for his stomach aside from Sucralfate and Pepcid? If not I would suggest ginger for nausea and upset stomach. Manuka honey is also very soothing to the stomach. When Nadir won't eat it is one of the things that will get him started again.

 

[racindog]

Amazon.com has Dyne

Kim, I really think it would be very helpful to see if Nube will tell you first hand what HE is thinking about his condition. In all honesty I can't tell you how much it has helped me in the past to know that. In my case all the current bridge angels were relieved and didn't hesitate to tell me EXACTLY what they wanted as far as their condition and when they wanted to cross over. Sometimes it helps to have an outside person do this for us since we are so emotionally involved. Please consider contacting Latifa at www.animalscantalk.com It can be very comforting to have this level of communication at this time. If he is willing to tell Latifa-and more than likely he is anxious too- that can be your most powerful tool in knowing how to love him best and give him what he needs and wants. You know Aggie even told me (via Latifa) WHEN she would cross over- a couple of months away! It really helped me more than I can say by knowing first hand from her what SHE wanted. Like you, I wanted only to love and respect her wishes as you do Nube's. Anyway it helped me a lot and I really believe it would help you and Nube and everybody too so I just thought I would share my experience. I'm still praying!!!! Hugs & love to everybody!

[RaineysMom]

I would start trying different things to see if you can tempt him to start eating again. Scrambled eggs, cat food, Ensure, tripe, meat baby food, spaghettios, Hawaiian sweet bread, ANYTHING he has ever shown any interest in. At this point, forget about "appropriate" food, just see if you can get him to eat. If none of this works, then I'd say yes, sadly, it is time.

 

He actually ate almost 2 cans (3.75 oz) of sardines in water at noon for lunch -- I put the juice and fish on his kibble but he refuses to eat the kibble. He ate a few pieces of chicken too (not the boiled breast, he won't touch that now -- this was some over-brined chicken thighs I made last week, they had more "smell" than the boiled maybe?) and a couple treats, all while laying on his bed -- he will not eat from his bowl anymore. I have a can of tripe to try tonite.

 

If you have a feed store any where near you, they should have DYNE there.

Edited to add, I got my first bottle of DYNE from Healthy Pets on line. You can feed it to him right from a tablespoon if he's not eating food. The dogs love the taste.

 

no feed stores around here, we're in the burbs of Chicago Bruce is going to see about getting the Wellness food at lunch. And it would probably take too long to order and ship it at this point.

 

It's always hard when they start to seriously go off their food. This was the way of 3 of mine over many years signalling the sart of end-stage CRF.

So have the necessary bloodwork done so that you know where you stand with which organ systems.

The vet can give steroids to help get appetite back; with mine it didn't and I knew for sure time was short - not that it makes it any easier.

I hope Nube turns the corner one more time for you,

 

we are supposed to go do his chemo recheck tomorrow -- originally was going to cancel it if we were going to let him go Wednesday, but Bruce and I spoke earlier and decided to give it until the weekend. So I'm not sure if we'll be going up there but if we do, I'll have them check for other things like possibly kidney failure?

 

Kim, ramble on all you want . I was unclear from your post, but did he quit eating the homecooked and that is why you put him back on the kibble? Or did you try the kibble to see if he would eat it and he did for a short while? If the latter is the case I would try the homecooked again. Maybe try switching up the ingredients, if you were feeding chicken try beef. At this point you just want him to start eating again. I went through this just last year with a friend's greyhound that had a brain tumor. We tried anything and everything to get him to eat including force feeding to try to prime his appetite. One thing he did gobble down almost taking my fingers along with it was Arby's roast beef, but even that only lasted a short while .

 

Are you giving him anything for his stomach aside from Sucralfate and Pepcid? If not I would suggest ginger for nausea and upset stomach. Manuka honey is also very soothing to the stomach. When Nadir won't eat it is one of the things that will get him started again.

 

yes -- he stopped eating the homecooked (that had cottage cheese and all sorts of yummy things in there) so we started adding the kibble back because he seemed to eat that then. The HC food is all different kinds of stuff, one has beef and pork, one salmon and chicken and chicken livers, etc so he was getting a total variety. He just doesn't want it anymore. He won't eat ANYTHING unless it's hand-fed on his bed at this point. Plus, after going through the bad diarrhea and dehydration last week, I don't want to cause that again! And I had kept trying the homecooked the past 2 weeks and he won't touch it now, just like everything else he used to love.

 

he gets 40mg of Prilosec along with the 20mg of Pepcid each morning. He was on Cerenia (3 days) as well.

 

I just have a feeling this is not just a dog that has become finicky or just needs to be restarted This is a dog that lived to eat and now can care less about pretty much anything. He's not on any meds that would upset his stomach (well the Rimadyl can but he's not getting that now because he's not eating) and he was taking that and the Tramadol and Gabapentin for 2 months with no stomach issues. I don't think he's not eating from any stomach issues, he just has lost his appetite -- which is worse. Like some of you said, when a sick dog loses his appetite, it can't be a good thing

 

thanks for the suggestions

Edited September 10, 2012 by RaineysMom

[Guest budsmom]

Have you tried A/D canned food? It's prescription only from your vet & designed for cats & dogs in critical care situations. it's made to stimulate their appetite & it's very high calorie. It can be thinned very easily to tube or syringe feed if necessary. You might also ask your vet about Mirtazidine. It's an appetite stimulant that is inexpensive and in pill form so it's pretty easy to administer. Both of these things aren't terribly expensive or invasive, so they may be worth a try.

[RaineysMom]

Have you tried A/D canned food? It's prescription only from your vet & designed for cats & dogs in critical care situations. it's made to stimulate their appetite & it's very high calorie. It can be thinned very easily to tube or syringe feed if necessary. You might also ask your vet about Mirtazidine. It's an appetite stimulant that is inexpensive and in pill form so it's pretty easy to administer. Both of these things aren't terribly expensive or invasive, so they may be worth a try.

 

we have a can of I/D food from our ER visit last week, he doesn't want that either now. I don't know if it has to be very smelly now for him to even want a little or what. It's like he'll eat it once and then never again. I'd be willing to wager he wouldn't eat sardines again for me. I can ask about the mirtazidine.

[tbhounds]

Being blunt here--if he's refusing all types of yummies there's something going on-more than just being "picky" especially because he's already on all of the tummy support meds. I would definetly run some blood work and snap a chest rad. The results may determine how to proceed. Sorry, this has come to this believe me........ been there...... so not easy.

[Guest mysymba]

Please ask about the Mitrazipine...Symba has some when he does this...they can actually just shut down and not eat because they are afraid of eating something that will hurt them.....and nothing else is wrong with him.....I would just try to get some food in him and not worry about dog food...this is frustrating but this is what I do with Symba.....the dog food may had hurt him...and YES, when this happens Symba will NOT eat out of his bowl....it is not a good place in his mind...you have to work up to the bowl....hand feed at his bed as long as he will eat...whatever it takes I say.....just bits goes down a little easier....hoping and praying Nube gets better...my thoughts are with you!

 

If you can as I am thinking out loud, call your vet and get the Mitrazpine soon....today if possible, now they will tell you to give him one every twelve hours......try 1/2 if you are afraid...this is what we did Symba....and about 1 hour after taking it he was up for the first time in weeks in the kitchen sniffing the counters.....it worked wonders and I think it will help you too.....

Edited September 10, 2012 by mysymba

[Charlies_Dad]

Kim, I am sorry that Nube is not eating. Our Charlie did get close to not eating on us the last couple days and I knew in my mind that it was a very bad sign and in my heart I was wishing for some way to make him eat. He also only ate treats and we gave them to him, we gave him anything that he would eat then and he was a chow hound so we knew. It's possible that Nube is being picky and I know exactly where you are right now. If he still eats treats whatever they may be and if he seems to be feeling okay, then I think you may have more time. For us, Charlie was still there in spirit but his body was letting him down and watching him run partway in the backyard after his brother and stopping to catch his breath, and then seeing the x-rays and bloody liquid that was removed from his chest, we made the most difficult decision. I guess I am saying that you will know when it's time. I hope you do have more time I really do.

[RaineysMom]

Being blunt here--if he's refusing all types of yummies there's something going on-more than just being "picky" especially because he's already on all of the tummy support meds. I would definetly run some blood work and snap a chest rad. The results may determine how to proceed. Sorry, this has come to this believe me........ been there...... so not easy.

 

I know. This is what I'm suspecting but I don't want to let him go if he's just being picky

 

I have a call into the oncologist to see if they can take Nube on Wednesday now (since Bruce had to reschedule all his work stuff from Wed to Tues to get Wed off to let him go) -- to run some bloodwork and maybe get the US done. I also just spoke to our regular vet -- he had set aside 3pm Wednesday to come out and let him go, I told him we had changed our minds and if we can't get an appt at the oncologist, if THEY could run bloodwork. They have to send it out, though, so we're getting him in for a blood draw tonite so we can get the results sooner. if the bloodwork shows something like kidney failure, then I guess that will make a difference. He did have a chest x-ray on 7/14 but I guess that was almost 2 months ago (it was clear then).

[carronstar]

Sending hugs and wishing none of you had to go through this.

[Blaidd49]

I think if I was in your position, I would go ahead with the ultrasound, it could answer your concerns definitely. If it doesn't appear that anything else is going on, I would assume that he does feel nauseous and see if he could perhaps have cerenia or similar.

Although he has tolerated Gabapentin and Tramadol in the past, if he is a already bit off - they may be causing his GI to act up now.

A terrible quandary to be in.

Our thoughts are with you and prayers for Nube

Pam

Canada

[RaineysMom]

I think if I was in your position, I would go ahead with the ultrasound, it could answer your concerns definitely. If it doesn't appear that anything else is going on, I would assume that he does feel nauseous and see if he could perhaps have cerenia or similar.

Although he has tolerated Gabapentin and Tramadol in the past, if he is a already bit off - they may be causing his GI to act up now.

A terrible quandary to be in.

Our thoughts are with you and prayers for Nube

Pam

Canada

 

thanks for all the good thoughts from everyone.

 

he was on Cerenia last week for 3 days (Thur/Fri/Sat) and it didn't make any difference that we could tell. I did just speak to the oncologist, they can get us in on Wednesday for an ultrasound. I told her we were having bloodwork done today and will know tomorrow the results so that may determine our course of action. If it's ok, they we'll definitely do the ultrasound. If it's not, our next step will depend on what shows up.

 

I asked if we could get some mitrazapine to try, firgure it can't hurt (Hopefully).

[Dawnnziggy]

I am sorry that you are going through this. The only thing I could get Dawn to eat at the end was her vanilla Ensure. Then she would occasionally eat cheese. She loved it. I am keeping you in my thoughts as you go through this time.