What To Do When Dog Wont Eat

[greytluck]

It seems to me that if euthanasia is really being considered then what harm would feeding her whatever she wants to eat be?

 

At the very least it would show you if she has no appetite for any food which could indicate a larger problem or just simply not liking the kidney diet she's on.

[Guest kar]

said teeth could use a cleaning - otherwise ok they are afraid of doing this because of her kidneys.

and when scotch was alive she would run to his dish to see if he left any of his normal food. funny thing is he would leave his good food to eat her kidney diet. but then scotch would eat anything.

she ate hamburger tonight even growled at the Chihuahua who also wanted some

[Batmom]

Bloodwork posted before does not indicate anything like renal failure. Unless lab results have changed enormously, feed the dog what she prefers. She'll feel better and so will you.

[macoduck]

Please listen to tbhounds. Feed Snow whatever she will eat.

Bloodwork posted before does not indicate anything like renal failure. Unless lab results have changed enormously, feed the dog what she prefers. She'll feel better and so will you.

This!

[Riverhound]

said teeth could use a cleaning - otherwise ok they are afraid of doing this because of her kidneys.

and when scotch was alive she would run to his dish to see if he left any of his normal food. funny thing is he would leave his good food to eat her kidney diet. but then scotch would eat anything.

she ate hamburger tonight even growled at the Chihuahua who also wanted some

That sounds promising!

[carronstar]

Aquitaine is definitely in kidney failure and she was successfully operated on last year as one of her bad teeth had wrapped the roots around a vein which caused her to hemorrhage. She had several extractions the same day. Board certified dentist. It was expensive. I know the one that my friends use in CT is also board certified and bot as costly as mine. Not NYC pricing!

 

I know one of the vets suggested back in February was Cornell Specialty Vet in Stamford. Please,talk to them.

 

Cuvs.org

 

They are also an emergency service but you need a specialist at least for an initial diagnosis.

[RedHead]

 

This dog is NOT in renal failure!

 

!!

That is why I am wondering why she is on all of the meds and specialized diet. If all of her tests have come back perfect, there could be nothing wrong with her other than she doesn't like the food. Without the competition of your old dog, perhaps she just doesn't feel the need to gulp down the food anymore. That is a good sign she eagerly ate the hamburger, it sounds like she was pretty hungry. It's obvious she has a healthy appetite, I would personally ditch the renal food if I were you and try to switch to something more palatable (as per the suggestions above).

[JJNg]

I'd have to agree with the others who have mentioned that the previously posted bloodwork results do *not* indicate renal failure, and she only has *mild* proteinuria. I'm not convinced she really needs to be on a prescription kidney diet.

 

As tbhounds mentioned, her enalapril dose is pretty high. One of the potential side effects of enalapril is decreased appetite, so I'd consider talking to the vet about reducing her dose to see if that helps with her appetite.

 

Also, has her ongoing issue with not eating well on and off caused any weight loss? How is her current weight? If her weight has remained stable, and she's always been a picky eater, I honestly wouldn't be too concerned about her intermittent appetite, especially if you've mostly been trying to get her to eat a food she really doesn't like. Feed her what she likes and see if she starts eating more consistently.

[macoduck]

kar, please heed JJNg's advice. She's a vet.

[Guest IrskasMom]

Please , Please I second this to heed JJNg's Advice

 

 

Nobody is bashing you , so take a deep Breath and evaluate your new Strategie to feed Snow .We are all here to help you .

Edited July 22, 2014 by IrskasMom

[FiveRoooooers]

Fairfield to Bethany is ~30 miles, Fairfield to Milford is ~14 miles.

Ask your vet to fax Snow's records for the second opinion you will be seeking. If you are uncomfortable asking them, ask the new vet to request the records.

 

Country Companions, 116 Old Amity Road, Bethany 203-393-7387

CT Holistic Veterinary Wellness Center, 9 Amity Road, Bethany 203-891-7320

Pond Point Animal Hospital, New Haven Avenue, Milford 203-878-4646

VCA Bay Brook Animal Hospital, 56 Quirk Road, Milford 203-882-8600

 

VCA Darien Animal Hospital, 1302 Post Road, Darien 203-655-1449

^^ this is the clinic mentioned by other posters.

Edited July 22, 2014 by FiveRoooooers

[JohnF]

 

I'd recommend visiting the K9Kidney group on Yahoo. Let me see if the link will add now .

 

I didn't look at the previous lab tests you posted and I'd have to agree they look OK in the sense of not indicating CRF. Of course conditions can also become suddenly acute and require re-testing. I'd agree with the others that a second opinion would be very helpful to you and an examination of the dog to see if perhaps hot weather stress is not being coped with too well. My last dog who had CRF for 18 months was very difficult to encourage to eat in hot weather, but then so too have been my healthy dogs, so perhaps fear of CRF and 'never eating again' is over stated.

Then there are the euthanasia considerations which can also become so claustrophobic that it's difficult to know when would be the right time. For that reason i keep this set of questions on my hard drive which indicate when there is 'no blame' rather than when it must be done. Perhaps it can help you have a longer-term outlook?

 

When Considering Euthanasia ask yourself these questions: (Written by a vet)

 

1) Is the dog free of distress, pain or discomfort, and could the pain be controlled?

2) Can the dog walk and balance fairly well?

3) Can the dog eat and drink without vomiting?

4) Is the dog free of inoperable tumours which are painful?

5) Can the dog breathe without difficulty?

6) Can the dog urinate or defecate without difficulty or incontinence?

7) Does the dog have an owner who is able to cope physically and

mentally with any nursing that may be needed?

 

If treatment is not possible then answering 'No' to any of those questions means there is no blame in having the dog put to sleep.

Next, ask yourself if it was yourself in your dog’s situation, would you actually wish to continue living? Better a day too soon than a day of misery too late.

 

Then ask your vet if they think it is time to consider letting the dog go. If not then how long and what to watch out for in the quality of life equation

[gracegirl]

Here are the recommendations I provided before in a PM. If someone had time to research the phone numbers, please feel free. I'm off to work now and won't be able to check back for a few hours.

 

Dr. Mike Ragan at VCA Darien.

 

E-vet: Cornell University Veterinary Specialists in Stamford.

 

The other e-vets that may be a little closer are the VCA Referral & Emergency Center in Norwalk and VCA Shoreline Referral & Emergency Center in Shelton.

[Guest kar]

I have been given the go ahead to feed snow low protein phosphorus over the counter diet insted of rx. does anyone have any suggestions. He said to try a senior diet, any good brand.

[gracegirl]

Whatever Snow likes! Maybe go to a specialty pet store (not petsmart or petco) and ask for samples.

[carronstar]

Aquitaine ate Innova Senior kibble for about 4 years before we switched to the kidney foods. She LOVED it. I can only imagine what she would have thought of the canned version! She thinks canned food is a gift from the gods.

 

Info for the canned:

 

Ingredients

Turkey, Turkey Broth, Chicken Broth, Chicken, Salmon, Brown Rice, Whole Eggs, Potatoes, Carrots, Herring, Apples, Natural Flavors, Apple Fiber, Guar Gum, Cottage Cheese, Alfalfa Sprouts, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Pumpkin, Inulin, Sodium Phosphate, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Herring Oil, Sunflower Oil, Vitamins/Minerals

Analysis:

Crude Protein6.00%
Crude Fat3.00%
Crude Fiber3.60%
Moisture78.00%
<>

 

$25 per case from Pet Food Direct, $2 a can is a great price. They discount on auto-ship.

 

Dry version:

 

Turkey, Chicken, Chicken Meal, Barley, Brown Rice, Potatoes, Rice, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavors, Flaxseed, Apples, Sunflower Oil, Carrots, Herring Oil, Egg, Cottage Cheese, Alfalfa Sprouts, Pumpkin, Dried Chicory Root, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Direct-Fed Microbials, Chondroitin Sulfate, Rosemary Extract, Lecithin, Vitamins/Minerals

 

Analysis:

Moisture (max) 10.00%
Crude Fiber (max)3.00%
Crude Protein (min)26.00%
Crude Fat (min) 10.00%
<>

 

Benefits:

 

• Same Innova ''Fresh-From-The-Five-Food-Group'' blend of ingredients
• Specifically formulated for the Large and Giant Senior Dog
• Precisely controlled levels of calcium to phosphorus
• Appropriate ratio of Protein to Fat
• Omega 3 Fatty Acids from both Fish Oil and Flaxseed
  Added Naturally Occurring Microorganisms
• With added Chondroitin and Glucosamine
• So Complete and Balanced that supplementation is discouraged
• For Senior Large Breeds from 7 years and older

 

$61.99 for 30 pounds. Not cheap but still a lot less than the prescription diet!

 

There are many other good senior foods, this just happens to be the one I have used.

 

As I have said before Fresh Pet, which you can get at the grocery store, has low enough phosphorous for your (our) needs.

 

JohnF, thanks for that list. Even though Aquitaine is in good shape, zoomies and bounces, there is still a part of me that panics that I am going to lose her any minute. That list reminds me that since not one of those items applies to her, I can remember to breathe and truly enjoy every day with her.

 

[PatricksMom]

I would think almost any brand would be likely to make her happier if you mix in something yummy she can't pick out--some canned dog food of a similar brand, yogurt, super fine grated cheese, soaking it in low sodium broth of some kind...

[Guest kar]

i need a good brand with the lowest protein and phosphorus possible he said to try a senior diet.

[PatricksMom]

Then try Innova Senior kibble or Fresh Pet, as suggested, but whatever you get, if she won't eat it, keep trying until you find something she will. She needs to eat more than she needs anything other than air and water.

[silverfish]

i need a good brand with the lowest protein and phosphorus possible he said to try a senior diet.

Kar, you've had some very knowledgeable people here tell you that your dog is not in renal failure judging by the results you've posted. One of the people who told you so is a Vet Tech, and another is a Vet. Please, please get a second opinion. A kidney diet won't help her, especially if she's not eating enough.

 

Did you get the latest blood results?

[tbhounds]

Ok bashing my head now. Please seek a second opinion.

[45MPHK9]

Ok bashing my head now. Please seek a second opinion.

 

Many vets have been suggested here.

Edited July 22, 2014 by 45MPHK9

[JJNg]

Low protein and phosphorus are only needed if the dog actually has chronic renal failure. I don't think we've seen anything to indicate that Snow is at that point. Please seek a second opinion as so many others have suggested.

[gracegirl]

A second opinion from a vet with all of Snow's current paperwork is going to pay off in spades. Please, please seek another vet's opinion. Any other vet that is close to you and has been in practice at least 5 years will do, a sighthound vet is not required at this point. Please?

[FiveRoooooers]

A second opinion from a vet with all of Snow's current paperwork is going to pay off in spades. Please, please seek another vet's opinion. Any other vet that is close to you and has been in practice at least 5 years will do, a sighthound vet is not required at this point. Please?

There are several clinics nearby who are grey-savvy. They are in post #36.