Hi There,

wonder if anyone can help me, ive totally ran out of ideas. My 10month old huskie has stopped eating, She has always been a fussy eater - only ever eats "real food", she has never eaten tinned dog food, depending on what she felt like she may eat a small amount of dry stuff. Now she is not eating anything, her regular meal was chicken or tripe and she wont eat this now, she only eats a bit if she thinks the cat is going to steal it !! but I cant hold the cat over her bowl, has anyone got any ideas on what to do - she is not lethargic, still enjoys a walk, but has no appitite for chicken, tripe, mince ,pork or even treats... is she just bored of the food ? She doesn't look ill - still jumps about like a pup.

Thanks
Sunny x

If she is otherwise fit and well I would just take the food away and give NOTHING until her next meal; dogs do not starve themselves to death! They can survive very well for 4 or 5 days without food just as we can as long as they are drinking. Fussy dogs learn very quickly if their owner is concerned and will hold out until something even more delicious is put down. Don't allow it to become an issue. Put bowl down, if it is not consumed within 5 - 10 minutes remove until next meal time. I think you will find your dog will develop a different attitude to food if this regime is followed.

After all the value of something increases with its scarcity:)

mine dose the same have you tried frolics? throw em on the floor rather then the bowl. mine even turns her nose up at a pork roll out of the cooked supermarket section how fussy is that! mine today was eating appels and bananas and carrots:O veggy dog.

I had the same problem with my dalmatian in the end I wormed him and he was a different dog know he will eat any thing. Give it a try this might work and only costs a few pence for some worming tablets and It costs a lot more in buying different kinds of foods they wont eat.

dont dogs normaly eat more when they have worms?

No not always they can make them feel full so they dont want eat it has worked for many people I know.
The worms begin to bloke up the gut and just reproduce in the dogs stomach giving the sensation the dog is full and then losing there appetite.

Hi,
My sons 10 year old GSD did the same when she was a pup. She refused all food We tried everyhting,and he was so worried he spent most of his time trying to persuade her to eat. After umpteen visits to the vet,we were finally told that she was manipulating us,and that if he stopped worrying,she would soon eat.She picked her way through the next few months till he and his wife moved house,and she was left with his father in law during the day.he wasn't emotionally involved with her,and she ate whatever he put down.In fact he committed a cardinal sin in my son's eyes by giving her a big bowl of milk every day.Whether it was the milk or the take it or leave it attitude,she started eating a bit better. She is still not a greedy dog,but eats well,and loves her treats. She is still going strong at 10 years of age,so i wouldn't worry too much. As long as she is still lively,and not lethargic there is nothing much wrong,and she will eat when you stop worrying about her HTH Jean

Thank for that guys.
I dont think she would have worms I only wormed her a few weeks ago, should I worm her again or would it be too soon after the first lot? She still hasn't ate anything, She wont eat that Frolic stuff ive already tried. I think you may be right about holding out for something better !!

Sunny xx

April, a dalmatian that is a fussy eater......that's a first LOL.

Sunny, Have you tried feeding her with her food while you are training her. Use the food as a treat, take it out of your pocket to feed her, you only have to do simple training, like sits, downs and recalls. If she will eat like that, try training her to do a few tricks, it might not be an ideal way of feeding but at least she is getting some food.

I found with mine her complete food suddenly became worth eating as a treat.

hope this helps.

Sandra

Thanks Sandra,

I tried what you said and she was interested for a while then got sick and walked off. I really am desparate now as she hasnt eaten for about 5 days ! Ive re-wormed her and nothing was in her poo. I think a trip to the vets may be in order...... let me know if any other ideas occur.

Thanks guys

Sunny xx

Hi sandra,

I tried you idea, it worked for asbout 10 mins and then she just walked off. I really dont know what to do now as she hasnt ate for about 5 days now ! I think I will take her to the vets - ive totally ran out of ideas now.... any more suggestions ?

Thanks guys

Sunny xx

I have a Whippet(yes a whippet) who is a very bad eater. I was like you tried everything under the sun. I have had countless people at the racing tracks giving me advice, even the owner of the sire came to see me with the food she fed the father but he would not eat. I was told to put his food down, leave for about 10 mins then put it in the bin. This seemed a great idea as the vet said to me he was fine and would not starve himself to death, but as I have said he races and if he is very under weight he runs crap. So now during racing season he is fed chicken and pasta for brekfast, then after he races he gets a little of Red Mills Racing dog food with mince. I have found if he is worked he eats a lot better than just resting all the time. So as its now Bend Racing and he dont do it I am still road walking him and giving him some free running to keep his appitite up. Maybe if you give your dog a bit more walking ect it might help her to eat. Might be worth a go!

Susan

Sunny

After 5 days I think it would be worth getting her checked over, the vet might be able to give her an appetite stimulant.

Have you tried chicken breast roasted, I found it had to be roasted and hand fed at first in little pieces. Cheese was another good one, but again in tiny pieces at first.

Trouble with this problem it tends to become a habit which often just needs breaking. It is a worry when they do it.

Let us know how you get on.

Sandra

hi Sunny

You say you have wormed her you can do it again after 2 weeks. Have you tried chappie this some times works. As i said before my dalmatian didnt eat for weeks but the worming worked it took a few days but give it another go you have nothing to lose in trying.