hello
my little barney - has gone right off his food....

we started him on 1/2 beta and 1/2 ped pupp ... and he seemed to like.... suddenly every shop had sold out of beta and i couldn't find anywhere so had to switch to james wb.... he now has a couple of licks and that's it...
he's losing weight and its now more apparent.... The only thing he now enjoys is his milk and markies in the evening...

I will obviously take him to the vet but before i do that can anyone offer advice or has anyone had similar problem?

As an overview he is a very happy (constant tail wagging cocker spaniel) - so i really don't think its a settling in/mental problem.

cheers

Why is he on milk?  dogs cannot digest it.  And what are markies?

hello
breeder recommended this - diet sheet was as follows:

breakfast: a little milk mixed with beta
meal 2:      1/2 beta 1/2 pedigree or tinned tripe
meal 3:      1/2 beta 1/2 pedigree
dinner:       small drink of milk with pedigree markie biscuits

she has been feeding her cockers on this for 30 years.....

is this wrong - what would you suggest? Do you own cocker spaniels?

thanks for any advice

Although people say milk is not good for dogs, I dont think anyone told the dogs that! I've been giving my puppies a milk meal when very young for donkey's years. So saying, some dogs can't handle it so any one having problems should bare this in mind.

Markies are designed as a treat not as a food so for a start I'd drop them right off! If he does not like James WB then I'd try something else. Occasionally a puppy does take a dislike to a food, I even had a Labrador do it one day and if they can turn their noses up at a food any dog can!

I would certainly not be too concerned about not eating for a SHORT while as you say he is very happy. From that I also figure that he is not hungry! (Thats the reason I suggest no Markies)

Regards, John

thanks for all of that john  - i will stick to the milk and cut down on the markies.....
i might try nature diet as recommended by vet.

Naturediet and/or Burns are very good diets.

Most foods these days are well balanced diets, it's just the matter of experimenting a little. So saying, try to make any change to his diet gradual changes spread over a few days or so. (Difficult in this case obviously because he's not eating!!) Very few dogs will starve themselves to death, in most cases they are genuinely not hungry. Get use to feeling his ribs. You should be able to feel them although blurred under a layer of flesh. If they feel hard edged he is too thin, not feel them easily and he's too fat. If you feel other people's dogs you will soon develop a feel for the right covering.

Regards, John