Hi my Ridgeback stopped eating 10 days ago.  I have been to the vet and all has checked out okay so far, she has been very thoroughly checked.  She is one year old and full of energy and play, I know she is starving.  I am at the stage where she will whine and go to her bowl but she won't eat!

I have tried everything (literally).  I initially carried on putting her food out and picking up again after 10 minutes if she doesn't eat (my usual routine).  I have tried a different food, tried cooked and raw meat, tried dog biscuits, tried feeding by hand, tried getting my partner to feed her while I went out, tried chicken and pasta and chicken and rice.  Nothing worked.  I have just got her to eat some hot dog sausages, she is now going up to her bowl but not eating.  Please can anyone help me, the vet says not to worry but after 10 days I feel she is starving to death.  I am freaking out!!!

Thank you

She is one year old and full of energy and play,

Fine then stop worrying!

I know she is starving.

If your dog was starving she would not be full of energy and play!

Sorry to say with the bitch only a year old and not having eaten for 10 days I would be worried too. Is she drinking, if so you could cook some chicken in lots of water and liquidise and offer the soup to her. But I think I would be asking the vet for a second opinion if the bitch really is eating nothing at all especially as she appears to want to eat.

Is there anyone else in the family who may be feeding her during the day ? And that you may not be aware of.

Ten days is a long time

This is a difficult call. It's easy for me to say don't worry, but not so easy for you, she's your dog. However, if she is full of energy and happy to play, then like Tohme I'd say there isn't too much wrong. Has she lost any weight? If the vet has examined her thoroughly, and is happy, then try not to worry too much.
While she is otherwise happy and apparently healthy, I would continue to pick up her food bowl after a limited time, and not give in to the compulsion to pander to her. One thing is for sure, she most certainly will not starve herself.
Of course it goes without saying that if she becomes ill then get her back to the vet sharpish.
Why not join Champdogs, it's free, and you can let us know how things are going and we can give some support and encouragement.

All the best, Dawn R.

If she appears hungry, have you or your vet checked her mouth and throat to make sure there are no cuts, broken teeth, infections, obstructions etc. that could make eating uncomfortable?  Just a thought ........

Marina

We can only take this post at it's face value, if the bitch really has not eaten anything for the last 10 days she may well go into shock any time now, however we do not know if eating nothing means apart from the titbit, plate leftovers, and the odd hand fed food and may be the meal someone gave her when her owner was not looking, it is also possible that the neighbours are throwing food over the fence or she is finding food on the exercise walk, but I would be very concerned if the pup has not eaten for 10 days and has only drunk water, or worse is not doing that either. Wonder how long ago her season was.

Agree, make sure that her mouth and throat check out ok.  Also is she due to come into season??

My last dog did this to me.  Didn't eat for a month   I was frantic.  After 10 days the vet checked him over and said nothing wrong.  We tried tempting him with people food (crisps, sausages, bacon etc) and he would take it from our hand but wouldn't eat it from his bowl.  Dog food of any description was refused.  As he was still playful and active I decided not to worry too much but by the end of four weeks (vet check each week) I was frantic.  He'd lost weight but still wouldn't eat except a little off us.  In the end I spent two days just watching him and noticed that he always licked the cat after she'd been eating - bingo - he was holding out for cat food IN A CAT BOWL!!!  Wouldn't eat it from his own big bowl :rolleyes: So we started him on cat food and weaned him back onto his own food very gradually.  Oh and we bought him a brand new bowl nothing like his old one :D

Don't know if the above will prove helpful but it may help to start thinking creatively

Regards
Dill

I would change the vet and be very worried if my dog/s hadn't eaten for ten days
as it has been said get her mouth looked at by another vet.
make up some yogurt (bio live plain) raw liver and then mush it up to gether then spoon into the dogs mouth.

I have a young bitch of similar age who after having her first season has lost weight, got no clothes (Bless!!) her appetite is not as good as it was. But she is fit and playfull. Saying that 10 days is a long time I would get her checked again just to be on the safe side.

I agree - please get a vet check for painful areas/obstructions etc. 

Yes you may also have to be imaginative in the interim about how to get food in there, 10 days is far too long if she "genuinely" hasn't eaten.  Is the passing any stools?  If so, she must be eating something.....

Like people, less food intake for prolonged periods decreases appetite and also reduces quantities able to be consumed.   Try her with home made broth/soup and put it in one of YOUR dishes :-)  I got a very finicky eater round this way (which was health checked first).  If you're not the world's greatest cook <LOL> then tinned carrot soup is an excellent starter ;-)

Please post back or better still join so we know how you're getting along.

Teri :-)