Hi, My 11 year old bitch Amber had an op yesterday because the vet found an infection in her womb,pyometra. They have let her come home today but still hasnt eaten a thing. She has not really eaten anything all week. The vet was going to keep her in until she ate something but decided she may eat at home.Which she hasnt yet. I cooked some white fish, she turned her head away and wouldnt take any. Chicken also been offered. Has anyone any ideas what may make her fancy something.? many thanks

If she is drinking then cook some chicken breast, no skin, and lots of water then liquidise it and serve a tablespoon at a time every hour and if that is taken gradually increase.

or, you could try the magic pilchard in tomato sauce.

Thankyou Nova, tried the pilchards but wouldnt even look at them, my husband even put a put on her lips but she didnt want to know. Tried giving her an oxo cube diluted with water, put it into syringe and into her mouth but she dribbled it out again. having chicken for dinner tonight  will do as you said and liquidise it. I would give anything a try. many thanks

Hi lilacben

I've found on several occasions that carrot and corriander soup got mine started again when recovering - it may help your girl.  I know it will be a huge worry for you but so long as she is taking fluids OK then that is the main thing.  Is she drinking normally?  If not, don't give beef cubes or similar, as these will be too salty.  If she wont drink plain water and you've tried fresh chicken or fish stock for example, better to offer some slightly warm tea - add milk and sugar to tempt her.  If available goats milk may help.  Getting fluids in at the moment is the most important thing IMO.

The post op pains and GA still in her system plus any other meds given (ABs for eg) could easily when combined make her feel too nauseus to eat anything solid for a few days.

Hopefully she will pick up soon.  In the meantime, easier said than done I know, try not to show any anxiety when attempting to feed her as she'll pick up on any vibes.

Sending healing thoughts and hugs to your girl,
Teri x

Would not use oxo as it has too much salt in it, make a stock with bones or a chicken carcass add nothing at all apart from water.

Providing she is drinking I would not worry too much, she will start eating when she is feeling better, the vet can give you a product that will keep her going it has a balance of the required salts and minerals along with sugars, it is what is given when a dog is dehydrated and if the dog will take it can keep her going for a long while.

She is not drinking very well but have managed to get about 1/2 pint water into her today. Keep trying every so often. The vet gave me two sachets of powder to mix with her water with salts and minerals in but she will not touch it, so I had to go back to plain water. She is on antibiotics still for a few days and has four more days of painkillers so as you said she may well be feeling sick.I know it is hard sometimes when we are ill and havent eaten for a few days it seems to take ages to fancy food again. But non the less I will keep trying. Thankyou both

Think you are right, she will eat again that is certain but as long as you can get water into her that is the important thing or she would have to go onto a drip. Thinking of you and your efforts to offer your girl TLC, sure she will reward you soon with a wag of tail and a mouthful of food.

maybe try whelpi in her water, very nutritional and my girls love it when they have a litter, i know she is feeling unwell but if she drinks some of that she will be getting a food source as well, whelpi is for convalesing dogs as well as puppies and worth a try if she isnt eating anything. i always have a tub of whelpi in the cupboard it is good stuff.
i hope she is feeling better very soon bless her heart, i had a rough collie with pyo years ago she was 10 and was also very sick indeed but she pulled through :)

What about yogurt, will she eat that?

When tiva had a section- spay she too didn't want to eat, but found canned dog food she would take a bit of and also soggy dogfood/ puppy food seemed to help with her.

When Taz came down with parvo he wouldn't eat a thing, When I diluted canned chicken soup with 3 cans of water and warmed it up he actually started drinking that down and he was going at both ends, but he still kept drinking it and I offered so much every hour.

Best of luck and hope she perks up soon :)

Any update on your girl lilacben?  Hope no news is good news.

Teri :)

Our bernese wont drink a lot normally but I find when I put some milk in the water, just a spot to make it go 'milky' she will drink the whole bowl, handy for this hot weather, but might be worth a try if she still won't drink. Hope she is better soon. They are such a worry when they are ill.

marion

Many thanks all of you. Well Amber ate some pieces of roast chicken that I cooked last night and this morning half a can of dog food,roastchicken in gravy. She looks so much brighter in herself today. Still sleeping a lot but when she is awake her ears are back up and her eyes look so much better. I will try that with  milk in water. Still having to get antibiotics and painkillers into her but it is worth it if they work, although I hate giving them to her as she just doesn't want to swallow them. Think today I will wrap them up in some ham she may eat them.

Sounds good :)  Thanks for the update.

Re giving tabs, if she wont "eat" them disguised in meat or cheese for eg, wipe them over liberally with butter so they slip down more easily.  I always feel it's such a shame to give meds to dogs already feeling poorly but needs must etc.

Let's hope she makes a rapid improvement soon and you can relax and enjoy her again instead of fretting and fussing (I know the feeling too well! )
Best wishes to you both,
Teri :)

Sounds as if she may have now turned the corner and will be improving now day by day, I too wrap any pills that are not taken freely it is so much better not to have to fight with a sick dog.