I have a 9 year old Shepherd diagnosed with atrophic gastritis.  He has had a rapid weight loss in just a few weeks and, apart from medication, the only veterinary advice is to feed a prescription diet or home-made diet.  I've tried both dry and tinned prescription diets and also fresh home cooked diets of rice and pasta as carb base and adding chicken or fish or cottage cheese for protein.

He will no longer eat ANY of these foods - please, I urgently need advice from anyone who has experienced similar problems or who knows of an alternative diet to try.  I'm afraid I will lose him if I can't find a solution soon.

Marie

Sorry to hear about your dog, Pedigree Foods do an i/v (invalid diet) that is far more palatable than the Hills one, your vet should be able to order it for you, so should your pet food shop. Other wise try tined fish (tuna, pilchard or salmon) with rice, or if you can afford it try fresh fish. You could also try raw eggs, raw chicken or even tined Chappie that I always found good for GSD's with poor digestion.

Feed all food warm, it is much more interesting warm than straight from the fridge, pop in Microwave or add a few drops of hot water.

Feed little and often and try to make it fun the dog may be picking up on your desperation.

Don't know if it would be suitable given your dog's health problem, but perhaps you could try mixing some tinned cat food through his meal. Dogs generally find cat food irresistable.

Raw tripe? if you can stand it. Never met a dog yet who's been upset by tripe (plenty of humans tho) :D

Try Nature diet.

www.naturediet.co.uk

HTH

Lucy