OK heres my problem.I have a 2 1/2 year old elkhound male who has always been a fussy eater.He has always eaten every 2 or 3 days and then it has been with a real 'if I really must 'attitude.
I have been feeding BARF for about 6 months now and thought we'd cracked it cos he was eating nearly every day BUT for the couple of months has gone back to his old ways.He has lost weight(he was lean anyway) and is becoming lethargic.The only thing he will eat with any kind of entusiasm(and its not a lot) is chicken carcasses and the occasional pigs trotter.I'm sure there is nothing wrong with him ,this has been a life long problem.
I have (and still do) put food down for 10 mins and then remove but he still refuses to eat.Even the threat of the other dogs hovering doesn't help.
He is a nice dog who has done well in the show ring despite his lack of sparkle and condition....just know if I could sort him out theres more to come.At the moment after his last few performances in the ring I am seriously thinking of leaving him at home.Its got to the point where judges have started to comment on his lack of enthusiasm.
I am open to any sugestions...I've run out of ideas.I hate having him like this when I'm sure if I could get him to eat properly he would be more full of life.He is not starving...he eats enough to sustain himself and he doesn't look under nourished...just needs more 'covering' on him.
any ideas.
Archer

Is he affected by in season bitches?  Maybe not your own, but in the neighborhood?

Theres no in season bitches around that I know of....we have a real problem with 'latch key' dogs and hence we can usually tell if theres a bitch in season since they all hang around.He has never been used at stud and my own bitch ahs been speyed.So I don't THINK this is the problem but thanks for replying.
Archer

My Kizi was like this until around 4 years of age.  The only time she ate everything put in front of her was when rearing a litter, but then by the time she came in season back to fasting and the lean super model figure.

When she was young the amount of 2nds she had with the comment more coat and substance needed I could paper the wals with.

She is now almost 7 and is in her best form ever (if sh regrows her coat allright) so maybe she will do well as a veteran.  some are just like that.

The lethargy on the other hand would make me want to have a complete thyroid check, not just the basics but a thorough one.

Thanks Barbara.
I have managed to get hold of Gill today and have a natter with her and she also thinks that he will change as he matures...probably another year she thinks.Apparently his brother is the same.She has given me a couple of options to try and asked me to keep her informed so we'll see how we get on.Its more annoying because he has a good solid frame and IMO could be quite an impressive type of male with the right weight and attitude.He has a wonderful head and moves beautifully so would just like the body to complete the picture if you know what I mean.
I've already entered him for Driffield and Mid co's but may leave him at home if things don't improve and give him a break from the ring till next year.
Nikki

Could he have a parisite maybe? Just a thought..Do hope his eating habits pick up, good luck :)

Do you change the meat he has on BARF?
If its the same meat all the time, maybe he's bored with it now. Just a suggestion! :)

Have you tried "malted kelp" tablets from Dorwest herbs? They really helped peak my dogs poor eating habits.

I feel your pain so much,i have 2 picky eaters BUT one is also fairly underweight,she will eat her fill on one day and then pick for the next 2 days,she just cannot put weight on,like your dog she only eats enough to sustain herself  :(
I try and get fatty foods into her when i can,such as : suit,pork crackling,i buy the fattiest cuts of meat from the butchers etc. slipping these things into his meals may help. Have you tried the "satin balls" recipe? It is used by alot of show people to get susbstance on their dogs,and it works quickly :) Just type satin balls recipe into your search engine and it will come up with heaps of sites that carry the recipe,or type it into c.d search and you should come up with tohme's version which is a little simpler than the normal recipe.

All of the above and the malted kelp tablets are sure to help.If you need any more advice please ask as i have been researching this very subject for a long time.

Good luck

christine

Thanks Christine
have tried Malted kelp tablets but have put him on them again.
Will go and look up the satin balls recipe now...and let you know how we get on
Archer

I would have the full thyroid test done.  I don't like the sound of the lethargy and would want it investigated.  I've had picky easters who have driven me to distraction but none have been lethargic or lacked in energy in any way.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

I think Joan has picked up on a very valid point there.

I will investigate the thyroid possibility but the have always thought that if he hasn't eaten for 2/3 days its not suprising he has no energy.He ate 2 1/2 chicken carcasses yesterday and has been playing and romping like a puppy today.
As I said I will see about possible thyroid problems and will try what his breeder has suggested aswell.
Will let you know how we get on
Thanks
Archer

I had Kizi's brother Ash come to visit with his half sister (sister to Bryony's boy) now both are neutered but Ash 2wasn't until he was 3 1/2.  Haven't seen him ofr nearly 2 years and must say he has matured very nicely, just a shame he is done!  He is now carrying just a bi5t too much weight, and he was alwa6ys on the thin side before, so I think it is likely just age.

Solomon was not that interested in his food when he was younger, he eats well now but is so active that I doubt he will ever put weight on, seems the more he eats the more energy he uses up. So I would no worry it seems to be a trait that they are not too interested in food till they are fully grown. Now Varg could not be more different, he too is very active but he is only truly happy when his mouth is full :) have to add it is not always food sometimes it is a large lump of one of the others.

Thanks Barbara and Jackie. As I said Gill seems to think its an elkie thing and that in time he should come right so thats 3 elkie people saying the same thing ...its just sooooo infuriating when when he pulls himself together he is a nice dog and then he'll go in the ring with no energy and look like a bag of spuds!Maybe one day he'll show the judges what he can really look like.
My Frankies like Varg(must be in the genes!!LOL)...only completely happy with something in his mouth.
Nikki

Archer did the malted kelp work for you when you used them last time?
My scrawny gal is 4yrs. so i dont thing it is an age thing for her,she was abused and extremely malnourished bag of bones when she came to me at age 2,so you would think she would devour everything in her bowl,but she doesnt :( The irritating thing is,when i got my pup she was a brilliant eater but after watching Emma's bad eating habits for a few days she too decided to be picky,grrrrrr!!!

The one thing that worked like a charm were antihistamine tablets(emma also has allergies) even tho they didnt stop her itching she ate like a ravenous horse and got up to a perfect weight within a couple of weeks, it's just typical,the one thing that worked isnt really good for her,altho all the vets i have asked say antihistamines have no side effects,especially not 1/4 tab i was giving her,she even ate dry food which is something she would NOT touch ever!!

christine

What kind of antihistamines were you using?  I knew that Periactin worked in that way, it is used in the treatment of cats with no appetite and I have used it successfully in my dogs but I didn't know any other antihistamines had the same effect.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

Once re-homed a GSD who looked a bag of bones the day I first saw her and continued that way till the day she died at 15 years. I tried everything I could including tearing my hair out, all to no avail.

Archer, do think it is an Elkie thing, of my seven three have treated food as if it were poisoned until the reached about two and half, they were all males the bitches have all tried to eat for England, and that is still the way, encourage the boys and diet the girls. Have known one or two breeders rehome dogs because they could not get weight on them, think it may be a hormonal thing myself but don't supose you would dream of removing his manhood just to get him to eat ;)

Seems to effect our own breed too, how many very slim young men do you know of.

Jackie
am keeping my fingers crossed that its a breed thing.He is now 2 1/2 so hopefully by next year he may start to improve.As I said am considering keeping him out of the ring for a few months but with entries already paid I don't like to waste money if not neccessary...so we'll see.
As for castration...if I didn't think he had potential in the ring I might think about it but considering he still wins classes and has only ever been out of the first 2 a couple of times I'm not willing to give up on him yet.
Will drop you a PM later....on my way out to get school uniform now!
Nikki.

The castration was not meant as a serious suggestion;)

Thank goodness for that...Kas can uncross his legs now!!!
Nikki

Joan,
Yep periactin is what i used,every now and then i will still give them a 1/4 if i really want them to eat something,it works like a charm every time :D
I just cant believe that anti-histamines have no side effects????? Like i said i have asked a few vets and also read books and they all say the same thing "No negative side effects" I could give them everyday and the days of pulling my hair out in frustration over my dogs not eating would be behind me!
My dogs(shih-tzu's) eating habits are similar to wild dogs,they will gorge themselves on one day and then not eat for 1-2 days and then start again! But i just can not get  the much needed weight on Emma this way :(

Does anyone have any scientific facts on the side effects of anti-histamines?

Christine
P.S I didnt think periactin was available in the U.K??

Yes, it is available in the UK.  I found a small independent pharmacist who was prepared to look it up and then order it for me.  I haven't needed to use it for ages but found it excellent on the few occasions I have used it.  Since starting my dogs on raw food I have had no problem with any of my dogs not eating but I do keep the periactin in the house.  I was told to give the dog 1/2 a tablet about 1/2 an hour before a meal, I actually found it better to give it 2 or 3 hours before the meal. 

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

Ozzie 72
Kelp tablets seemed to work to a degree.He did start eating better but noy enough to put weight on him.He ate ok for acout 2 months and then went back to his old ways.
Archer

According to Jane Lilley, you feed nothing but horse manure for a period of time (can't remember, you could phone her and ask) and after that they never look back ............ thankfully I've never had cause to test this theory, but it's meant to be very effective ;)

Marina

His breeder did ask if he ever had the oppotunity to eats horse amnure...he does but doesn't eat him...and I REFUSE point blank to hand feed him that!!LOL
Archer

Tsk tsk, no dedication - that's your problem LOL ;)

Marina