Does my dog have a decent enough quality of life?

[Sallystyle]

I have been thinking about this a lot lately.

I have talked about him briefly before.

He is a two year old chihuahua, born with a very bad overshot jaw. It takes him three hours to eat his meal. He refuses any food except dry food and he won't take it soaked or touch any wet food or treats of any kind. We have tried for over a year with different techniques, worked with the vet etc and trust me, he will only eat dry kibble and he gums it and it takes hours. I can't even get him to lick anything off my finger.

He weighs 3 pounds, maybe a tiny bit more. He is maintaing his weight well enough.

The biggest problem is his fear of being picked up. I try not to pick dogs up ever but due to him not being very trainable because he won't take treats and hates being touched sometimes it is needed. He will yelp and shake when he thinks anyone is going to pick him up :(

He lives curled up under my legs and will happily stay there for hours as long as I don't go to touch him.

He won't go for walks. Too scared of outside but does get exercise around the house and in the garden as long as I stay by his side but even then if he hears a noise he gets scared.

He is not trainable because it is impossible to train a dog who won't take food or be touched. However this hasn't been much of a problem except with going to the toilet occasionally. He doesn't jump up people as he is too scared of anyone who isn't in our family and he is not a barker or barge through doors or anything so it hasn't been a massive problem.

I love this dog to bits but I am starting to wonder if his quality of life is decent enough. Is he happy? well he spends most of his time either scared or cuddling me, which is fine when I am here but if I am out of the house he becomes very depressed and anxious.

There is talk about medicating him for anxiety but giving him the meds would cause him more distress I think. It would be torture for him to be forced meds and it would have to be forced because if I can't even get him to lick treats off my fingers he will never take medicine easily.

So I would like some opinions please and asking you to be gentle. I do the best I can for him and he is very loved, but now I am wondering if that is enough for him.

I can't help with whether your dogs quality of life is good enough or not. Only you and you vet can decide that. It is a very hard and painful thing to contemplate so be kind to yourself.

My last dog had on over shot jaw and couldn't eat out of a bowl but could eat off a flat plate. I don't think it was as bad as your dogs though and I'm guessing you already tried a plate.

Does your dog respond to praise? Maybe you could do some training where the reward is your praise?

I think you can get plug in thingies to help with anxiety (DAP?), maybe they could help.

He may not be trainable with anything that's edible but have you tried training him with the reward of a game he likes? Does he like to play?

Lots of dogs aren't food led but will sit if they know they are going to be thrown a ball.

It does sound as if his quality of life is not ideal but no one can really know what's going on in his head, and really only you will know how he seems day to day.

you know what makes him happy - i would just do more of that.agree with comment re vets make sure he is not in pain or discomfort.

Just a quick suggestion - Zylkene is calming and can be sprinkled in food.

Thank you.

No, he doesn't play. Never has even as a tiny puppy :( I think that mentally, he is also not quite right. He never, ever plays. He is too scared of his own shadow. If I was to throw a ball he would look at me like I am mad. I have never known a puppy who didn't play. He could never chew on toys either, I bought him loads as a pup but he can't chew well enough to use them.

All he really wants to do is sleep in my lap. As long as I don't touch him. Sometimes, if I move my hand very slowly he will allow me to stroke his chin but if I move in the wrong way he will jump off me straight away.

I will look up Zylkene.

I have a pic of his jaw, he was only a puppy here but it hasn't got any better. Thankfully, his teeth aren't digging into his gums so far but we know he may need some removed/clipped at some point.

He is in no pain when he eats at least. While it takes him hours he does enjoy eating.