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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Hungry dog won't eat?

15 replies

gaffamate · 10/02/2020 04:27

Elderly 14 to working Cocker. I usually feed her whilst I cook dinner and make breakfast but DH made dinner last night (happens once in a blue moon) and so I forgot to feed dog and he didn't. She's old so she didn't kick up a fuss Sad

She's been up since 2am being sick (foam) and I could hear her belly rumbling so I realised, ran down and fed her... But she's refusing it. She's even refusing roast chicken from the fridge Shock

Any ideas to encourage her to eat? She's currently (4:30am) panting and pacing.

OP posts:
Peridot1 · 10/02/2020 04:29

She could be just sick. There is a vomiting bug going around. Our vets have seen loads of cases.

Maybe that’s why she didn’t remind you to feed her?

caffeinefix · 10/02/2020 04:33

That noise isn't hunger, she has an unsettled belly. Can you give her some scrambled egg?

Original poster
gaffamate · 10/02/2020 04:33

Hmm possibly. She might need a worm too as we have a visiting fox in the garden and in sure she's been eating its deposits Hmm

But she usually has the runs when sick and all that has come up is a bit of white foam. If I can baby back in cot I'll try to take her down for another try at the chicken.

OP posts:
TooManyButtons · 10/02/2020 06:04

My cocker has bileous vomiting syndrome where he's sick if he gets too hungry, his symptoms sound the same - his tummy makes loud rumbling noises, but he refuses his breakfast, eating grass instead. Sometimes he vomits foam or bile. As soon as he eats - which he does eventually - it settles him. I'd just keep trying to encourage yout dog to eat, fingers crossed that'll sort her out Smile

Panicmode1 · 10/02/2020 06:24

My goldie has been off her food, refusing rice, chicken, egg etc. She had an anti sickness jab from the vet and was v lethargic and off food for a few days before recovering. There is a nasty virus doing the rounds.

Iwantmychairback · 10/02/2020 06:32

My dog has just had the virus too. Off her food for a few days.
Our last dog though, did have the foamy / bile sickness if he was hungry.
Both of them were tempted to eat again by hand feeding them little bits of cheese. Once they get something in their bellies, and keep it dow, they improve quite quickly.

Original poster
gaffamate · 10/02/2020 06:49

I just think it's too coincidental that DH forgot to feed her. And she too does tend to get foamy sick when hungry. She's shaking now so I've given her her pain meds (for arthritis) and will try again with the roast chicken once they've had time to work. Otherwise will have to up my game to cheese.

OP posts:
talia66 · 10/02/2020 08:00

Because of her age and what you have described if she doesn't improve today take her to the vet just to be in the safe side.
I lost my dog Toby last August. He was sick, panting and pacing and unwell. I waitied 2 days because I thought it wasn't that serious (over his life he has bouts of sickness / diarroah) but he was very ill and got dehydrated. I have always wondered if I had got him to the vet earlier I could have saved him, (I don't think so as he had other things going on)
Don't want to worry you, just be cautious because of her age x

FVFrog · 10/02/2020 08:05

My dog had similar symptoms and it was basically reflux caused by being too hungry/empty stomach (would happen very early morning before breakfast, 3/4am) he had a short course of an antacid and we solved the issue by giving him a small feed at bedtime.

FVFrog · 10/02/2020 08:06

But yes, given her age it may be a coincidence so absolutely get her checked out by the vet

picklesdragonisawelshdragon · 10/02/2020 08:50

He may not want to eat because it's the wrong time. Dogs can be quite habit bound as they get older.

What about a corner of toast? Mine's always up for a bit of toast if it's off my plate.

Original poster
gaffamate · 10/02/2020 09:54

She's eaten! About 30 mins after her pain meds so I wonder if being hungry made the pain worse Sad she's eaten all her normal breakfast and think I'll give her a small lunch today too so she can catch up on the calories. Thank you for the advice and sorry to those who have had worse outcomes Flowers

OP posts:
picklesdragonisawelshdragon · 10/02/2020 11:08

Yay! Hope she gets back to her usual routine soon.

mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork · 10/02/2020 13:37

My old (now gone) dog used to do this. If she went too long without eating, she'd get terrible tummy problems and not want to eat for that reason. If I went out for the evening (not very often!), she would refuse to eat anything until I came home, by which time she had a sore tummy so would not eat then either. As long as I could persuade her to eat a tiny bit, she usually recovered by next morning. As with yours, as soon as she did not have the tummy pain/discomfort she would eat.

Veterinari · 10/02/2020 14:36

Hi OP

Just for future reference please don't give any anti-inflammatory pain meds on an empty stomach - the label says give with food because you significantly increase the risk of side effects if given in an empty stomach

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