Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The doghouse

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

Fussy dog gotten worse

13 replies

Choopi · 16/09/2022 18:07

We have a rescue french bulldog. When she came to us we were told she had been raised on a diet of tinned fish 🤨 She was and still is to certain extent a skinny slip of a thing, ribs are visible which is unusual for a frenchie. So since she arrived 2 years ago we have cycled through every type of food imaginable. Dry food, wet food, super expensive wet food, raw feeding, boiled chicken, mince, tinned fish etc etc.
Most She turns her nose up at and the ones she has decided she will eat she eats for about a week tops then it's a nope from her. She cries because she is hungry, she stands barking at me and licks her lips when I ask her is she hungry( this is something I always say before feeding them so they know what it means).
Right now she has barely eaten for 2 days. She has one of dds chicken nuggets yesterday and nothing yet today. I have offered her wet food, some roast chicken, dry food and mince and she just won't eat it. She has been crying at me for food all day. I don't know wtf to do at this stage. The vet says there is nothing wrong she is just fussy and not a big eater.
Apart from the eating issues she is a bundle of energy, she zooms everywhere she goes, she plays with our other dog all day long. She does has pretty bad anxiety so I don't know if this is playing a part? Dh has just gone back to the office recently and the kids are back to school so it is just me and them most of the day and she has been extra clingy.
This was much longer than I intended it to be but I am just feeling lost and frustrated. I adore her, she is the most wonderful character but why won't she just eat?!

OP posts:
Handsnotwands · 16/09/2022 18:32

Sounds trite but does she wear her collar inside? Our fussy dog was put off by the tag clanking on the bowl

does she like toys? Peanut butter (sans xyotol) on a licky mat? A treat ball? A snuffle mat?

does she take food from your hand?

ThisisMax · 16/09/2022 18:38

Sounds like a gastro issue, maybe an ulcer.

Choopi · 16/09/2022 19:23

Handsnotwands · 16/09/2022 18:32

Sounds trite but does she wear her collar inside? Our fussy dog was put off by the tag clanking on the bowl

does she like toys? Peanut butter (sans xyotol) on a licky mat? A treat ball? A snuffle mat?

does she take food from your hand?

No she doesn't wear a collar. She doesn't like peanut butter, I've tried treats they are a no right now. I've also tried handfeeding because that used to work quite well but she is just sniffing it then turning her head away. I've even tried pretending her food is my food so she wants it but it's a no.

How do they check for ulcers? The vet just checked her over and asked about her temperament and said she is fine.

We are just back from a walk and she was running around like an eejit the same as always, she doesn't seem in pain and I can usually tell if she is even a little bit 'off'. She really just seems hungry.

OP posts:
Choopi · 16/09/2022 19:46

Oh that's a great idea. I didn't know they existed. I'll head to the petshop tomorrow and see if they have something similar.

OP posts:
LolaButt · 16/09/2022 22:00

Some pro kolin as sometimes that helps soothe the tummy?

Does she get the hunger pukes? If so I would also like above be concerned her tummy could be irritated by acid.

Mine is very similar but more because they hold out for treats rather than anything else. Randomly, a squirt of salmon oil on the food sometimes sparks some interest.

Choopi · 17/09/2022 09:09

LolaButt · 16/09/2022 22:00

Some pro kolin as sometimes that helps soothe the tummy?

Does she get the hunger pukes? If so I would also like above be concerned her tummy could be irritated by acid.

Mine is very similar but more because they hold out for treats rather than anything else. Randomly, a squirt of salmon oil on the food sometimes sparks some interest.

She does get hunger pukes sometimes yes. She actually had some pro kolin not too long ago, maybe a month or so back and it didn't make a difference at all. We tried salmon oil too and it did work for a few days and then she was back to form. I feel like I am dismissing everything but we've tried so much over past few years to get her to just eat like a normal dog!

She finally gave in last night and ate some chicken while looking absolutely disgusted with the offering 🙄. It just feels like a never ending cycle, maybe I have to accept that she just isn't an eater and leave her to it but it's really hard to ignore the constant crying when she gets really hungry like yesterday.

OP posts:
hattie43 · 17/09/2022 09:30

I feel your pain . I have a frenchie who has been a terrible eater since I bought him home . He will now eat Butternut Box food , not in large amounts but it's the most enthusiastic I've seen him at meal times.

hattie43 · 17/09/2022 09:31

Brought

KangarooKenny · 17/09/2022 09:33

Have you tried a teaspoon of natural yogurt to help the bacteria in her gut ?

Entwifery · 17/09/2022 09:41

Mine can be like this, but the one thing she never turns down is cheese. Maybe a bit of grated cheddar mixed into the food will entice her? Stinky food like chicken livers usually works as well.

WeDeserveBetter · 19/09/2022 11:54

You have my sympathy. I have similar with one of my dogs and it is so disheartening when she is barking and whining for food and then doesn't eat!!

At the moment I have found something she is happy with but not sure how long it will last and some days refuses it.

I have become hardened to her whining and when she is asking for food I just refer her back to the plate of perfectly acceptable nosh and put my headphones on.

Myrtle is a fairly chunky lass so can afford to miss a few meals so it is much harder for you. My other dog is perfect in every way and causes me no problems!!

I do find a little sprinkling of cheese helps and for some reason she likes to 'carb load' before a walk so I put the food down then!!! Think Michael Scott in The Office carbonara situation.....

Climbingthelaundrymountain · 19/09/2022 12:02

Sympathies! I have a very fussy terrier. Don't know how he survives tbh! He doesn't cry for food though, I think that would have me going crazy! I hope you find a solution.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page