What are your top tips for getting a sick dog to eat?

[OblivionAndBeyond]

The pup is currently on antibiotics and anti inflammatories for an anal gland infection. He's drinking fine but not eating at all. He last ate on Sunday night!

He's just been back to the vets who drew bloods for testing and gave him an anti nausea jab because there are signs the dog feels sick, possibly due to the anti inflammatory meds he was taking.

Vet has said to keep trying to get him to eat little and often and given him the green light to be fed pretty much anything he wants within reason. But the dog is turning his head from all of the usual delicacies like steak.

Anyone have any super tips for encouraging a sickie dog to eat something?

One step at a time. Get the scan. A quick google shows a wide range of reasons for spleen problems , so don’t assume the worst.

Hope it goes well and they can get to the bottom of it. They are such a worry ❤️🐾

A doughnut would be a terrible idea - the amount of sugar in one could literally kill a dog.

chicken broth - just boil a carcass or some breast; you could then mince some of the boiled breast into the broth if he picks up somewhat.

Possibly weak Marmite soup - dissolve a little marmite into hot water and when it's cooled see if he's interested.

blob a little on his nose, he'll lick it off.

Sometimes you have to spoonfeed a sick animal; I have persxuaded a sick dog to eat by blobbing a little chicken broth on his nose and repeatedly for a little while and then also dobbing a little on front paws too.

Mine would always eat most of these, but another option is something like Lily’s kitchen Recovery recipe, which has always worked with rehabilitating dogs.

I have huge hounds. A doughnut definitely wouldn’t kill them.

canned pumpkin (pure NOT pie mix) mixed with some chicken or fish (cooked of course) or a couple scramble eggs with it.

Bits of corned beef,cheap steak(cooked) fresh chicken,

Try one of the recovery diets - Royal Canin, Hills and a few other dogs them. You can water then down a bit too, so you can syringe them into his mouth.

https://www.animeddirect.co.uk/royal-canin-recovery-ultra-soft-mousse-for-dogs-and-cats-12x195g

No it wouldn’t - sugar’s bad for dogs in the same way it’s bad for people, but it’s not poison.

Another tip from my vet. When I had one of mine really poorly and on lots of drugs he wouldn’t eat as I think thought everything had tablets in. So they suggested I take food on a walk. So I walked with pockets full of sausages and cheese, and with a friend, and he took some every few yards as a treat. Hope he feels better soon!

Sugar won't kill a dog FFS. 🙄

Too much will and doughnuts are full of sugar. I’ll link an article so you can do some reading. TBH it’s no wonder so many dogs are fat if people think doughnuts and sugar are acceptable for their pets.

https://dogtime.com/dog-health/dog-food-dog-nutrition/96138-can-dogs-eat-doughtnuts-safe/amp

Now, if we could get back to OPs actual issue and stop being silly?

Hope it goes well today, OP! Fingers crossed

I looked after my mum's dog when it got vestibular disease. She wouldn't eat anything out of her bowl so I hand fed pieces of chicken breast and made little rice balls cooked in stock. She made a full recovery.

A doughnut would be a terrible idea - the amount of sugar in one could literally kill a dog.

My beagle once helped himself to two jam filled, sugar coated donuts off DH's plate - he suffered absolutely no after effects - not even an upset stomach 😂

I'll tell him a stranger on the internet says he should be dead though!

That isn't a credible source. Try again.

My dog loves chicken and mashed potato when he's not well.

Is there something wrong with you? Stop derailing Ops thread. Doughnuts are bad for dogs. I spent fifteen years working as a vet and my DP is a vet - I think I know a bit more than you about what is and isn’t toxic to dogs.

I posted the link because your IQ is clearly not up to basic logic such as: excess sugar = toxic to dogs. I thought kiddy English might help. Clearly not.

@Killingoffmyflowersonebyone lol. Don't miss the bit in my response where I said the word 'nibble?'

How about YOU stop 'being silly' eh?

Oh I saw it. Doesn’t make a difference. Stupid ideas are still stupid, even when caveated.

@Killingoffmyflowersonebyone there's only one person round here looking stupid.. you should probably stop talking now as you spout nonsense

Sorry if being educated and knowledgeable makes me stupid.

@Killingoffmyflowersonebyone nobody's saying to give the dog an endless supply of sugar filled donuts 🙄

A tiny bit of donut to encourage eating isn't going to do any harm.

One of ours has pancreatitis and his wet food is heavily watered down to aid digestion.

For your dog, would making it more liquid perhaps with the addition of gravy instead of water so that he licks the food but by bit? Careful that you don't add a gravy that has a high salt content.

Another one when he was unwell would only eat if the food (dry kibble) ) was placed in my hand.

My IQ is fine, but thank you for your concern.

You were clearly a terrible vet if you can't see the nuance between feeding something sweet to a sick dog to tempt them to eat and just feeding sugar. It still isn't toxic to dogs in small amounts -

Now trot along and be horribly rude to someone else.