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?

“A chocolate doughnut can cause potentially fatal symptoms like abnormal heart rhythm or seizures, while a plain cake doughnut may cause no symptoms at all in a healthy, young pup.”

From the link you posted….

I have been in tears for the last 12 hours or so, sat outside the vets for 3 hours this morning and am still waiting for more test results for my extremely poorly dog.

He has an abnormal spleen (it showed no large mass but multiple smaller 'nodules' of some sort) and a very small liver - they wonder if he might have a liver shunt - and is currently waiting for more x-rays to help them see what is happening more clearly.

Getting him to eat is now not a primary concern. Whether or not he will see out the day is. I sat up with him last night and he was so unlike himself, except for some short precious moments when he seemed to realise I was there.

He's 7 years old. This is too soon and my heart is breaking.

I am so sorry. Whatever happens I hope he is well looked after x

Sending you a massive hug x

We tried powdered puppy formula milk with our dog. It worked for us - sending get well wishes to your dog x

Oh, OP. I am sorry.

Your dog sounds like a fighter though - the fact he recognised you is good news. Please hold on to that. And take care of yourself.

I am so very sorry to see your update . Your poor pup. It is too soon 💐

So sorry to read your update op. I hope you get some good news today 🤞

Oh I am so sorry for what your both going through. I'm holding you both in my thoughts, take care x

Op, I was in your position just a few weeks ago. Like you, my dog's decline started with an infection. The vet carried out blood tests, urine tests and an ultrasound which showed lesions on the spleen and other abnormalities. They mentioned cancer and palliative care, x rays and further speciality testing. My insistence that all of her problems started with the seemingly unrelated infection fell on deaf ears. By this point she was so thin and so very poorly. So I took matters into my own hands and read and searched and researched, coming to the conclusion that the infection had damaged her organs. I took the results of the vet tests into account and made the educated guess that it was a damaged liver causing the problem and started (force) feeding her accordingly - home cooked, not pet food. The transformation was instantaneous. She's still building up strength after such severe illness but she's happy and well in herself again.

I've truncated the story for the sake of clarity because I really wanted you to get the message: Don't blindly trust the vet and don't assume that anyone other than you has the best interests of your dog at heart.

ive made a bone broth before when our old dog was poorly. If he won’t drink or eat anything, I would syringe some cold bone broth into his mouth to be honest to avoid a further decline and also dehydration. I often will give our elderly dog some water in a syringe if he is not drinking enough.. being dehydrated will make him feel even worse and can bring a whole other set of problems. So watch out for that like an hawk. Is he still going to the toilet?? If he’s having nothing by mouth at all and nothing the other end please go back to the vet.. Also boiled eggs are really really good for them (you could do soft boiled or mash it up). At the dog refuge where we are they give boiled eggs to dogs who are poorly or just suffering from poor treatment as they are great health wise for them. I did think though if you are offering steak and your dog is not eating it, I would see the vet again because I’ve had lots of elderly very poorly dogs and I’ve never seen one who wouldn’t eat a bit of steak when offered…

Oh @OblivionAndBeyond sorry i hadn’t seen your update. Still try and keep his fluids up… best of luck to you. Don’t hesitate to see another vet if you have any doubts or not getting the help you feel is right. Don’t let him stop having fluids if you think he will pull through xxx

Sending love to you and your poorly boy 💙

I'm so sorry you are going through this.
I've got everything crossed that your dog can pull through xx

best wishes op @OblivionAndBeyond

Thank you everyone. He's back home - so that's something.

He is a little bit brighter today and ate a small amount at the vet's. They ran a tonne of tests and can only conclude it's an immune-driven anaemia (his body is destroying the red blood cells).

He was with them all day and when I got there I think he heard me because, despite being very quiet all day apparently, he started barking! Oh what a sound that was

He's been referred to a specilist tomorrow morning to try to find out why. He still needs to eat this evening but it's nil by mouth from midnight (ha!) in case they want to sedate him tomorrow.

@BellyPork thanks for sharing your story. It sounds so very similar and I totally take on board what worked for you.

Glad he is home where you can take care of him.

🤞for good news tomorrow

@OblivionAndBeyond I'm sending my best wishes to you and your beloved dog. They mean the world to us and your anxiety will be in overdrive.
💐

I’m so glad he’s home and I hope he’s on the mend soon. I don’t have a dog but lots of friends who do. They say peanut butter is great for hiding pills and most dogs love it.

Might you ask the vet about mirtazapine? My cat was prescribed it when she wouldn’t eat. It costs £15 per pill (or did) but worked like a charm every time. Within 30 mins of administering she would be at her bowl and eating.

Great update! Let's hope the specialist can pinpoint the problem.

If you need tips for natural hepatic food/supplements, let me know.

Good luck for tomorrow, hope you get some positive news.
Just to add if it turns out to be his spleen I’ve had two who had to have their spleen removed & both recovered & lived for years afterwards.

I am home. He's been admitted to the specialist centre but the vet there was hopeful about the chances of a good recovery. Despite hardly eating all week he still had some strength the left in him this morning to sniff about on the way in and to try to say hello to people nearby. He's not out the woods yet but we can perhaps start to see the daylight again a little bit.

Thank you so much for listening to me when I needed to vent and for your good thoughts and advice.

An extra special thanks to @BellyPork for sharing your story. While so far we've made a different choice, your experience gave me a glimmer of hope when there seemed to be none.

Thanks @Darklane

As coincidence would have it, I have an immune condition in which my spleen was destroying my red blood cells and so had my spleen removed when I was 11. So I know how 'easy' life without one can be.

What are the chances of dog and owner having similar blood issues like that?!

Boiled chicken breast