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?

Just to add a small suggestion as it's so hot, try the liquid suggestions like broth made into ice cubes. That might help him, if he can lick an Ice cube it might cool him off and encourage him.to eat eventually. I do Kallo extra low salt stock cubes (in a white box) made up with half a cube only so half strength, and I crush the cubes a bit small (I have little dogs)

He's doing OK and eating a bit in the vet centre. But his red blood cell levels are dropping and there is a chance they may need to do a blood transfusion overnight if they drop further.

I'd never heard of this disease before now (IMHA) and it's such an awful one. It's come on so suddenly without warning. It is dangerous right now and carries the risk of relapse if he survives this attack.

Always in my mind is 'How much is it fair to ask him to take?' I hope I get the choices and balance right for him.

Oh love that sounds really tricky. You love him so much that's clear. One day at a time. Sending him extra belly rubs.

@OblivionAndBeyond any news today?

Thanks for asking @Crucible

He's doing OK - he is now eating something and the vet is happy with how much. He's on quite strong steroids to supress his immune reaction and prevent it destroying his red blood cells. Because he's bright enough they have not done a transfusion. They will test his blood count again tomorrow to see how its doing.

All in all, not bad considering the seriousness of the disease or the odds that are stacked against him: 50% of dogs survive the initial diagnosis and only 50% of them survive the first few weeks. If we can get him past that, the odds go up quite a bit for him and so far he seems to be fairing better than some.

They tell me he seems happy and settled with them. I could have gone to visit him and was really tempted to this morning but I am so concerned about unsettling him. He's had a couple of vet stays away and I just know he will see me and think I am there to take him home, so I think it's better I stay away. But I MISS him!

I'll bet! Fwiw I think you made the right decision staying away; he needs rest, and not to expend energy getting his hopes up! Good luck to him. I'd be having a large gin right now.

Just a quick update: the vet called to say he is doing really well. His blood count is up again which is good news. They need to do some different tests this afternoon to see if blood cells are still being destroyed and, if not, she said we could make a plan for him to come home.

There's still lots of questions and things for the future. I know he needs regular blood tests while we slowly withdraw steroids and there is the question about whether or not I vaccinate him in the future. This illness is triggered by a few things, including infection and vaccination and he had both in the last two weeks (an anal gland abscess and his yearly vacs). If so, is there the risk of recurrance. If not, does it invalidate insurance or risk the illnesses he is vaccinated against?

But for now, he is beating the odds and that feels like enough for today.

Mostly I am updating this thread now because when I first tried to find information and real life stories about this shitty illness, I couldn't find much - just a few threads on MN that stopped before the end of the story and it drove me mad. Maybe if someone else is looking in the future, this could help them?

@OblivionAndBeyond I'm chuffed. Will have a second reading of this post today. I'm a bit zonked and will try to think about the vaccine question. Other posters will likely oblige but for now, he's coming home and sounds like he's in a good place. Thinking of you.

All the very best to your doggy for the future, OP.

The last time I needed things to make a very ill dog eat, I eventually found Weetabix with lots of milk to make it sloppy or tinned pilchards in tomato sauce both did the trick.

Hi Op, glad to hear he's doing well.

Regarding vaccinations: Titre testing should be the norm for all dogs but particularly appropriate in your case. You'll need to ask your insurer what their stance is on titre tests in lieu of regular vaccinations.

I've never heard of this disease either @OblivionAndBeyond .
I'm keeping everything crossed for a good outcome, you must miss your lovely dog so much 💐
Thank you for sharing your experience, not an easy thing to do but it might help someone else in the future.

That's a good point; I moved vets partly because they offered the Vaccicheck service. My first vets just did blanket vaccine which isn't always the way forward for every dog (I am by no means antivaccine). Maybe explore the risks and benefits with your vet given his diagnosis.

Fingers crossed for you OP.
Bone broth is something I’ve found poorly dogs enjoy, or simmer a chicken until falling off the bone in plenty of water and feed a very sloppy mix of the meat and liquid.i added carrots and mashed them in but not onions.

He's home!!!!!

The vet called at 3.30pm and said his blood count was very good and she was happy for him to come home if I could take him back this Friday for check up tests. Within 10 mins I was out the house and on the road 😂

I wish I could say it was a tearjerking reunion but he basically walked passed me heading for the exit, and shrugged as if to say 'whatsup, now get me in the car and get me outta here'.

There are still risks: apparently the chance of relapse is around 20% and it's most likely to happen in the weeks and months after the initial attack. By the time we get to a year, the risk drops down.

For now, he needs to take his steroids plus a couple of other things to keep his stomach settled and reduce the chance of blood clots and just be observed. Any sign of fatigue or pale gums and he needs to go back straight away.

On Friday they will test his blood to check it remains stable (or has improved) and we take it from there.

In the meantime, my pup is home and all is well and I'll get the best night's sleep I've had in almost a week.

@OblivionAndBeyond I am bloody thrilled for you both. What a dude. Fingers crossed, and I have a good feeling he's going to thrive!

Thanks @Crucible!

Oh, and just as a record for anyone in the future that may read this: it's taken £5k to get him to this point. Insured, thank God.

So pleased to see you have him back home! What a relief.

What a great update, I'm overjoyed to see your news. I hope dear dog is blandly relaxing and he'll have no idea what stress you've been through . But he will know how much he's loved ❤️

I'm so very pleased to read this! You must be so relieved. I stress SO much about my dogs, more so than I ever have as a human parent!
What breed of dog is he?

He's a springer. Apparently any breed can get IMHA but springers and cockers are especially likely. Though, for some reason a lot of the real life stories I've read about it involved Border Collies.

Yes, I am very relieved he's home and to find myself, once more, stared at intently while I eat

The steroids are making him drink and pee more so last night's sleep was a bit interupted for toilet breaks - which I suspect will continue for a few weeks yet - but otherwise, it was nice to fall asleep without worry.

Good news, when my border collie was on steroids my DH slept downstairs with him, like you say, he needed to go out to wee every hour.

oh that is good news op

Just an update - again, more for anyone in the future who finds themsleves facing IMHA with their dog.

He's been home a week and gets a little bit brighter every day. He's on high steroids and some (very expensive!) anti-coagulant meds every day. The steroids supress his immune system to stop it destroying his red blood cells. The anit-coag is because damaged red blood cells are 'sticky' and so liable to clotting which is obviously bad - especially if it happens in his lungs or brain.

The lates blood test on Friday shows his red blood cell count is almost within the normal range again so the specialist has discharged him to my local vet where he needs fortnightly blood tests to check how we are doing. If he remains stable, they will eventually try to slowly drop the steroids down and see what happens.

I'm delighted, that sounds so promising. It genuinely amazes me how gravely I'll a dog can be and still come back from the brink. You must be so relieved. Give him an extra ear scratch from my two. (Mini Schnauzers -spoilt rotten).

thank you so much, and to @Wolfiefan also,
i had a watch on this thread, my ddog was poorly with diarrhoea, bloody, and vomiting, vet checked, colitis was the conclusion, but she couldnt be persuaded to eat
i tried a nibble of doughnut, oh it worked! bit of pasta next and fingers crossed she is back to normal.
eating her vet prescribed expensive food now