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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

Diabetic dog - won't eat

10 replies

Wonderbug81 · 31/12/2025 09:58

Bishon Kings Charles cavelier mix, 12 years old. He's been diabetic for a few years and has twice daily injections with his food.

He is getting fussier about his food. The brands he used to enjoy are no longer of interest to him and/or a flavour he enjoyed one day he won't touch a few days later. As each meal goes by we're spending 45 minutes or so just getting him to eat. Tried leaving him alone, tried adding a liver treat, tried encouraging him, everything.

Eventually we end up adding in omlette or leftover chicken just so he can eat and have his insulin which is obviously not an ideal solution.

The vet has just said he's fussy (more so with old age) and to persevere but it's getting really stressful for us and the dog.

Any advice welcome.

OP posts:
Bourneo · 31/12/2025 10:53

Aw no, I'm sorry you're going through this. Our dog was the same, he was 14, it's so tricky as you can't give injections until they've eaten. I think we gave chicken and scrambled egg like you have. But I'll be honest, you might want to prepare yourself as he declined very quickly after refusing food. 😢

Original poster
Wonderbug81 · 31/12/2025 16:30

Bourneo · 31/12/2025 10:53

Aw no, I'm sorry you're going through this. Our dog was the same, he was 14, it's so tricky as you can't give injections until they've eaten. I think we gave chicken and scrambled egg like you have. But I'll be honest, you might want to prepare yourself as he declined very quickly after refusing food. 😢

Oh that's sad to hear. I guess we should just keep going with it then and be glad he's at least eating.

OP posts:
Bourneo · 31/12/2025 16:40

Yeah, it was tough, we were lucky it was quick in the end as he refused food entirely and went down hill. You might want to check the days a qualified vet is in your surgery, as we ended up having to take him to out of hours emergency vet as no vet in our practice on a Friday! And we didn't want to leave him over the weekend in such discomfort.

Sorry I'm am doomed and gloom and I hopefully yours is just off his food and will bounce back. Might be worth trying beef mince with fat drained as it's tastier, see if that will tempt him. We were told protein only, as any cards needed to be balanced carefully with the insulin. So meat was usually the go to if he wouldn't eat his normal food.

We also tried soaking his dried food in water too.

Bourneo · 31/12/2025 16:43

Another thing i just thought of is his eyes. By the end our dog was completely blind and we had to direct his face to the bowl. It could also be he is sore? Have they given him any pain relief? We had to vary the injection site as the back of his neck became so sore, so we'd try and put it in a slightly different place every time.

Coffeeishot · 31/12/2025 16:46

Wonderbug81 · 31/12/2025 16:30

Oh that's sad to hear. I guess we should just keep going with it then and be glad he's at least eating.

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I would just keep mixing food through you don't need to use a lot just enough to fool him. He is getting the best stuff. He is waiting on chicken isnt he so he will wait you out 😀

Coffeeishot · 31/12/2025 16:47

Oh I didn't mean to quote sorry.

wast542 · 31/12/2025 18:33

Bourneo · 31/12/2025 10:53

Aw no, I'm sorry you're going through this. Our dog was the same, he was 14, it's so tricky as you can't give injections until they've eaten. I think we gave chicken and scrambled egg like you have. But I'll be honest, you might want to prepare yourself as he declined very quickly after refusing food. 😢

That was the same as our dog. Once he started refusing food it was a very quick decline. It was so sad to see.

Bourneo · 31/12/2025 23:12

wast542 · 31/12/2025 18:33

That was the same as our dog. Once he started refusing food it was a very quick decline. It was so sad to see.

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It's awful isn't it. Losing a dog is very hard 💔

Original poster
Wonderbug81 · 01/01/2026 10:11

Bourneo · 31/12/2025 16:43

Another thing i just thought of is his eyes. By the end our dog was completely blind and we had to direct his face to the bowl. It could also be he is sore? Have they given him any pain relief? We had to vary the injection site as the back of his neck became so sore, so we'd try and put it in a slightly different place every time.

Yes thank you, we have noticed a decline in his senses but he won't take it even when he's right next to the food.

OP posts:
Bourneo · 01/01/2026 11:36

Wonderbug81 · 01/01/2026 10:11

Yes thank you, we have noticed a decline in his senses but he won't take it even when he's right next to the food.

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❤️ I hope you find something that works. We think his smell went by the end too, we basically had to put the bowl in his face. Xx

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