Hi there, I'm never sure if I should still post here because Flash is now 7 months old? Flash was really poorly last week, he'd either eaten something he shouldn't or had a virus. He was sick for 12 hours and didn't eat any food for 48 hrs. We took him to the vets and he had anti sickness injection and was given anti sickness tablets for a week. It's taken him 5-6 days to be back to his normal self. The vet also gave him some tinned food which was gentle for his tummy and we fed him little but often. Yesterday was the first day I put him back on his normal food - he has a pouch of meat and Vetessential Hills Science plan, which he would normally wolf down. Last night and this morning he's barely touched it. Any suggestions?? Thanks very much. Wendy
I would keep trying. Put small amounts in the bowl and pick it up after 10 mins then try again later. Harley would do that after being on sensitive vet tinned food. She soon realised that she either ate what was in her bowl, or go without. We only done this for a max of 24 hours and ensured she was drinking plenty. If it's the same after 24 hours I would call the vet just to check with them about what they advise.
Think I'd at least be phoning the Vet to ask their opinion. 6 days is a long time for a Lab to not want to eat. I understand he did eat but he's still reluctant. Did the Vet have any idea WHY he might be like this? Faecal exam? Blood work? No vomitting? Pooping ok?
I would also tend to speak to the vet. However, if Flash appears very bright and lively, then it may well be what Naya says, he is holding out for tinned food, though I would have thought he would have eaten the pouch of meat. It is better to phone vet than not I feel.
Don't want to be alarmist but I would get in touch with the vets just in case. Better to be safe and all that x
I would speak to the vet to rule out any health concerns. If the vet is happy with him I think I would introduce his normal food gradually over a few days and gradually wean him off the tinned food. It could be that he is associating his poorly tummy with his normal food as that is possibly the last thing he had before being ill.
Agree with the others, and as well to try to get to the bottom of what caused the sickness if his aversion to food continues.
Poor chap, are you just giving him small amounts of his normal food little but often? These dogs can be a real worry. If in doubt, always phone the vet for advice.
Thanks for all your comments. I've only just read them, so haven't called the vets.....he's really ok in himself. When he didn't eat his breakfast I put a pouch of food in with some plain pasta that I had leftover from last night - he ate all of that. I gave him just a pouch of food at lunchtime and he didn't eat that.....this evening I gave him his normal dinner and he wouldn't touch it.....so I tried him with some rice, leftover from dinner and put some ham in it. He ate most of the ham, but not the rice. I suppose I'm just seeing if he will eat - hence why I'm trying things that I wouldn't normally feed him. I also gave him a smacker (a pedigree chew thing) and some other dog biscuits that I use as treats and he ate them....when he was ill last week he touched nothing. So it seems like he does want to eat, but is bring choosy...I really hope I'm not creating a rod for my own back
@Wendy73 If he's happy to eat rice, ham, dog biscuits and chews I think it's probably safe to work on the basis that there's nothing much wrong with him. I would not offer any alternatives, just his regular kibble with out any fuss etc. Leave it down for 20 minutes or so and then remove what is he's not eaten. He'll soon start eating when he learns that there won't be anything else offered. These pups of ourselves can be very clever when they want.
It's going to be important for him to have good nutrition after recovering from his illness so I wouldn't be too hard core with the 'it's kibble or nothing' approach. Though I do agree that he probably just doesn't like the old food much anymore now that he knows there are nicer dinners in the world.
I'm a bit middle of the road on the 'eat your kibble or that's it' thing. I definitely want my dog to look forward to his food, and I'd go out of my way to find a kibble he liked. I would though stop short of making the problem worse (ie I stopped adding flaked sardines to my dog's kibble when he decided he'd hold out for flaked sardines ....), and I'd want him to eat kibble if that's what I wanted to feed. Plus, I like pulling out the big guns for training treats - sardines, king prawns, roast duck, salmon chunks...my dog gets the good stuff alright, but for training, not given away in a bowl for free. Luckily, I have found a couple of kibbles that my dog seems very keen on - royal canin's duck and tapioca and he also loves ziwipeak venison and fish. Both are horrifically expensive and I'm beginning to think I might have to start feeding him king prawns as his main meal to save some cash!
