Food suggestions ... Older dog with no appetite | Sad Update #31

[Kodidog763]

We have a male lab that will be 14 in August. We brought him to the vet last week due to some hind end instability and an unwillingness to eat. He had a slight fever, but nothing else seemed to be wrong, so they did x-rays. The vet thought there might be a mass on his spleen, but said it was difficult to tell from the x-ray, so we had them do an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed no mass, but fluid in his abdomen. She sent a sample to the lab, and gave us antibiotics and pain medication. On Thursday we received the news that the results from the lab were inconclusive, so a referral was given to another clinic (that appointment is this coming Thursday with first dibs on any cancellation openings).

He stopped eating his dry dog food last week. We can’t find anything that he will eat consistently. We have tried:

• A few varieties of canned dog food (might eat a bite or two, but then isn’t interested if it’s offered again)
• Boiled Hamburger/Rice (might eat some, but most likely to turn his nose away)
• Boiled Hamburger (might eat some, but most likely to turn his nose away)
• Scrambled Egg (ate it the first time, but turned his nose away since)
• Cooked Chicken Breast (might eat one piece or two, but then turns his nose away the next time it’s offered)
• Cooked Beef Stew Meat (might eat one piece or two, but then turns his nose away the next time it’s offered)
• Canned Chicken (no interest in trying it)
• Tuna (no interest in trying it)
• Canned carrots (no interest in trying it)
• Canned pumpkin (no interest in trying it)

The only thing he has consistently eaten is pill pockets (the “treats” you put pills in). He is happy to eat those twice per day when he gets his meds. I bought and tried some “moist” food (Purina Moist & Meaty) that has a similar make-up to pill pockets. He tried a couple of pieces of that, but then spit it out.

When I bring him food to try, he seems interested, but then sighs and looks sad when it’s not something he’ll eat.

So… any suggestions on other foods we can try until his next vet appointment? I’d like to find something with some nutritional value, that is easy for him to eat. I have been offering food every few hours since he’ll only eat a bite or two at a time, so it needs to be something that is easy to divide and store.

Thanks in advance.

[OAD_Cowgirl]

My old vets go to was canned Feline CD (Science Diet) Most of the dogs in the ICU who refused everything else would eat that.
When my 14 year old St. Bernard decided that she wasn’t going to eat anymore, I just bought regular canned cat food and put it down for the cat, and she would inhale it. Then I took the cat outside and fed him again. All my animals will eat if they think they’re “stealing” somebody elses food.
Hope you find something that works for you, and that doggy feels better.

[horsenut_8700]

Are you giving him Cerenia or anything?

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

Been working this with our dog for a while. She is consistently inconsistent in what she will eat. Some things she’s eaten that you didn’t include: hot dogs, roast turkey, frozen meatballs, precooked breakfast sausage patties - in general she seems to be more interested in things with more flavor rather than the blander stuff. If she really takes to something for a few meals in a row, we try to mix it with a handful of her normal kibble to increase the volume.

[lauralite]

Is there a Trader Joe’s anywhere near you?

I had good luck with their canned food – esp the lamb and rice – with an older dog who didn’t want to eat. I eventually had her euthanized due to advanced arthritis, but she’d eat that stuff when she wouldn’t eat anything else (including tuna).

As a bonus, the cans are big and reasonably priced.

[WB_Mom]

Have blood work done. My girl became a very picky eater and it turned out she had liver and kidney failure. This was why she didn’t want to eat. Make sure you have everything covered so you can make an appropriate plan. Good luck!

[S1969]

Was his bloodwork normal? Did they run a tick panel? What kind of antibiotics, and is it bringing the fever down?

I don’t know that the issue is the diet, but the fact that he is sick. It may be a mass, but it doesn’t rule out other issues like Anaplasmosis or Lyme which would cause fever and lethargy…and not wanting to eat.

[Kodidog763]

Thanks everyone for the responses. His blood work was normal. I believe the antibiotic is Amoxicillin (its downstairs so I would need to check). I don’t think she checked for Lyme, will ask about that on Thursday with the new clinic.

I agree that he not eating because he feels sick. I’m just hoping to find enough options to keep him eating a little bit until he can be diagnosed, and get a treatment plan. Last night he ate a few pieces of popcorn and some canned chicken. We keep offering him options until we find something he will try.

[Sswor]

Try hard boiled egg. The yolks can be very tempting and the whites go down easy once the yolks get them started. They’re also easier to make and store then scrambled egg. You can also ask your vet if they have any probiotic sample packs they can send home with you. Purina makes a Pro Plan probiotic sprinkle-on feed supplement that isn’t too powdery, smells irresistible and can help boost a dogs willingness to eat. You could try sprinkling that on some boiled chicken bites/rice mash or on a broken up hard boiled egg.

I’d also suggest adding a bit of garlic to the boiled chicken to boost appetite but as of late it’s not well accepted to let a dog eat garlic. I have fed it in the past with no ill effects but we aren’t talking vast quantities here–just a sprinkle in a pound of meat to make it smell yummy.

Ps. best of luck with your dog, fingers crossed for you both. It’s tough when they loss their appetite.

[S1969]

@Kodidog763

Thanks everyone for the responses. His blood work was normal. I believe the antibiotic is Amoxicillin (its downstairs so I would need to check). I don’t think she checked for Lyme, will ask about that on Thursday with the new clinic.

I agree that he not eating because he feels sick. I’m just hoping to find enough options to keep him eating a little bit until he can be diagnosed, and get a treatment plan. Last night he ate a few pieces of popcorn and some canned chicken. We keep offering him options until we find something he will try.

What was the thought behind prescribing an antibiotic if the bloodwork was normal? What was the suspected reason for fluid in the abdomen? It probably isn’t Lyme unless that is not related to the abdominal fluid…

Personally I think Thursday is too long to wait for a sick, elderly dog that has stopped eating. I’d be thinking about emergency clinic, or end of life options at this point. That sounds harsh but if your dog is so sick it is not eating - waiting four more days for diagnostics is unfair and possibly too late.

[Simkie]

I’d treat him for nausea post-haste. Pepcid now–look up the dose online. Cerenia +/- Zofran starting Monday when you can get in touch with your vet.

[LauraKY]

@S1969

What was the thought behind prescribing an antibiotic if the bloodwork was normal? What was the suspected reason for fluid in the abdomen? It probably isn’t Lyme unless that is not related to the abdominal fluid…

Personally I think Thursday is too long to wait for a sick, elderly dog that has stopped eating. I’d be thinking about emergency clinic, or end of life options at this point. That sounds harsh but if your dog is so sick it is not eating - waiting four more days for diagnostics is unfair and possibly too late.

I wouldn’t wait either. Push up the appointment if you can. Sometimes they die in their sleep, sometimes it’s a lot more traumatic.

[Foxtrot_s]

It is sad to see your dog not responding to your best efforts - but he is ageing and in my experience with dogs there comes a time when they start shutting down, at which time you take a different approach and start preparing your own thoughts…maintaining quality of life as opposed to looking for a ‘cure’.

[Kodidog763]

The Vet suspects he has cancer, she hoped the fluid would give a clue as to where since there are no visible masses on ultrasound. The slight fever made her think he might have the start of an infection, so antibiotics were prescribed as a precaution.

We aren’t happy about waiting until Thursday either, and have repeatedly called both clinic options we were given, trying to get an earlier appointment. It’s ridiculous.

We do have the option of bringing him to the emergency vet, but he isn’t at that point. He is drinking normally, and eating a little, just not consistently. What he eats in the morning, he won’t touch in the afternoon, but would eat something else. Other than that, he is acting normally and doing his normal things. Urine and poop (although less) are normal.

Thanks everyone - I do appreciate the thoughts and suggestions.

[Marla_100]

My 15 yr. old gal is getting fussier but the two things she never refuses- pan fried chicken livers and pan fried steaks of all cuts. She still gobbles both things so she get them a couple times per week.

[HappyTalk]

@Simkie

I’d treat him for nausea post-haste. Pepcid now–look up the dose online. Cerenia +/- Zofran starting Monday when you can get in touch with your vet.

^^^ This. Try Hills A/d critical care.

[HappyTalk]

If it isn’t cancer there are appetite stimulant drugs that can help. I kept my 19 year old JRT going with mirtazapine for about 6-8 months. I didn’t have to use it all of the time. There is also a newer drug called Entyce, but I do not have any personal experience with it.

[WB_Mom]

If your pup was a super good eater and suddenly not, and you have done your due diligence with trying to diagnose the problem, then it may be getting close to the time. My last rescue was diagnosed with bone cancer, and the day after he quit eating, I knew it was time. Pay close attention to how happy your pup is and go from there. It’s a gut wrenching decision, but always should be a decision made a day too early than a day too late. HUGS!

[pony_baloney]

I second the chicken livers. I used to give them raw.

If he is drinking, you may be lucky with DogSure http://www.petag.com/products/nutritional-supplements/nutritional-health/dogsure Reading a few Amazon reviews, there is a warning not to use it if your dog has kidney failure (high in phosphorus).

[S1969]

@WB Mom

If your pup was a super good eater and suddenly not, and you have done your due diligence with trying to diagnose the problem, then it may be getting close to the time. My last rescue was diagnosed with bone cancer, and the day after he quit eating, I knew it was time. Pay close attention to how happy your pup is and go from there. It’s a gut wrenching decision, but always should be a decision made a day too early than a day too late. HUGS!

I agree. A diagnosis doesn’t necessarily change the outcome, if it is even possible. Keep a very close eye on your dog this week and be ready to transport to the emergency vet if necessary.

This is the hardest part of dog/cat/pet ownership, but I think the most important. It’s easy to care for healthy animals but tricky to manage significant illness, especially in old age.

Fingers crossed for you and your baby.