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My 19 month small breed 18 lbs has gradually stopped


Sent to Pet Experts May 24, 2006 12:29 a.m.

My 19 month small breed 18 lbs has gradually stopped eating she will not eat anything we have tried all kinds of human food just to see if we can get her to eat but she does not , she still plays a lot. we have taken her to the vet 3 times and the only thing they can find is ear redness, they have taken blood samples, and checked for heart worms but that comes back normal the vet said to take all treats away,which she is not eating anyway and she said when she got hungry enough she would eat, I don't think this is the way to handle this problem, can you give me any suggestions
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status: Closed   Value: $15   
Answer
May 24, 2006 12:56 a.m. (26 minutes and 35 seconds later)
ACCEPTED Check Mark

With the red ears I would suggest trying a food such as California Natural, Blue Buffalo, Chicken Soup, Innova Evo, Dick Van Patten - maybe one can of two or maybe three kinds that look good to you. These foods can be found at pet supply stores usually. They are very high quality and tempting to dogs.
Get a new food bowl of a different material and shape than what you now use. A flat plate might work or a paper towel or paper plate.
Leave out plenty of water for your dog. Put down the new food for 20 minutes in a different area than she is usually fed or lock her in a crate with the food and leave her alone. Totally ignore her. No trying to get her to eat at all.
Pick up the food in 20 minutes. Give it back to her at the next meal time and you can choose if that is 2 or 3 mealtimes a day you try this with her. I usually do two mealtimes a day with dogs morning and evening. You can try changing the food presented each day but offer her at night what she refused in the morning even if you dish it out fresh each time.
Most dogs do not skip more than three meals though some can hold out for up to three days.
I'm thinking the red ears may be related to a food allergy. She may need a high quality low to no grain food that won't make her feel bad from eating it.
Its also possible that in trying to coax her to eat you used cooing type noises and comfort tones that work for human babies really well. Unfortunately those same tones in dogs usually mean 'puppies are sick and not feeling well, this food is dreadful, and we are upset' so you might be accidentally telling the dog not to eat which isn't what you mean to do.
By changing the environment where she eats, the dish she uses, and the food, and leaving her alone with no human stressors on her, she could get back to eating. It has worked so far for me when I've had a non eater.
If she is vomiting or having diarrhea then that is another issue and I'd suggest a barium x-ray or an ultrasound to check for a swallowed soft object blocking her intestinal tract.
Hope this helps you!

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PictureNancyH  -- Pet Health Care, Rescue,Train,Breed -- 99% Positive Feedback on 6958 Pet Accepts
30+yrs pet vet care & nursing, rescue, behavior & training, responsible breeding, small animal care
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