Non-OES rescue is refusing to eat. Help?
The only problem is that she is refusing to eat. Her previous owner fed her mostly people food with an occasional bowl of Kibbles and Bits - grrrr  I NEVER feed people food, aside from the occasional boiled chicken and brown rice when Loki the OES horse has an IBS flare. All of my dogs are on ProPlan chicken and rice and they love it - They're healthy and beautiful. I took Beauty to my vet the day after I brought her home to rule out any problems the shelter vet might not have seen, and she's 100% physically.
I knew she wasn't eating at the shelter (They feed Hill's SD) and I chalked that up to stress and trauma - She was willing to eat generic dog treats from my hand while there but the SD went mostly untouched. I assumed that once she was settled here she would eventually give in and start eating, but it's been 4 days and..........nope. She'll eat treats (I give them Blue Buffalo baked liver bars) but not the regular food. Last night I even gave her fresh baked chicken (dipped every little chunk in canned food so there would be dog food on everything) and poured the fresh stock over the kibble - The other dogs scarfed theirs down in a nanosecond but she would only eat the chicken pieces. Now I'm starting to worry. She was surrendered to the shelter on 6/2, today is 6/13. That makes 11 days of virtually not eating. I'm really reluctant to give in and give her people food, not to mention the issues that will come up when the other 3 see it and say 'Hey, what about me?' but she's wearing me down. She's still alert and active, doesn't seem sick or in distress, but she can't live forever on two or three Blue Buffalo cookies a day, which is all she's had since she's been here. Any ideas or tips would be very gratefully appreciated. |
|
|
| Why don't you mix the people food with the kibbles at first and than after a while mix less p.f. and more dogfood untill it's all dogfood?
She allready has a lot of things she has to get used to and this stress and no eating can't be good for her. |
| can you feed in a different room, as already said less our food and more dog food. hopefully hunger will win, or perhaps always going to be a picky dog. hope you get sorted soon..x |
Nawosh wrote: Why don't you mix the people food with the kibbles at first and than after a while mix less p.f. and more dogfood untill it's all dogfood?
Excellent advice (though some dogs are masters at picking out the "good stuff"  ) But I think you'll make headway if you keep at it. Also, maybe soak food in a bit of warmish water ahead of time to make for some "gravy" and top off with some parmesan cheese? A dash of garlic might go a long way too.
Mine eat people food. They don't live on it. They wish they could. But leftovers? Sure. All the time. I had some leftover salmon with a bit of potato the other day. Eh - what are the ingredients in some of the better dog foods...?  Only this was a bit fresher.
Dogs can fast for some time. As long as she's perky and well hydrated I can't see her fasting herself into oblivion. Picky eaters (fosters - mine are little oinkers) get fed on the other side of a baby gate so mine can glare longingly at the dish, boo-hoo. Competition can come in very handy, though she sounds like she has plenty at your house, so probably not much help in her case. Good luck! Kristine |
| It may be time to see the vet if she continues to refuse to eat. Unless there's a medical reason, you might try this...
Stop all treats. Take the kibble you use, soak it in a little water until it's soft, then mix in some finely shredded tuna, salmon or sardines. Mix well so she can't just pick out the most tasty stuff. If she doesn't eat in 10 minutes in a room all by herself, pick it up and put it in the fridge. Offer it again at dinner time... you might microwave it on low for a little bit to release the smell... stir and test to be sure it's not too hot. If she still won't eat, throw it away and try again tomorrow. If you can get her to eat, you can gradually decrease the additives used to entice her. You're right that she can't go on forever like this but I wonder how many calories she's getting with the treats and human food you've given her? BTW... she's a very pretty girl!  |
| When I took in my first rescue OES, Callie, after a week of trying to get her to eat in the house with me around I tried outside on the porch without anyone around her...she began eating. We discovered that she had to be alone to eat...why??? Don't know but when camping with her she would cover her food with leaves and wouldn't eat it??? My vet said they would eat whatever you gave them if they get hungry and I believe him...it took a week for Rosie to eat when I first got her. I would just give her dog food twice a day, no treats and when she gets hungry she will eat. She may need time to get over trauma of loosing first home, feel comfortable in your home before eating. You might try her alone somewhere. Callie continued to eat alone for 8 years after I got her and never would eat around anyone. |
| As much as you may not like Kibbles & Bits, lower yourself & buy some. If she won't eat it, mix maybe a small amount of canned food in with it. Then gradually start to add your reg. food that you feed your other guys. Every day a bit more of your kibble & a bit less of the Kibbles & Bits. |
lhall15 wrote: When I took in my first rescue OES, Callie, after a week of trying to get her to eat in the house with me around I tried outside on the porch without anyone around her...she began eating. We discovered that she had to be alone to eat...why??? Don't know but when camping with her she would cover her food with leaves and wouldn't eat it??? My vet said they would eat whatever you gave them if they get hungry and I believe him...it took a week for Rosie to eat when I first got her. I would just give her dog food twice a day, no treats and when she gets hungry she will eat. She may need time to get over trauma of loosing first home, feel comfortable in your home before eating. You might try her alone somewhere. Callie continued to eat alone for 8 years after I got her and never would eat around anyone.
My Mum had a little rescue who wouldnt eat while the other dog was around. So she always got her food in the laundry by herself. She would also take any treats we gave her and hide under the couch to eat them she was a tiny little chihuahua/terrier cross so she fitted under there. |
Thanks so much to all of you! I did break down and got a small bag of Kibbles & Bits (sigh), and she ate it out of my hand. Not much, but a couple of handsful. I mixed warmed chicken and stock into the bowl with the Kibbles & Bits for dinner and the little snot went straight for the chicken and left the Kibble.  I did used to feed selected table scraps to the dogs, but once Loki was diagnosed with IBS that stopped dead. I'd just gotten to the point where all any of them got was kibble and gluten free canned once in a while (took a long time) and I hate to backtrack even a little - Hopefully the others won't get wind of the fact that the newbie is getting goodies and they're not.
I have been feeding her in another room (staying with her) adjacent to the kitchen where the other hogs eat but I'm thinking that's not private enough - I'll take her into the living room with me for breakfast and see how that goes. She's pretty skinny right now and I'm worried, but if I have to feed her 5 times a day then so be it, even if it is that rotten Kibbles & Bits. She's never more than 2 feet away from me at this point (my husband is kidding me that I have a cloud following me) so I doubt that she'd let me leave her alone long enough to eat, but I'll try that too. I've never had a rescue that went this long without eating (she didn't sleep at ALL for the first day and a half she was here either - spooky) and I really hope she gets past this soon. |
Good luck!!! 
I hope your little cloud discovers her silver lining soon. She is a very pretty little thing!  |
| I brought home an 8 year old cat. He did not eat and only hided on us for 3 weeks. I had to put him in a room with a litter box to see if he would do anything. Finally he hate and all and comes a pushs the dogs out of the way for his spot on the couch, he is our wacky weird cat, who does not bother to go out side and knows a good thing and now been with us for 11 months. I know cat and dogs are different but I think they all can adjust fine with some time. |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|