Help - he wont eat!

[Emma]

Okay, so I rescued a Newf, he is such a fussy eater and getting fussier....

He likes Chicken Necks, cooked liver, raw brisket.

He loves bread, but I think he has wheat alergy, so no bread.

Have bought every type of pellet, he doesn't like it.

It's my fault.. I am now just making him into a food snob!:shocker:

 

[victoria1140]

green tripe is normally a good one, perhaps he just prefers a raw diet or isnt used to dried food of any kind

 

[suse]

Both of mine lost their appetites when I first rescued them. It took a couple of weeks for them to get their appetites back. Like you, I gave them what they'd eat, then started mixing in kibble, then increased the amount of kibble until that's what was eaten. My most recent rescue also was put on an antibiotic and just had to go back on it. This also makes him a very picky eater because his stomach gets upset. I don't know if this might be a problem for you.

Give it some time. Also, I mix in canned food into the kibble for picky eaters.

Oh, and your rescue is beautiful! Love the avatar

 

[mulenag]

Has he been neutered yet? Intact males are known to go on hunger strikes.

Otherwise I'd say as long as he is healthy he will eat when he's hungry. I do my best not to cater to fussy eaters.

 

[jane]

I do my best not to cater to fussy eaters.

I'm with Becky on this one. I don't cater to fussy eaters either. I do agree with Victoria about the green tripe. When my Roger wouldn't eat, due to kidney failure, it was the green tripe that kick started his appetite again!

 

[Emma]

Okay - I will give green tripe a try ( euwwww ) . He is underweight by 20 kgs.

His bottom teeth are worn. so, I dont want to be too hard on him

I tried the satin balls and weight putting on recipies, but he doesn't like minced meat.

He isn't neutered, but I feel he needs to settle down and gain some weight first, :shrug:

Thanks for the help... It stresses me the not eating!

 

[charlieinnj]

Could he have an underlying dental problem that makes it painful to eat?

 

[Emma]

I think so, I am off to vet in the morning.

 

[new_2_newf]

If you think he might be hurting, maybe try soaking some kibble to make it nice and soft for the baby?

 

[Emma]

It is an odd thing, but wont eat anything mushy, minced or porrdige like. The chicken necks and pigs trotters are not soft.
I have pushed and prodded his teeth and he doesn't seem to mind.
I tried wetting the pellets, no interest.
The foster home before me was feeding pellets - he ate them, they were cheap and nasty ones, but he didn't get offered anything else.
I also have a feeling I am creating the monster

 

[graybird]

I also have a feeling I am creating the monster

I wouldn't blame you -- he is SO BEAUTIFUL, I'd give him the moon! :new_smilie_colors1:

 

[Erika]

I wouldn't blame you -- he is SO BEAUTIFUL, I'd give him the moon! :new_smilie_colors1:

time will help, all our rescues went threw this too. Gigi was fed fries and ginger snaps in her previous home, she snooted the kibble but learned to like it with some buffalo burger. Hope all turns out Ok.

 

[Tula]

I too don't like it when they won't eat. I usually will try different things to get them to eat - like putting chicken, or other meats, in with their kibble. Once they establish a pattern of eating I taper off the "goodies" and up the kibble. I also add warm water to kibble. Kim

 

[Emma]

I am making him meatballs tonight - I am on a mission!

 

[Danielle and Merlin]

Ah - this is telling! He sounds like a fussy eater. Although taking him to the vet to eliminate any underlying issues is always called for. If he comes back with a clean bill of health, I advise a contest of wills. ;-)

Merlin, my boy, is an intact male. Once in a while, he will go off his food. It doesn't matter what I offer him, he turns his nose up at it. Healthy dogs (and I stress that these are dogs with NO underlying health issues) will not go on hunger strike - at least, for long. Eventually, they will decide that what is being offered is indeed worth eating. You just have to be slightly more stubborn than the dog (which, in Newfs, ain't easy!).

For many dog owners, it's distressing to have a dog that won't eat. I'm not immune. but, if the dog is healthy, it most likely won't go more than 24 hours without eating *something*.

Just my dos centavos.

 

[Emma]

No its not really a hunger strike - I guess owning Labradors I consider not eating the entire bowl in 2 seconds a worry. I was firm one night and notice he went back to it. :shuffle:

He has had general health check and is fine - it's me I know, I council clients on this insane behaviour, yet here I am doing it.

BUT he is my first Newfi, I have always wanted a Newfi, he is magical, and yes I am cooking him meatballs and polenta for dinner

 

[Angela]

Heehee!! Labradors inhale their food and anything else they can find!! I had one.
Newfs, at least in my opinion, are not always as food orientated as Labs.

 

[Emma]

I think it is setteling issues as someone earlier pointed out

He has had great eye contact with us this week, been vocal, he chats away when I bath and blowdry him. He is climing on the bed for loves and goes everwhere in the car. I am walking him off leash everywhere, all going much better.

And yes he is eating! LOTS... It has only been 3 weeks since he arrived.

He is amazing, so bright and comical. I love it when he is leaning out of the car window and the wind fills his cheeks, he looks like he might take off. I just look at him and my heat bursts.

 

[4ondafloor]

First, thanks for adopting a rescue!!
Second, the magical number for rescues is 3 weeks. That's pretty much what it takes to start seeing the true personality of your new boy. I'm with Danielle on this one. He'll eat when he's hungry.
With that said, I'm far from one to judge. (giggle) I have 4 and they all have different likes and dislikes. I use the same kibble for all 4 but rotate each of their favorite wet foods as a kibble mixer. Syd love Wilderness turkey and chicken and so does Pae and Gojie. MissM? Not so much. She will push her nose around in her bowl, take a few bites and walk away.
MissM loves, loves the Wellness grain free chicken in hers and will snarf like she hasn't eaten in a week. Pae likes it and so does Gojie but Syd? Not so much.
You get the idea, right? 4 Newfs all with different likes.:crazy:
I give them a few minutes to eat and then I take up the bowls. "Too bad, I say" because saying it makes ME feel better about spoiling them with other things
I still give them boiled chicken and rice as a treat once in a while.. I also fix meatballs so no judgement from me there.:tongue:
Despite all the healthy brats around here I will still stand and watch them eat or not eat and I worry when they don't. I try not to cave and cater but I mostly fail.

 

[Emma]

Glad I am not alone in my obsessions.

He really is coming alive now, he is a funny bee, loves little dogs, but keeps sitting on my daughters one Scooby! ( not on purpose )

Thanks for all the advice, it's very comforting :hugs: I would gladly rescue another but they are very rare here.