PLEASE HELP - My newf isn't eating!

[ZeusTitan]

Whenever something is wrong this is usually the first place I turn (especially when the vet is closed for the evening) so hopefully you guys can help -- Titan, my 5-year-old newf -- isn't eating. He's always been a finicky eater but he will usually eat at least one meal a day. But it's been more than 24 hours since he's eaten anything and I have a terrible feeling something is wrong. I've tried feeding him everything from ground turkey to green beans and he refuses everything I offer him. I realize this is a very general question but do you guys have any ideas about what it could be? Why would he just stop eating completely? Thanks in advance!

 

[DAWNMERIE]

First ?'s What food have you been feeding and what treats?

 

[ZeusTitan]

I tried giving him cheese and he wouldn't eat it. I even tried the canned dog food he loves that the vet gives us and he wouldn't eat it.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

What do you normally feed? Have you heard about the recalls? Dry food & the chicken jerky treats. Neighbor recently went through something like that and he was feeding the jerky treats, that's why I asked.

 

[ZeusTitan]

Noo, no jerky treats good thinking though - thanks for mentioning it. I just have a bad feeling so I wanted to make sure it wasn't something I just wasn't thinking of.

 

[ZeusTitan]

As for the usual food we give him Nature's Variety Salmon Meal Formula.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

When was his last bowel movement? Was it normal? Does he have a temp?

 

[NewfieMama]

Is he neutered? Is he peeing regularly (not just lifting but producing)? Not eating and lethargy were the biggest symptoms Cooper showed of prostate infection. He ended up being admitted for 48 hours of IV fluids and antibiotics...not to be alarmist but I'd call the vet and have him checked out.

 

[Jeannie]

Is he drinking? Is it really hot outside? I don't get excited if my dogs miss a day but any more than that and I take them to the vet.

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

Is that his only symptom? I don't get too worried if Maggie skips a day...she does that every now and again...unless she is acting funny. If he is normal otherwise, I wouldn't worry too much tonight. If he has a fever, is lethargic, isn't drinking normally, abnormal or lack of pees & poops, etc, then I would worry more. Is his belly soft? Will he let you put light pressure on it?

I hate it when they make us worry and we don't know what is wrong!

In any case, go with your gut. If he's acting "off" in any way, just call the vet in the AM unless you feel its more urgent than that.

Good luck!

 

[lmfoltyn]

I just went through this with Jake...he didn't eat the food I was giving. But with all the recalls I was worried. I tossed the uneaten bag and gave him what the other dogs were eating and he ate that. So I assumed it was something wrong with his food I was feeding which was California Naturals, (it smelled a little off when I opened it but didn't think it was bad). After a day, he was back to normal. No worries. He was drinking and running around and peeing just fine. I hope your doggie will do the same. If he still doesn't want treats etc., I would visit the vet.

 

[Blacknewfs]

There's lots of things it could be, most are minor, some major. If he's an unneutered male I would be less inclined to worry right away, especially since he is already finicky. My boy goes off his food regularly.
If it is particularly warm out that may also be the reason as mentioned above.
I assume he is not vomiting or having explosive diarrhea or anything like that since you didn't mention that? The big things to look at to determine if this warrants a trip to the emergency clinic are:
Is he in distress? Panting? Restless? Pacing?
Is his temperature and heart rate normal?
Is his gum colour normal?
Is his abdomen distended/swollen/tight?
Is his abdomen tender?
When is the last time he had a bowel movement? Was it normal? Loose? Dark?
When you offer him food is he curious like he wants to eat but then can't make himself do it (drooling, turning his face away from the food) or is he trying to eat and then spitting the food out as if he is painful?