Won't eat

[Jeannie]

Sara our 9 year old (will be 10 in May) won't eat very well. She has lost only 5 pounds, but we can hardly get her to eat. We have tried Nutro, Innova and Bill Jack (dry). My next resort will be Bill Jack--the frozen kind. She will eat maybe one meal a day but never all the food she I give. Everytime I feed her she usually sits and looks at it for a few minutes then she licks it, then if I am lucky she will eat it. I usually give her 1 1/2 cups twice a day. She get exercise daily or as the weather permits. We usually walk her 1-2 miles per day. Sara is a our rescue that had heartworms. Our vet says not to be concerned, that she is in good health. I realize 5 pounds is not a lot. She went from 114 to 109 in 4-5 months. Does anyone else have a problem of their Newfs not wanting to eat? She also has a very sensitive bowl and will get the runs very easily. When she get the runs, I feed her a bland diet of boiled chicken with rice or cottage cheese, eggs and so on. Of course she will eat that--I may have to resort to that diet, but I am concerned that she won't get the proper nutrition. My husband and I have talked and we decided not to do blood work unless she gets under 105 or starts acting like she does not feel well. Sara acts ok. She is very healthy with only a little arthritis in her back knee. She gets her soloxine (thyroid medication) and her multi vitamin, and her arthritis medication which is glucosamine with MSM every day. She has been on that for 1 1/2 years so her medications and vitamins has not changed at all. Any advice???? Does anyone else have a newf that won't eat
Jeannie

 

[Mary]

My Gracie once went through not wanting to eat due to a belly ache from strong antibiotics. To get her to eat again I used a sample product from my vet called the Enticer. You just sprinkled the powder on the food, and then just weaned her off it. Also for the runs, Gracie gets yogurt everyday it helps as a preventative. Of course by now Gracie is not too thrilled with yogurt so I fix either a baked potatoe or white toast and dip it in the yogurt. Being the paranoid person I am I probably would do a blood panel just to ease my mind. Good Luck with Sarah.
Mary & "Gracie"

 

[Lynne]

Jeannie, I worry when the oldies don't eat, especially if it's unusual. They CAN lose weight- just look at Sr. Citizens. But not eating can be the first sign of a problem. I'd get her checked. Maybe you could tempt her by adding some of those goodies to her regular food? Normally that's not a good thing, but the oldies deserve pampering!! Is she spayed? If not, get her in to be checked for pyometria right away. But I don't think I'd wait to get her checked.
Lynne

 

[Jeannie]

Sara has been eating the Bill Jack yesterday and this morning. She is spayed. She has always been a picky eater, skipping a few meals here and there, especially if she gets out of her routine. Some times I think she just gets tired of her food. I will check in to getting her looked at. I worry so much about her for 2 reasons, 1 because she is older and the second because she had heartworms when we got her.
I will keep you posted
Jeannie

 

[Lynne]

Glad she's eaten something, Jeannie. Please DO keep us posted.
Lynne

 

[Jeannie]

Just an update on Sara. I started her on the Bill Jack. I feed her 1 cup dry mixed with 1 cup frozen twice a day. (with a litte warm water) She is eating it very well and even licking the bowl clean.

Her stool is even normal!! (hard like Samantha's our 3 yr old) Sara's "normal" stool has been 'soft with form' for about a year. I think this is wonderful. She use to sit and stare at her food for up to 5 minutes before she would eat, but now she just dives in. I hope this continues. I will be getting her weight some time this week. I will keep you posted
Jeannie

 

[Khiori]

Thought I would just mention this in passing. Soloxine (or most thyroid meds) will increase energy level. That in turn will keep her slender. It may be her metabolism is really high - and with the lesser amt of food, is losing some weight.

Wish I could get a lack of appetite problem with Khiori lol. With the Phenobarbital and Potassium Bromide, her appetite is sky high. And both those drugs cause her to be very tired and ataxic (ataxia not too bad yet).

How about if I send Sara 10 pounds of Khiori's!

 

[Jeannie]

Sara has been on Soloxine since June 1997. I don't think the meds is what is making her loose weight since it just started within the last 6 months. I think is her just her picky eating. If the meds give her energy I would certainly hate to see her not taking any. She can sleep 23 hours a day--but what newf can't?
Jeannie