New dog not eating. Suggestions?

[i-need-a-martini]

Our new 'pup' (10 months) arrived a week ago and is settling in well. She seems happy and has stopped pining for her old family although every now and then there is a bit of wimpering if she can't see where we are. 

She is drinking water but she isn't eating. The only thing we have managed to get into her is small bits of BBQ chicken skin (vets idea). That is in 7 days!

We called the breeder and apparently her companion (another female her age) also stopped eating but was back on her food by day 4.

Is there anything I can do?

[i-need-a-martini]

Thanks for ll the suggestions!

[lyndal1838]

Martini, try offering her cat food.  Our vet told us this trick years ago when our dog was on medication that suppressed his appetite.

He loved it and was soon eating again.

It is definitely not a long term solution though....there is too much fat in cat food for a dog.

My daughter has confirmed that they use this trick for sick dogs in the Vet hospital...she swears by it.

[***super_nova***]

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@Anonymous wrote:

TROY

'Nutripet'

High-Energy Vitamin Concentreate.

Your puppy will love the taste.

It will give the dog enough vitamins to supplement the missing diet but will make them hungry at the same time. 

It costs about $30 per tube but it's worth every cent. I have it in the house all the time and my two dogs get some every day now they're geriatrics. 

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I would not use that for healthy dog.  I use this and the another brand of the same stuff for animal that is run down = recovering from illness, geriatric.  I would give it to little pups if they had a bout of diarrhea and lost condition etc.    I have tried it in the past on dog that was just picky eater and no she did not like it, and it did not make her eat.

If a dog is not eating for extended period, and there is no underlying medical reason, you could ask your vet about Periactin.  You can also get over counter at chemists (it is allergy medication for humans, and in veterinary used as appetite stimulant).  I had some very stubborn anorexic dogs in the past, but 1/4 - 1/2 of tablet (depending on size of the dog) about 1 hour before meal made magic.  After about a week I start giving it every second day, another week every 3d day.  Occasionally had to go bit back, but usually after 4-6 weeks the dog ate normally.  But I would only do it with my vet's blessing and if the dog starts to look really skinny.

[kopenhagen5]

Quick question martini, does the dog snore?

[modestbods]

Martini, since she is drinking water, have you tried giving her some milk?

If you haven't done yet, try it. Most dogs love milk. If she starts drinking the milk slip just a few biscuits into it next time and let them soak a bit before giving it to her. Also, if she will drink the milk try some runny custard and if she goes for that again try dropping some biscuits into it. Whether it's milk or custard, if she drinks/eats it just gradually wean her off it with more susbstantial fare as she settles in more and her appetite returns. Just be careful not to give her too much milk as you may scour her.

 Sometimes you have to walk before you can run, and start from the beginning, ie 'mothers milk'.

Best of luck.

[modestbods]

Btw OP, once her appetite is restored, it's a great idea to let her have her favourite sardines at least once or twice a week, give her sardines in oil as it's good for a dogs coat.

[i-need-a-martini]

An update - all is normal now. She ate breakfast this morning and then wolfed down her dinner tonight in typical Bassett style.

[i-need-a-martini]

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@kopenhagen5 wrote:

Quick question martini, does the dog snore?

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Yes she does. Quite badly. But this is fairly typical of Bassetts (and big dogs in general I would have thought.).

Why?

[Anonymous]

Great news your puppy is taking food now. 

[iapetus_rocks]

Good news . . . Bad news . . .  now it's eating it will soon be exiled to the back yard, to be taken out and played with (or not) like some sort of toy, at the whim of the owner.

It will not really be part of the family as it will be an "outside dog".

Why do people do this to dogs whose inherited psychological make up drives them to want to belong to a pack; to desire to be included?

Is it from ignorance or from callous indifference or from a desire to keep their house a sterile environment, Stepford style?