Causes for dog going 'off food' (bigtime!)

JanetGeorge

JanetGeorge

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Leah is a Foxhound x Lab (so has hybrid vigour for GREED!) She steals food for England - and in the 7 years we have had her has NEVER not been a total PIG for food.

4 days ago she turned her nose up at dinner - ate nothing! I assumed she'd stolen something revolting and given herself an upset stomach (happened once before when she scoffed a whole loaf of bread!) Since then she has eaten VERY little indeed - and only small 'bits'!

I have checked her mouth and teeth as far as I can - no sign of a problem. She is drinking normally (as far as I can tell - with water troughs everywhere ...) She is bright in herself. She is about 9 years old.

The vet is out tomorrow and I'll be getting him to look (he'll LOVE that as she bites people if she feels threatened!:rolleyes:) But would be delighted if this strikes a chord with someone who can suggest possible cause (acute constipation is one I've thought of - can't really tell as she has the run of the farm - but haven't seen her straining.)
 
First question, is she spayed. Having lost my Saffie to pyometra last year that is always my first thought when a bitch is off colour. If that can be ruled out then it is a bit baffling, she hasn't found food somewhere, e.g. something disgusting or eaten something that might have caused a blockage? I think you are wise to let the vet check her over, hope he survives the experience, please let us know what he says.
 
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Henry went off his food when he had a blockage. He was also HUGELY bloated, and had a tender tummy when it was gently palpated.

I would get the vet to look at a dog that had been off its food for a while as a matter of course, if the dog normally had a good appetite.
 
I shall echo MM is she spayed? our red setter had pyometra, she lost her appetite and was drinking loads. She did recover well but needed an emergency op.
 
I'd rule out a pyo or a blockage, as others.
My bitch also went off her food when she began developing liver/spleen problems, she was also a big girl who liked her food, so you could ask for a scan.
 
Has she been eating lots of grass? being sick?. I would have thought if she had a blockage she would be decidely unwell. My friends springer has just had an op. for eating a towel of all things, she didnt know but dog was eating lots of grass and being sick. He was very unwell so straight to vet who discovered the towel. Dogs do eat random things.
 
MurphysMinder said:
First question, is she spayed. Having lost my Saffie to pyometra last year that is always my first thought when a bitch is off colour. If that can be ruled out then it is a bit baffling, she hasn't found food somewhere, e.g. something disgusting or eaten something that might have caused a blockage? I think you are wise to let the vet check her over, hope he survives the experience, please let us know what he says.
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Yes - she's spayed. Funnily enough, once or twice a year my entire Springer gets VERY hot for her - my OH is convinced she comes into season. He's keen on her at present - but she's never lost appetite before (ever, in her life!) My personal opinion is that the Springer is nuts - as the terrier, Benny, never really shows MUCH interest in her! (Well, ......not in THAT way - although they are both a bit kinky!)

Leah&benny.jpg


She is constantly finding disgusting things to eat - she's a fairly disgusting dog :D But there are no available mare placentas yet and I haven't seen any evidence of half-digested rats!!

I've palpated her abdomen and she hasn't bitten me (and she bites people for FAR less - being a rescue who was rehomed at LEAST 4 times - and rejected every time - before I got her!)

Will let you know what the vet thinks!
 
CaveCanem said:
I'd rule out a pyo or a blockage, as others.
My bitch also went off her food when she began developing liver/spleen problems, she was also a big girl who liked her food, so you could ask for a scan.
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Bad news I'm afraid.

Vet couldn't find anything so took bloods - she has quite serious renal failure. He thinks the toxins from that are causing loss of appetite. He's giving me some medicine to help her stomach and buy her time, but it won't be much!
 
So sorry to hear that. :( I was going to say when my parents' dog went off his food (despite otherwise seeming healthy) it turned out to be a liver problem - sadly it was a similar situation where drug treatment allowed him a little extra time, but not a lot. :(
 
So sorry to hear this :(
It's not something I like being 'right' about but our last two bitches both went off their food very suddenly getting into old age, one was a pyo (surived) and the other was a huge tumour on the spleen (did not) and it makes you incredibly vigilant, if not a little paranoid.

You've given her a great home and I hope you enjoy the time you have left with her x
 
Oh hell, I'm sorry to read this:( I bet she's had one hell of a great life with you, but I know that's no consolation at these times.:(
 
Thanks all - I am a bit gutted - I adore the barmy bitch! But console myself with the thought she HAS had a good life here (when I got her, she was at a small, 'no kill' shelter that was about to make an exception for her - as she had been sent back from 4 homes!)

She's always had 'issues' - she bit my OH very badly a few weeks ago because he disturbed her when she was in one of her 'private places' (Oh has never really appreciated the importance of 'let sleeping dogs lie!') And obedience has certainly never been her strong point. But she's a character! I won't have her suffer - so will give her a few days on the medicine suggested but if there's not a rapid improvement ....
 
So sorry to hear this. Sometimes the ones that have issues are a bit more special just because of those same issues. Hope you have a good number of days to enjoy her.:(
 
So sorry to hear about this. Recently lost my boy and I know how hard it can be. Hope she gets some respite with the drugs . Make the most of the time you have left together. Hugs to you all.xx
 
She's gone. When Bill (my lovely vet) arrived this afternoon she took one look at him, legged it down the garden, jumped the fence and headed for the yard. It ALMOST gave me second thoughts - that she was still able to do that. But she hadn't eaten for a week, she'd drunk virtually nothing - it was a matter of days, at best. And I wanted her to go peacefully (death from kidney failure is pretty ghastly!)

It was very peaceful - and she is now buried next to the walnut tree in the front garden. (Thank goodness for the front loader - I would have broken my back digging otherwise.)

Not only will I miss her for the character she was, I'll miss her as part of my horse training 'staff'! When horses kicked the stable door, she'd leap up the door and bark at them - they quickly stopped THAT! She thought it great fun to race along the side of the manege barking - particularly if you were on a breaker. But every horse who left my yard was dog proof!

I know I've done the right thing - so why does it feel so wrong?
 
Because you're grieving. But you absolutely have done the right thing darling.

I'm so sorry for your loss. We would all love to see some photos of the cheeky mare if you feel up to it. xxxx
 
My god that was quick, so sorry you didnt have more time together.

I think when you lose a dog that special and so quickly I think it just leaves you so dumbfounded because you havnt had time to get your head round it.

My father-In-Laws farm dog was always wary of vets and we had to trick her to catch her to have her put down even though she was terminally ill she would have just kept running if she had seen the vet.

So sorry for your loss.
 
So sorry to hear this. You have definitely done the right thing for her, but I think we always having those feelings of "what if" afterwards. You let her go with dignity and before she started really suffering, hold on to that thought.
 
Sorry to hear about your girl JG. It feels wrong because you love her and miss her. You did the best thing you could for her though and showed her the love at the end she didn't get at the beginning of her life. That was all you could do and I don't think Leah would have asked for more.
 
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