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Still no appetite?
- Thread starter Ataro
- Start date
Denissov43
Notable member
chicken broth in which you cooked your hamburger (slightly cooked not over cooked) anything that is cooked to over 160+ degrees internal temperature kills any bacteria, added to her food will boost her consumption rapidly.
But do know that dogs can eat raw meat from road kill so eating raw meat in mexico is not any different than anywhere else really... contrary to popular misconception. Mexico meat is from local butchers and less processed than meats in the USA or EU... I would feed her raw/ nearly raw beef with bones and lamb or goat if you can get it?
Anything that is real food is better than any processed prepared food you can buy anywhere even in third world countries. So, if you are feeding her at least 1 lb of meat per day? if not I would start.. if you are going to feed her a kibble feed her some meat along with it and some chicken broth or beef broth and an egg mixed in and some sardines or some tuna is good. But try feeding her more real food especially now...
But do know that dogs can eat raw meat from road kill so eating raw meat in mexico is not any different than anywhere else really... contrary to popular misconception. Mexico meat is from local butchers and less processed than meats in the USA or EU... I would feed her raw/ nearly raw beef with bones and lamb or goat if you can get it?
Anything that is real food is better than any processed prepared food you can buy anywhere even in third world countries. So, if you are feeding her at least 1 lb of meat per day? if not I would start.. if you are going to feed her a kibble feed her some meat along with it and some chicken broth or beef broth and an egg mixed in and some sardines or some tuna is good. But try feeding her more real food especially now...
Ataro
Notable member
The reason I've decided not to give her any meat that is not fully cooked is because if an animal is diseased here, they don't exempt it from the stock they sell. A friend who did studies in livestock and actually interned at a meat processing facility warned me about this. It may be different in towns, but I live in a big city and I buy meat from the supermarket. The only other option is random people selling very cheap meat in flea markets covered in flies, they are certainly not butchers and you have no idea where the meat came from. I am not going to take the risk there, as the last dog I had here got giardiasis from just drinking the water.
I do give her cooked meat however in the form of meatballs with egg, vegetables, and tuna - it's at least half of her meal. The kibble that she gets for her morning meals is imported from the US (ANF holistic), and as I said the only other on par option is Diamond naturals but it doesn't agree with her. Up until she had worms she was doing very well on this. I've tried increasing the home made food, but it doesn't increase her intake. Having very limited vet options is really frustrating... because I am sure something is causing this. Before she got sick, food was the highlight of her day and I had to be careful not to let her overeat.
I do give her cooked meat however in the form of meatballs with egg, vegetables, and tuna - it's at least half of her meal. The kibble that she gets for her morning meals is imported from the US (ANF holistic), and as I said the only other on par option is Diamond naturals but it doesn't agree with her. Up until she had worms she was doing very well on this. I've tried increasing the home made food, but it doesn't increase her intake. Having very limited vet options is really frustrating... because I am sure something is causing this. Before she got sick, food was the highlight of her day and I had to be careful not to let her overeat.
That's really too bad the poor girl is having a tough go of things and I totally sympathize with the lousy stuff you have to choose from. Wow, I guess we get spoiled around here since I "think" the standards are a little higher on things like meat, although I think most of us would be surprised at what slides under the scope too. I suppose hunting for your own meat wouldn't be an option? I know for us a good share of the meat in our freezer is what hubby has brought in and that way we know exactly how it was processed and it really does ease your mind.
As for the hot weather decreasing her appetite; that's also not out of the question since even our dogs appetite can decrease quite a bit in the summer on the really hot days. I agree though that in your case finding another vet to get a second opinion is a good idea.
As for the hot weather decreasing her appetite; that's also not out of the question since even our dogs appetite can decrease quite a bit in the summer on the really hot days. I agree though that in your case finding another vet to get a second opinion is a good idea.
Quee
Hot Topics Subscriber
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There's a really widespread recall on some Diamond pet foods going on right now in the U.S., so best stay away from that. A couple of other thoughts:
- Is she pooping regularly? My girl Pippi has occasionally gotten constipated and when she hasn't pooped regularly, she won't eat. Makes perfect sense to me. I'm wondering if the medicines she took may have bound her up?
- Don't know if there are dehydrated dog treats like freeze dried liver or chicken treats (Stewarts Pro Treats is one brand) where you're at, but if yu can find them they've got a lot of protein even though they weigh practically nothing. I'm training my Dobe now, and have noticed that she's getting really chunky - probably because of too many of these treats. She absolutely loves them like no other food (other than Natural Balance lamb rolls which are also a good option if you can get them). Here's some nutritional info: on the freeze dried liver treats
Crude Protein…50.0% (Min.)
Crude Fat…5.0% (Min.)
Crude Fiber…3.0% (Max.)
Moisture…6.% (Max.)
- I'm also wondering what kind of meats you're cooking. Just hamburger? If you can get liver from your grocery, you might try cooking that up and seeing if that will tempt her.
- Some other things to try that have worked for us - peanut butter, bananas (mashed up, in small quantities), cheese (usually the stinkier the better), scrambled eggs with cheese. If she really isn't taking anything at all though, it's time to take her back to the vet. I know when my Dobie refuses cheese or dried liver treats that she's seriously ill.
Good luck! I know how tough it can be to get your fur friend on the mend after a serious illness. We're all rooting for you!
Ataro
Notable member
Thanks again for the suggestions
@ JanS - I wish it were, but unfortunately hunting isn't an option...
@ Pippi - she seems to be pooping normally. Sometimes it comes out a little but soft or paste like, but it was like that for a while the last time she had worms. It's definitely not diarrhea, or a weird colour so I'm not too worried about it.
There aren't any freeze dried treats here, the highest quality foods available are Diamond (which doesn't agree with her anyway) and ANF holistic. The rest are along the lines of Eukanuba, Pro Plan etc. They have some supplements which are overpriced and some unknown brand with low values and don't even have training treats here, so the ones I have (Charlee Bear) I've imported from the US. And I've only done it once in bulk because of the excessive shipping costs. I'm used to feeding my dogs wet food (the fresh kind) but you can't even find the canned/preserved kind here in Mexico so I've resorted to dry food + cooked food, but I can't cook all her meals because apart from the time it takes, I don't have the space to store it since she eats a lot. I recently brought in The Honest Kitchen dehydrated food for her by air and they confiscated it in customs because they said it's not regulated here but after one month of bureaucracy and paying a large fine I should be getting it soon and I'll be topping her dry food with that...
I cook her minced meat (I think you call it hamburger in the US), and organs alternatively. Sometimes if I have steak or something that I don't feel like cooking for myself I'll make that for her. I do usually mix in cheese with her meals and her "silk balls" or whatever they call them are basically based on peanut butter, rolled oats, and mince meatballs. She normally goes nuts for them but she just eats a little bit now of it now, and by day's end it'll be gone. This is the main reason I'm worried, because she goes nuts for certain foods and now she's almost indifferent to them.
If it happens again, I'm considering leaving for Germany early because I'm just tired of wasting lots of time and money on vets who either don't care or don't know what they're doing and in the meantime possibly putting my fur friend's health in danger :|
@ JanS - I wish it were, but unfortunately hunting isn't an option...
@ Pippi - she seems to be pooping normally. Sometimes it comes out a little but soft or paste like, but it was like that for a while the last time she had worms. It's definitely not diarrhea, or a weird colour so I'm not too worried about it.
There aren't any freeze dried treats here, the highest quality foods available are Diamond (which doesn't agree with her anyway) and ANF holistic. The rest are along the lines of Eukanuba, Pro Plan etc. They have some supplements which are overpriced and some unknown brand with low values and don't even have training treats here, so the ones I have (Charlee Bear) I've imported from the US. And I've only done it once in bulk because of the excessive shipping costs. I'm used to feeding my dogs wet food (the fresh kind) but you can't even find the canned/preserved kind here in Mexico so I've resorted to dry food + cooked food, but I can't cook all her meals because apart from the time it takes, I don't have the space to store it since she eats a lot. I recently brought in The Honest Kitchen dehydrated food for her by air and they confiscated it in customs because they said it's not regulated here but after one month of bureaucracy and paying a large fine I should be getting it soon and I'll be topping her dry food with that...
I cook her minced meat (I think you call it hamburger in the US), and organs alternatively. Sometimes if I have steak or something that I don't feel like cooking for myself I'll make that for her. I do usually mix in cheese with her meals and her "silk balls" or whatever they call them are basically based on peanut butter, rolled oats, and mince meatballs. She normally goes nuts for them but she just eats a little bit now of it now, and by day's end it'll be gone. This is the main reason I'm worried, because she goes nuts for certain foods and now she's almost indifferent to them.
If it happens again, I'm considering leaving for Germany early because I'm just tired of wasting lots of time and money on vets who either don't care or don't know what they're doing and in the meantime possibly putting my fur friend's health in danger :|
Ataro
Notable member
An update: I've found another vet that seems to be quite thorough... he thinks her blood work results could be linked to the lack of appetite and a possible cause for concern if the values are getting higher/her condition is worsening or staying the same, so she had another sample taken today and I'll find out the verdict tomorrow. I can't believe the other vet could skim over the results like that 
and I'm really quite worried now.
and I'm really quite worried now.
Oh I hope it all turns out okay. I'm glad you found this better vet so you can get to the bottom of what's going on and hopefully find a good treatment for it.
It is annoying when some vets skim over things like that, but it's good you looked for a different one who is going to get to the bottom of things.
It is annoying when some vets skim over things like that, but it's good you looked for a different one who is going to get to the bottom of things.
Ataro
Notable member
Update: PHEW, just got an email from the vet and her results came back with improvements since her last blood test, although she's still not done recovering. The vet called and says it will just take time and he's going to email me the name of a medicament that will help speed up the recovery process. 
Marinegeekswife
Hot Topics Subscriber
At least this one is doing something!Update: PHEW, just got an email from the vet and her results came back with improvements since her last blood test, although she's still not done recovering. The vet called and says it will just take time and he's going to email me the name of a medicament that will help speed up the recovery process.
Ataro
Notable member
Yes, that's right JanS, it's for her liver infection because although the other values such as lymphocytes, urea and creatine have returned to normal levels, she still has the liver infection (albeit her condition is slowly improving). This probably explains the increase in her food take as well, now that I think about it (as opposed to how tasty her meals are).
Pictorial update: you can still see most of her ribs lightly and the jutting hip bones, but she's starting to put back on the muscle mass.
