My Chocolate lab is loosing weight fast. He is under the care of 4 vets, and time and money is running out. Ultrasound shows 5 lymphnode glands enlarged near the large intestine. Biopsy results pending in a day or two. Vet initial thoughts lymphoma (cancer) highly treatable with chemotherapy. I need to get him to eat in the meantime to build up strength. I have tried all kinds of canned wet food (vet wants him to eat slurry consistency). Prescription food, expensive food, cheap food, turns his nose up to all. Went from 90# down to 81#. Does anyone know something truly delicious he won't turn down, that is soft and can be a slurry mix? I tried bland diets, I even tried "ensure" with ice cream. He needs energy. Tonight I'm buying nutra-kal malt in a tube to try and get some appetite stimulation going on. Thanks for your input.
Keep on working with the vets, and perhaps you can try sitting down with your lab and eating with him, something that you would actually eat, of course. It can maybe inspire him to eat, if he sees you doing the same. Have you tried wet cat food?
Update: Lastnight my lab ate 1 tablespoon of boiled hamburger. Unfortunately, this morning, it came back up, so vomiting appears to be the issue. Any ideas on how to calm an upset stomach?
Nutra-kal seems to be alright for him. I had him lick a tablespoon of it last night, and a tablespoon of it this morning. I will keep working with the nutra-kal until I can get something to stay in him. He will eat people food with me, but I had to stop that idea because it is not digesting (i.e. french fries) so they just keep coming up. For now it seems like nutra-kal and ice cream. I'll try the boiled hamburger again if his stomach calms down.
OK, out of the manual I have from a large, knowledgeable dog guide school.
Bland recovery diet for dogs.
3 parts cooked rice, one part boiled hamburger or chicken, or cottage cheese. I think you can substitute boiled potatoes for the rice. Once in an emergency, we bought a plain baked potato from Wendy's.
This is meant for short time settling a dog's digestive tract. It is not the complete and balanced they need long term.
The question of labs not eating never even comes up, let alone having a standard fix. Nor did I ever hear what you do if waiting a Shepherd out doesn't work. Sorry your problem is outside my experience. I posted this to encourage you to keep trying the boiled hamburger or chicken.
Have you discussed his not eatting and upset stomach with the vet? We usually give an injection or send home meds to stop this type of problem. Metoclopramide for vomitting, and also Famotadine for upset tummy.
I don't think it would matter at this point what you feed him as long as he was to eat. Have you tried chicken livers? The cat food was a great idea. We have to force feed hill's a/d for very ill animals. It is also good for recovery.
Thank you all for your advise on the situation. We did have meds for vomiting and upset stomach, but it did not work. Hill's a/d mixed with water was the main slurry we were trying to feed him. At this point, on Monday 10/30/06, my lab told me it was time for him to move on. He went outside at 4:00 a.m. and refused to come back in the house. I sat with him in the cool autum air, and we listened to the silence and watched the sun through the brightly colored leaves on the nearby trees. He was happy to be guarding his yard as he had done for 9 years and 2 months. Then, as the time approached, and the vets office opened, I took him for his final ride in his truck. He had a grand time. Loves riding in the truck. With the help of the vet, we peacefully assisted him to final rest and peace. I never left him, I sat on the floor and held his head and told him Daddy is here for you, and I love you. I will wait to see him once again, when it is my time to cross to the rainbow bridge. Thank you all.
The last time one of my dogs had to put to sleep will be 20 years just before Thanksgiving. I knew he wouldn't make it through the winter, and decided to spare him being left behind over Thanksgiving. Part of the reason my family is raising puppies to be service dogs is that it is much easier to send a healthy young dog off to a great life than watch an older dog decline and finally lose it. I know one other family that has said it is the same for them. There is a flaw in the plan. We both eventually took back one of our puppies when she retired at 10 years old. My Aster is now 13 and has some problems, but still enjoys life.
The Power of a Dog
There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
and when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.
Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie-
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear
When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find - it's your own affair-
But... you've given your heart to a dog to tear.
When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!)
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone - wherever it goes - for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.
We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian Clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short time loan is as bad as a long-
So why in - Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?
Our friends stopped by tonight with Maggie. She is the mother of our 13 year old Aster. She is 15 and in bad shape, not eating. They wanted to get one last picture of them together. Maggie is the oldest dog that is my friend.
Here is a picture from 2 years ago. Aster and Maggie are the 2 yellow Labs in the back.
This thread made me tear up.
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