I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to get my dog to eat.

My chow, beau, is about 10 now. I left a couple of weeks ago and everything was fine with him. But I guess while I was gone, he's stop eating and has lost about 15 lbs in the last two months. I know he wasn't eating as much, but didn't think anything was wrong because he's always been a very picky eater and he doesn't really like dry food.

I rushed back as soon as I heard something was wrong and he's like a totally different dog now. He's basically all bones and is no longer active. I learned that my mother took him to the vet and found that he has a kidney infection. He's been given meds, but I don't know if it's helping or not. Would that cause him to stop eating?

Also, the vet mentioned that he might have cancer, but wouldn't test him until they took care of the kidneys. After researching cancer in dogs, I fear that he might have stomach cancer because he has every symptom of it. I'm prepared for the worst, but am hoping for the best.

My question now is... until we confirm what is wrong, how do I get him to eat? I've tried everything! He sniffs it and turns his head. I've heard of many things like giving them ensure. But what else is there that I can try? Is there a liquid diet I can try?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Your best source of info is the vet. Giving him a bunch of the wrong stuff could make some of his problems worse. See if you can find a canned, small breed puppy chow. They are very high in calories, but still close to what he needs. You could also try dry with a little low sodium chicken or beef broth.

Is he still active and wanting to go out for a walk? If he is then take him for a walk this should then help stimulate his appetite, then feed him once he has cooled down about an hour after.

He is probably quite weak so try using some Glucose. You can get it over the counter and add it to water, then try some of his favourite food just to get him eating again. Goats milk is also very good, but make sure you don't serve it straight from the fridge and also DO NOT GIVE COWS MILK EVER, no dog should ever be given cows milk. I always give glucose and goats milk to my es during whelping it helps them keep up their energy

First of all your dog was probably off his normal (feeding) routine, that can cause a confusion in him. That coupled with the fact that Chow Chows are a normally "one human" breed; he may have been going through a separation anxiety...

Next, GET A SECOND OPINION, from another VET. If he was fine before you left (depending on how long you were gone) these symptoms would not just suddenly appear.
A 2nd opinion would not hurt. If you have a veterinarian school close by, see if they will do an evaluation on your dog...

There are several nutritional suppliments to "stirr" his appetite; Nutrical is one (I used it to get weak puppies to eat). It comes in a tube (it is like a jelly) Read the directions and see if it will help.

There are also dog foods for finniky eaters. Check with a dog food nutritionist.

Was he given a lot of treats, while you were gone?

These are just some suggestions; I have been training dogs for over 30 years and have had a lot of humans with finniky dogs.

Don't assume the worse, unless you have explored all options.

If you were only gone 2 weeks, and the dog has been losing weight for 2 months, you have a seriously ill dog. I would listen to your vet.

Call your vet and tell them that you cannot get him to eat anything. Tell them that you know that treating for the kidney infection is important but you fear he will die from starvation or dehydration. Hopefully they will hospitalize him and give him sub-q fluids or intravenously. With him being 10 years old I would not take any chances. Then maybe while he is there they can do a an ultrasound to see if there is cancer present. Hope this helps.

I am pleased Sarah is saying much the same as I am. She should recognize a sick dog that needs medical treatment. On medical matters, we could use use a good person.

Dog won't stave them self , however it seems you dog is really sick , maybe he got more problems,with his gut , and he upset that you left , I think the lab man was spot here,
Goat milk is best , high in fat , but with any milk , it can cause the runs,and dehydration
Cow milk isn't any good ,for one good reason ,its pasteurized , on the other hand , goat milk inst , and can be frozen , cows milk can't
If your dog won't eat after three days,or drink water , goat s milk , t hen it time for the vet again, one thing I've leared, is honey , rub it on the dog mouth, a little at a time , he will likc it off, that way he will get some sugar , in his system . This will perk him up ,maybe he mite want to eat again
But I'm not a vet , you best listen and take the advice of your vet .always

Thank you all very much for your suggestions and insight. I've started on some of the suggestions and I am hoping for the best. I am taking him to the vet tomorrow because I informed him that the meds don't seem to be working. On the upside, he seems to be more active today. But, I still can't seem to get him to eat. I'll keep trying though.

As for the losing weight in the last two months, it wasn't noticeable. He was still eating and active. But when I came back, that's when you can tell he lost a lot of weight.

Thanks again!

Yes, it is hard to notice slow changes. Except at first, my puppies hardly seem to grow. Yet those that haven't seen them for a week or 2, always comment on how much they have grown.

Unfortunately, we found out today that beau does have stomach cancer. At this moment, we're trying to figure out what kind and if surgery is plausible.

My question now is: what are the chances of him surviving if surgery and chemo is an option? I've done research on canine stomach cancer, but I'm not getting any answers to my questions. I know the symptoms and that it's rare. But, what's the survival rate?

Any answers is greatly appreciated! And thank you again for the support and help you've provided.

What concerns me is how much pain is he in and what is/will be his quality of life.

The survival rate is a hard one. There is always a risk with any surgery anesthetic wise. No matter how old or young the dog is, age is not a disease. Any time a dog is put under anesthetics we let our owners know that there is a risk. But I feel there is more of a risk with him because this is not your normal routine surgery. But on the bright side if he makes it and they get it all which is sometimes hard to do then he has a really good chance at having a very high quality of life. But always remember that sometimes cancer will come back. For example we just took a 1 1/2 pound tumor out of a 7 pound dog. The dog is now doing great and back to its self. We removed this tumor from its stomach.

If you want to know what I would do. I would have the surgery. That's my opinion. He is not going to live long the way he is. And if god forbid something happens to him on the table at least you know you were trying to do the best for him. And he didn't suffer any longer than he had to. That's all that matters. But its left up to you, you're the one who sees him everyday and you know what you need to do. Talk to your vet. Ask the doctor what is his chances. Considering he seen the cancer and where exactly it is he would know more about how the surgery would go. Good luck and hope this helps :)

Unfortunately, the cancer has spread too quickly for surgery and the vet has said he has two weeks left. I have come to cope with that fact. Right now, I'm just trying to make him comfortable and debating on when to put him down because I can't watch him be in so much pain.

My question now is... how do I help my other dog, maggie, cope with his death? They've been together for basically their whole lives. I know she knows something is wrong with beau, but I don't think she realizes how bad it is. If anyone has experienced this before, please let me know what to expect and if there's anything I can do that will make it easier for her.

Thank you again so very much! I do appreciate all the support and advice you've all had given.

A vet did a home visit and euthanized one of our cats with the others in attendance. Later they were able to touch and smell the body and seemed to realize his spirit was gone. Before long, they lost interest. They didn't look for him after we buried him in the back yard.

In another situation, we took a cat to the vet where the cat was euthanized and later buried in our back yard. The other cats never got to smell the body and for a week or so walked around the house meowing, like they were looking for him. Maybe the cats' smelling the body before we buried him would have helped.

I think dogs are just as sensitive, or even more so, than cats are. Labman or Ruby may have some suggestions.

In The Other end of the Leash, by Patricia B. McConnell, she also suggests letting the other dog see and smell the body. Think how a visit to the funeral home helps bring closure for us.