Hi

My dog had major surgery 5 days ago for an intestinal blockage. His last meal was 7 days ago and he hasn't eaten since. He has been back to the vet everyday and has been given painkillers, anti biotics, appetite stimulants and muscle relaxants but still there is no interest in food. He is drinking water although for some strange reason he likes to do that alone. I rescued him about 1 year ago from an animal sanctuary where he had similar eating problems there for no apparent reason other than possible depression. I spoke to them today and they checked his records and at that time he did not eat a meal for over 2 weeks but would occasionally take some titbits which he hasn't done this time. They had a vet check him out at the time and he could not find anything physically wrong with him. How long can he go without food and how much danger is he in by not eating ?
I would be grateful for any advice you can offer. I love him to bits and I do not want to lose him. Many thanks
Chris

Your vet is a much better resource for this than I am or anybody else on the net. Much of how long a dog can go without eating depends on the condition it was in to start with. Your vet should be aware of its condition and decide when it reaches the point you need to resort to tempting it with rich food. Check the sticky at https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/information-articles-our-dogs-expert-labman-53153.html#post254171 Follow the link on evaluating your dog. Once the crisis is over, keeping the dog lean should improve its eating habits. There are some dogs it is best to give up and let their ribs show a little.