Hi there,

My samoyed of 7 years, had glaucoma 3 weeks ago and had his left eye removed, a few days before the op to keep his strength up we gave him a whole chicken a day, and also a few days after the op, he now refuses his own meat although we have tried to ween him off the chicken, by mixing it with dog food.He refuses to it the dog food. We've tried different dog food and flavours. He is a very stubborn dog and I feel if I give in, it won't do him any good just eating chicken as this does not make him go to the toilet. Plus this chicken costs £4 a day. Im getting worried. I think he is being like a child, and saying I won't eat unless its chicken. As like a child you don't let them have their own way.
Don't know what to do to be honest and I am worried that he is not eating.
If any one has any ideas I'd be most grateful. I really would.!
Thanks.
A very worried mum.
Suzie.

Hi, Suzie,
I have been a dog owner and lover now for over 50 yrs, but I am not a Vet nor a Professional.
You know something? I personally would rather eat a New York Strip Steak every day for dinner, but I can't afford it! So, I eat other things, like hamburger, and veggies.
I can't eat what I like, and so it is with dogs.
Chicken does NOT have the vitamins and minerals that a dog needs. Dry dog food is the best for any dog, cause it does contain what they need on a daily bases. And, YES, chicken will constipate them.
OK, you have to have some "tough love" here. Would you feed a child french fries and nothing else? Hope not.
So, STOP giving him chicken. Put a cup of Dry Dog Food down, and when he gets hungry enough, he will eat it. Been there... Done that!
He will beg, maybe howl, maybe whine, but you are the one who knows what he needs. If you leave it up to him, he will eat nothing but chicken.
He will eat, when he gets hungry enough. You have to train him; he shouldn't be training you. He might not eat the dog food for a couple of days, but it won't hurt him, to realize that you are not going to give him chicken, and he will eventually eat. I've never heard of a dog "starving" itself to death, when food is in front of him.

What if you were to boil some chicken and use the broth to pour over his dog food, gradually using less and less...

HI,
To follow up with the answer before this one, which is a great idea, you can also buy a can of Swanson's Chicken Broth, (get the lower sodium) if you wish to try this.
Best of luck.

Thank you melinda and fredg for your replies.
I have just got them. Yesterday after I sent the message I had another go to feed samba. I sat down and thought, well, there is nothing wrong with his stomach,or his bowels, and it just comes down to the fact he won't it, not can't eat.
So I thought 'ok' he is behaving like a child and I don't give my son a choice of what he will eat and won't eat as I know what's best for him, and so I thought I'd do the same with the dog. So I put his food down, he didn't eat it, and I left it there for 15 minutes, and then I took it away, he normally goes out for a walk after he has let his food go down, but this time I left him at home, and I went out.He whined of course probably wondering why he couldn't go out as normal. In the evening when he normally has a feed he comes over to me for a stroke while I watch my programmes. He didn't eat his dinner so when he came over for a stroke I told him to go and lay down. I know he was put out. Well later that night he ate his dinner. I think it was a case of... hunger set in and knew that I was not going to cave in. Plus he was getting no affection. After he ate his dinner and it went down I gave him a stroke and took him out. Now he is eating... it is very panicking when your dog does not eat, but I did have to think logically, and thought in the end if I give in and give him chicken I will make him ill, and will create another problem, so I had to be cruel to be kind. Yes he didn't eat for a few days, and lost weight. But this way he knows who is boss, and like a child, you don't let them dominate you. Thank you so much for your posts. As I know that I'm not alone, and starving him for a few days was the right thing to do, its so nice to know that someone else would have done the same. Many thanks... one happy mum now and healthy dog.