I hope I'm using this correctly - I'm fairly new to internet conversations. My (soon to be) 16 year old dog stopped eating following medication for his cough caused by his heart murmur. We took him off the medicine when it elevated his BUN kidney results, but he has failed to return to a normal eating schedule. I've tried special diets, special food, canned food (he always at only dry food), all to no avail. He has gone from 18 pounds to 14 in the past 3-4 months. Suggestions will be lovingly appreciated. Thanks all.

My suggestion is that he see a vet as soon as possible, rapid weight loss like that is very bad for their system

Thanks, Melinda. Unfortunately, he has seen a vet, several times, and all I'm told is that he's getting old and I'm not willing to accept that as the reason for not eating. I am taking him to our vet school tomorrow for a complete evaluation. I guess I was hoping someone might have a suggestion to get him to eat that I had not thought of - short of grilling my right arm, if he would eat that!

When my dog was ill, she was dying of a disease, 4 yrs old, she refused to eat, could your dogs throat be sore? This is what I did, I took a chicken breast and boiled it in two cups of water, removed it when it was cooked, picked off the meat and chopped it really really fine, added back to the water with some white rice, I also added 3 doggie vitamins and 2 tums (for the calcium), once it cools enough, set a bit in front of her, hand feed her/him if you have to and good luck.

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Originally Posted by Joyce Kronenwetter

I hope I'm using this correctly - I'm fairly new to internet conversations. My (soon to be) 16 year old dog stopped eating following medication for his cough caused by his heart murmur. We took him off the medicine when it elevated his BUN kidney results, but he has failed to return to a normal eating schedule. I've tried special diets, special food, canned food (he always at only dry food), all to no avail. He has gone from 18 pounds to 14 in the past 3-4 months. Suggestions will be lovingly appreciated. Thanks all.

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Same with my little pomerian its been 7 days and she won't eat anything she is drinking water she stopped coughing and is very slow hardly moves she has the same heart problem I know she will die soon but I hate to see her starve her self to dealth

All I can do, is to say work with your vet. My lab Aster is 13 now, and I treasure the time I have left with her.

Joyce -

Your kid may be fading... not eating is a common experience in end of life for dogs.

It's also a very very common exerience in dogs having kidney or liver problems.

All you can do it tempt it with anything you can think of. And honestly, it may be time to get yourself ready for a possible change in your life...

-Beth

My dog was diagnosed with kidney failure last week confirmed by another vet yesterday. She is not eating nor drinking. But I have not given up though my life has changed so drastically in terms of stress level and peace of mine. She is 13 years and 2 months. I am force feeding her kidney diet food and glucose water... 2 cans of food a day and 3 glasses of water. She turns away from food and water but I mashed the food very finely and shove it into her mouth. I don't want to end her life now until I feel it is time. How I wish there was a magical solution to feed a dog with this problem