[kangabitt]

My almost 5 year old min-pin that I adopted two years ago won't eat; I have no idea why.


Iams switched their formula about a month ago and neither dog is loving the new formula. Maddy (Pembroke Welsh Corgi - weight control) has to be encouraged to eat, but Barclay is just plain weird today (iams for toys).

He seems fine when he's outside or someone comes to the door. He does not appear to be in any pain. But he won't eat, and either he's lethargic or he's guarding the cookie I gave him about 7 hours ago.

I did see him urinate outside, but did not observe a bowel movement. That doesn't mean it didn't happen before I gave them dinner at around 1 PM.

I give them a cookie (milk bone) when they come in from outdoors. I did that today and then left to go grocery shopping. When I came home several hours later, he was in his crate, still holding the cookie (which he always enjoys/gobbles) between his front paws. He is extremely aggressive with Maddy - growling, barking and carrying on when Maddy comes near the room. She is not going to get his cookie!

I closed the door to his crate and he had a fit. I meant to make him feel secure from Maddy, but he didn't, so I opened it up again.

Normally he curls up on my bed about half the day, burrowed under the covers. He hasn't gone near it today. He's not burrowing in his crate either, despite the fact that it's cool enough that he usually would.

He seems fine when he's outside, if a little sluggish. Example - Maddy loves to play Frisbee and Barclay loves to interfere with that. I throw, Maddy chases to retrieve, Barclay chases to get to it so that she can try to take it away from Maddy. They tug of war all the way back to me so that I can throw it again. This can easily go on for half an hour.

Today: I throw Frisbee, Maddy tears off after it, Barclay follows, then just comes back to sit at my feet to nibble on the grass just a little which is my clue that his tummy isn't feeling well.

He will not drink. He will not eat an ice cube (a favorite treat). He will not lick water from my fingers. He will not eat his milk bone biscuit but is guarding it. He did not touch his food, and got in quite a tussle with Maddy, but gave in and allowed her while my back was turned. I did give him about a quarter teaspoon of liverwurst (a daily treat for Maddy's meds). He took that, then went back to his crate.

When I opened the living room, he did not rush to sit on the back of the chair in front of the window as he usually does. He went back to his crate to guard the milk bone. He won't eat it but no one else is going to, either.

He looks a little bloated in the belly to me, but it could be my imagination. I can still feel his ribs as usual, and firm pressure does not appear to bother him anywhere.

When I ate, he didn't sit and beg and that's never happened before. Ever. He refused an ice cube - normally a treat. I just brought him in here and put his food bowl on the chair arm. He turned away from it. I offered several pieces from my hand. Refused.

He is not dehydrated, using the pinch test. Somewhat lethargic, but apparently not in pain.

I think his gums are normally black, and they are now. I do mean black, not pale or gray. His "lips" are nice and pink.

I just went to the keyboard and left him on the chair in my office. Normally he'd stay here or go to my bed and burrow under the covers. Tonight he went directly back to his crate to guard the cookie that I gave him at about 3 PM today.

They both enjoy rawhide bones (I buy Milk Bones Brand), and he's not even chewing on that today. I have no idea what's going on. Should I cook up some eggs?? That's a favorite for Maddy, especially with cheese. I'm going to go try some bits of cheese right now.

No, I just offered to share a cheese stick with him. He looked interested, then turned away?

I will call the vet in the morning first thing, but am wondering, if you are around, what you recommend I do?

[kangabitt]

I need to go to bed. I will hope for the best overnight. I will hope that he eats in the morning. I hope his cookie is gone when I wake up. I will hope that he's mad at me.

I will hope that it's not something in the food, the treats or the rawhides.

I will hope he does not need surgery for a bowel obstruction (I am so afraid of that).

I will find my way back and follow up on this post. Thank you, and good night.

[kangabitt]

Well, he spent all night "guarding" his cookies. I took them away from him this morning, as that behavior is not acceptable.

He did drink just a little this morning which is a good thing because the pinch test showed he was becoming dehydrated. I'm going to take him, his food, his treats and his rawhides to the vet to see what's happening.

A min pin with very little movement is a sad thing to see. I'm sorry that no one had any insight on this problem, but thanks for reading.