Help! Rex is losing weight again...

[Mike&Sharon]

Rex is my 2 yr old rescue. He had been terribly abused and had lost a leg. When we got him he had cigarette burns all over him and was very thin. The past few months he has done beautifully putting on weight and the burns have healed, Most of them have grown fur back. He is now losing weight again. I have had him in to the vet and he says that he cant find anything physically wrong. Rex just seems to have little interest in his food. I am giving him a high calorie suppliment that the vet suggested and he likes that but wont eat his kibble. He actually licks the paste off and spits out the kibble. I am not sure if he just has decided he doesnt like the kibble anymore or what. I want to put him on the best food for him but am really not sure what to try. I have been reading up on the BARF diet and was wondering if that might do the trick. I have found, however,that he has an enormous interest in the cat food....he sneaks it if he gets the chance. Is it ok for him to eat that? I'm at a loss. This poor baby has been through so much and I really want to do right by him. His 9 week old "sister" Stella is eating well and doing great. Should I try her puppy food on him?


Thanks,
Rex and Stella's very worried mommy Sharon

 

[gmacleod]

Hi Sharon

You know, it could be something as simple as boredom Lots of dogs become bored with their food over time and just need something different. That is one reason (amongst many others) that rotating foods every so often is recommended. I don't know what you feed him right now, but you might find that a change to a different food does the trick.

Other things you could try are adding a bit of canned food to his meals, or other healthy alternatives like raw meat, yoghurt, cottage cheese, eggs or fruit/vegetables.

None of that is intended to put you off raw feeding of course. LOL - I'm a raw feeder myself and do believe that it is the best diet for most dogs. But it's also something you need to do a little research on, so that you're comfortable with it and have no worries about feeding a balanced diet. So definitely research the raw diet (there's a raw feeding forum here), but in the meantime you might like to try him on a different food and some maybe adding some of the things above to it, and see if that does the trick.

 

[sgbtab]

oh poor rex. well it does seem he does not like the kibble. I feed raw and my dogs are thriving on it when it is time to eat they go nut's. maybe give it a try with chicken backs and see if he is like's it also you might want to try missing link. he has been through so much and I just want to say it is so great to have people like you in the world. appicon I hope rex get's better.

 

[apollosdad]

try switching his dog kibble and see if he likes something else. he might just need a new flavor in the source of protein in the kibble.

 

[Mike&Sharon]

Thanks so much to everyone. I feel much better having some sound advice. I am really looking at the raw diet. I switched his kibble this evening and he ignored it at first then noticed it was different. He didn't eat as much as I would have liked but he did eat so thats a start. Again thank you. My skin babies are worried about him and my 6 yr old said maybe he would like potato chips and gummie worms.....not gonna take that advice .

Sharon

 

[lafsalot]

Raw did the trick for my three previously picky eaters - they now lick their bowls clean. Kudos to you for providing a permanent loving home for Rex ~ Cathy