Puppy eating problems.

[bjhallwblily]

Well about 4 weeks ago Lily broke her back left leg. The doctors put a cast on her and she kept eating and drinking fine - Like nothing had ever happened. Well I come home a little early from work on Friday afternoon (about 4:30) and she had chewed quite a bit of the top of her cast off. So I called the vet before they closed (at 5:00) and they said to bring her on in.

I live out in the country to it took about 30 mins to get there. Being a Friday, im guessing they all wanted to get home, so they kept telling me that they would keep her overnight and check her out in the morning (She was supposed to have another vet appt. on Monday).

Of course I didn't care at all for this idea. I felt horrible leaving the poor thing in a cage all night in a place she didn't want to be. She gave me the worst look as I was leaving, which didn't help any.

I called them on Sat. to see if I could pick her up and they said yes shes fine. When I got there they had completely taken her cast off and said that she needs to be confined for 2 weeks and kept to minimal activity.

So heres my problem. Ever since she has gotten back from the vets office on Saturday. she hasn't ate anything. I sit down beside her bowl and try to even hand feed her and she just sniffs it and then walks away. Could the stress of staying all night be affecting her? What can I do to get her to eat? Should I try another type of food?? She will still eat the chicken treats we give her without thinking twice.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

No keep her on the same food otherwise she's going to learn to manipulate her. You didn't say how old she is. If she is over 6 months I would wait her out. A normal healthy dog will not allow itself to starve, so offer her food once in the morning once in the evening and NO TREATS or anything else until she eats and I promise she will eventually eat.

If she is under 6 months I don't like this rule just because IMO they are too little and don't really understand. Go to the grocery store, Wal-Mart, whatever and pick up the all meat baby food. They come in the 2.5oz TINY jars and will say turkey and turkey broth or beef and beef broth or chicken and chicken broth (which are the only 3 flavours I believe), read the ingredients make sure there is nothing other than like ground chicken, water and chicken broth. You are looking for the 2.5oz jar not the 4oz jar. Take that home, and put 1/4-1/2 tsp per 1 cup of food, mix it in and more than likely she will eat. I have yet to find a dog that wouldn't eat this concoction and it's healthy for them as it's just meat. After a day or so of her starting to eat again SLOWLY withdraw the baby food until it's all gone and you may ahve to wait her out for a day or so but she should start eating. Also, just to forewarn you, put the baby food in the fridge after you open it, BUT when you put some on a plate and put it in the microwave to warm it up after it's been in the fridge (makes it easier to stir in plus it makes it smell better well to them anyway LoL), make sure to only put it in for like 4-5 seconds otherwise it will explode in the microwave and make a huge mess (yes I learned the hard way LoL).

Good luck!

 

[Cami]

If she isn't showing any signs of distress (from not eating or being ill/in pain) AND you don't want a finicky pup, I wouldn't feed her anything besides her normal food. A HEALTHY dog will NOT starve with a bowl of food available. She will eat when she is hungry enough.

That being said, I would wonder what happened to her at the vets office to get her to a state that she wasn't wanting to eat.

Without a cast on I am sure the leg is unstable and is painful. I know when my girl broke her leg she was in pain before the cast went on and seemingly without pain once it was on. The support it offers helps a great deal. I wonder why they left it off?

Another thought.....could she have digested any of the cast material when she chewed on it? That might make a difference in this whole scenario.

 

[bjhallwblily]

Well she ate 3 bowls today since I posted. So thats very good news. I was getting worried. I have no idea why she would not eat yesterday. Unless she ate something at the doctors office yesterday morning she didnt eat anything. I leave a bowl of food available for her all the time and she knows its always there..

They were planning on taking the cast off on Monday anyways, but he had told me they were planning on putting a smaller cast on her. So i was surprised when they took it competly off.

While it was on she was acting like nothing was wrong with her leg at all. She would run and jump and play just like normal. I tried to keep her from it as much I could, but she would still make laps around the living room like she was running a marathon.

She seams to feel better, and puts alot of pressure on it now, but Ive noticed her still holding it up in the air some - even if shes just standing still. So hopefully within the next few weeks it will get even better.

 

[auntthelm]

I'm glad that Lily is eating and feeling better. Sounds like she getting plenty of exercise and will soon build the muscles in her leg back to where they need to be.