need immediate help- dog will not eat

tammyh · 05-04-2008, 07:36 AM

My 17 yr old toy poodle just had an emergency dental cleaning and 5 teeth removed a week and a half ago. The first 2 days he ate, but now he will not eat and it's been about 5 days. We have tried EVERYTHING we can think of to get him to eat: cheese, every brand of canned dog food, boiled and shredded chicken and rice, salmon, crushed cereal, baby food- he will not open his mouth. He was put under with gas only as he couldn't undergo the anesthia. His teeth were displaced and his mouth was infected to a life threatening state. He is drinking and peeing, but will not eat or poop. The vet took him off his antibiotics after 5 days due to vomitting every day. I know his mouth has to be in severe pain. He WANTS to eat and he keeps sniffing food and licking at it, but will not take in even a teaspoon of food.
Any ideas? Any suggestions? I'm going to take him to an emergency vet later today- just wanted to know if anyone has any ideas or anything to offer. I can't bare to put him down, but I certainly do not want him starving!!!!!!

Never mind. I called the ER vet to see if there was a formula or something to give them until Monday when the reg vet is open. They said to bring him immediately, so I did. Said he wouldn't have made it until Monday, and they kept him

Willowy · 05-04-2008, 02:54 PM

It's great that you got him to the E-Vet. They can give him IV nutrition or place a stomach tube or whatever they have to do. I hope he feels better soon! I've always used chicken baby food for pets that don't want to eat. It usually works, so since he was refusing even that, I think leaving him with the vet was the only thing to do.

Renoman · 05-04-2008, 03:04 PM

Glad you got him to the e-vet as soon as you did. Please, keep us posted on his condition. You and he are in my thoughts.

tammyh · 05-06-2008, 05:50 PM

Thanks-
update: he's going to the vet everyday for IV fluids. He's doing much better, but still not eating on his own. Vet recommended baby food of any kind to stimulate appetite. he's been getting antiobiotics, pain meds, and fluids.

JackiesZoo · 05-07-2008, 12:06 PM

Poor thing. Glad you got him to the e-vet. Get well wishes going his way. Hope he starts eating on his own soon.

Melou1889 · 05-07-2008, 12:30 PM

If hes getting nausias after eating it might deter him from eating without some caution. He might not know what foods are making him feel that way.

tammyh · 05-08-2008, 06:04 PM

This has been a very hard week. Gizmo has been to the vet every day for fluids, antibiotic shots, and everything else. I take him at 8am and they give him back to me at 4. They are closed today, so it was our first day on our own and the vet sent home sub-q fluids, needles, the works to hydrate him since his IV had to come out. I know it sounds crazy to do all this for a 17 yr old dog- but this dog has a lot of life and energy and he's my buddy!! He's really come around- ate a plate of grilled chicken tonight! I was so happy!! He's been walking around the house and even barked! What a turn around. Even the vet was amazed yesterday and the whole office has been rooting for him.
Thanks for all your support. I wasn't looking for substitute vet care- I know how annoying those posts are from my sugar glider board. I was more curious if anyone knew of a food or formula or even a drink like Gatorade or pedialyte or whatever that you could give a dog that wouldn't eat to get them along. But it appears that he wouldn't eat due to a combination of pain (probably an abcess or soreness from the procedure), and the result of dehyration.
Looks like we're good to go for a while!

Motebi · 05-08-2008, 06:12 PM

I wish you guys all the luck in the world ! Hope he'll recover and you get to have him around for a while longer.

Dogmom07 · 05-09-2008, 12:50 PM

I am glad to hear your baby is doing better. No matter how old they are, they are still your baby. I had a similar situation with our dog that passed away, Ali was 16 1/2 when he developed Kidney Failure. So many people told us we were crazy for spending all that money for medication and tests, but we did not care what anyone else thought or said, we did this for our baby that gave us so many years of unconditional love and devotion.

I hope Kizmo continues to improve, give him a hug for me!