[Wine0Clock]

We've got a rescue dog from Cyprus (We are in the UK) and the charity believe he was a stray for a while. He had a fosterer for 3.5 weeks before we got to give him a forever home.

The Charity and foster mum have said that they think he's been a stray for a while and not used to eating. They've tried to fatten him up and he's a tiny bit bigger but he is so painfully thin! He is a Collie Cross with a Spaniel (Think he's crossed with a Springer Spaniel) and he only weighs in at 11kg. You can see his ribs and his back bones, hind leg bones poking out etc. It's so upsetting.

I've tried to fatten him up but he has no interest in food. He's been to the vet where he said his Lymph Nodes are slightly up but 3 days prior to that another vet said he was in great health and ok to travel to the UK, so I don't believe his Lymph Nodes have anything to do with him not eating.

He wont really eat dog food, he will eat bits of Chicken, beef etc and my mother gave him some kebab meat which he really liked.
I don't want him to eat foods like Kebab meat and he has got some special perscription dog food which he isn't eating either.

I'm stopping treats, I was hoping that treats alone would fatten him up but I really do need him to eat his proper dog food.
When I say treats, I mean fresh meats. He doesn't like dog treats, bones, dog food (Wet or Dry).
He's not so keen on Sausages either.

He is still rather nervous but he's following me around everywhere. He's a great dog, walks well on the lead, doesn't chew etc, don't think he'll do well with recall but again, that's another problem! How can I train him when he doesn't like treats and doesn't like toys. He's only 1 year old.

Advice please xxx

 

[Abbylynn]

Has the vet checked for tape worms? I only ask because just last week a previous rescue of mine was found to have tapeworms. He was becoming boney also. Although he still eats ... but he has always been food motivated.

Honestly I would be wanting to know why his lymph nodes are slightly up?

For food ... can you get him to eat chicken boiled and slightly mushy boiled white rice and add a tad of real dog food to it ... just to get him interested in eating? He needs some sort of nourishment ... especially being so thin .... and another vet check IMHO.

 

[Wine0Clock]

Hi, he's seen two vets. One out there on the 16th and then on the 19th when we got him. He's had all of his treatments including worms, fleas, rabies etc and his heart listened too (Or lungs).
How do they check for tapeworm?

I'm to go back on Thursday. If he doesn't put on weight and/or his lymph nodes are still up then he is to have Blood Tests. The Charity have told me that he doesn't need his bloods doing because he's already had them but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

He's had tests for two diseases Ehrlichia and Leishmania and they've come back negative.

He had Drontal Plus and Frontline Combo on the 16th of this month. Have they done enough?
Apparently a lot of dogs out there are thin and not big eaters due to the heat, but bad in lovely rainy England I thought he might pick up a bit. It's early days and I hope to see improvement (only got him on Wednesday).
I will deffo ask Vet about Tapeworms, thank you

Any other ideas? Is there anything I can try which is high in fats or something to get him to build up. And as he's all boney I'm guessing he doesn't have much muscle. I'm walking him several times a day but not off lead as I'm not confident enough that he'll come back on recall. Yet I'm worried that as he's not eating much then he shouldn't be exercising much either?

It's nearly 5pm and all he's had to eat today is a handful of Kebab meat (My mum gave him this, I'd partly rather he wouldn't eat stuff like that, but then the other part of me wants him to just eat something!) He's also had a tiny break from a hotdog and I've given him about 4/5 pieces of fresh cooked Beef.
I don't think this is normal! I've tried leaving his bowl out for him, I've tried mixing with dog food and fresh meats, I've tried boiled rice and gravy, I've tried Dry Food and Wet Food mixed and now sitting in his bowl is half a can of Winalots casserole in gravy dog food, he's not touched it.
I've also tried putting the food bowl away and bringing it down a few hours later but still, nothing.

Poor thing. He's had such a rough life and all I'm trying to do is show him a lovely home but I'm worried about him. The only excitement I see out of him is when I walk through the door and when he see's a lead/collar/harness/battery charger (Lol, he see's wires and thinks it's a lead bless him).

Thank you Abbylyn Sorry, my quick reply has become an essay.

 

[Wine0Clock]

OK, I'm going to stop the treats and offer him 3 meals a day and that is it. Someone told me that a dog wouldn't starve itself and why would the dog eat dog food when it knows later on it will get something yummy. So I'm going to try that and see what happens.

I know the fosterer was also feeding him fresh yummy meats too so perhaps he's cottoned on?

Wish I could talk Dog.

 

[Abbylynn]

OK, I'm going to stop the treats and offer him 3 meals a day and that is it. Someone told me that a dog wouldn't starve itself and why would the dog eat dog food when it knows later on it will get something yummy. So I'm going to try that and see what happens.

I know the fosterer was also feeding him fresh yummy meats too so perhaps he's cottoned on?

Wish I could talk Dog.

Wish I could talk dog too! Please keep us updated on the outcome of his tests. I would and am always safer than sorry .... just because they cannot talk. I will keep him in my thoughts.

I was going to also suggest the putting food down and then picking it up if he refuses to eat. Repeat until he does. I just hope it isn't because he has an upset tummy that he doesn't feel like eating? I always use the boiled chicken and rice for my dogs upset tummies. It usually works.

The vet used a fecal sample to test for tape worms specifically because of my used-to-be dog Benny's weight. Plus ... Benny eats live critters sometimes!

Good luck! Remember ... please update.

 

[Wine0Clock]

Thank you Abbylynn.

I'm going to leave the food on the floor for 15 minutes and then pick up.
He's had no food treats in between his meals. I have however mixed our food with his food in an attempt to maybe wean him off? It was just a bit of Casserole steak, gravy and peas (No Onions).
He did eat a bit of it but not enough for me to be happy with. Small steps though

As I was writing this, my daughter just got out a roll and he's got very excited! He's not having any of it so that will probably (HOPEFULLY) confuse or make him think twice about eating when us humans tell him too If that makes sense lol.

Will keep you informed

 

[spotted nikes]

Try Green tripe. Dogs love it and it's fattening.
Also google recipe for "Satin Balls". High calorie to add weight.
Make sure he is getting exercise. It increases appetite.

What kind of dog food is he getting? Go to www.dogfoodanalysis.com and pick a 5 star or better food.

 

[Mheath0429]

Have you thought about going raw? If he likes the table food he would probably be willing to eat it.

 

[Hitchington]

Hitch would not eat much when we first got him. The rescue we got him from said that he really didn't like food much. I tried dry dog food, then dry dog food with can food on top (both wellness core). He would sometimes eat a little of this. Finally I switched him to Orijen regional red, because I liked the ingrediants. He started to like his food better. I started topping it with a very small handfull of very lean ground meat (cooked). He now loves his food and eats it all up right away. I feel a lot better now that he now will eat and even enjoy his dog food.

 

[Wine0Clock]

Hi, thank you everyone. I will ask about green tripe. Didn't know you could get 'green' tripe. Is that just the name of it or is it green? I've seen the butcher selling tripe (white stuff), is that the same?

I've tried him on Winalot wet food, Sainsburys Dry Dog food and the Vet has given me some Dog food which is pate looking.
I've also bought wet and dry dog food which contains no Dairy, Wheat, Pork, Beef etc.

Since yesterday afternoon he's had No treats and I've put his food down and left it for 15 mins and then put it up. I've done this a couple of times and made sure everyone else was eating something first before we put his food down.

He ate a TINY amount of food which was ours mixed with dog food. (Potato and steak).

I left out his food all night while we were asleep and he's not touched it. I've binned it now.

I'm wasting so much food lol.

His breakfast (Dog food only) is waiting for him at this moment in time and he's sniffed it and walked off.

Think I've already said this but he's a Collie cross (apparently) and he's only 11kg and that's not good at all.
He's getting more comfortable with everyone else too and when I'm eating he will instantly sit and when that doesn't work he will lie down but I'm not giving in lol. It's really hard not to give in.

 

[spotted nikes]

Green tripe info- http://www.greentripe.com/description.htm