Dog is not eating... again!

My wife and I own an 8 year old yellow lab.  He has NEVER had a problem eating!  And he has eaten Eukanuba Large Breed his entire life and he's in great shape.

A few weeks ago, he got into a box of styrofoam peanuts.  We thought all of it came out in his poo, but he slowly stopped eating, then he stopped drinking, and then he started having trouble controlling his urine.  The vet did an X-ray and saw something that may be in his stomach.  We went ahead and did the recommended barium test and a single styrofoam peanut eventually came out in his poo, and he was back to normal!  He ate voraciously at first and then seemed to be his normal self.

But now he has slowly begun to get finicky with his food again.  We have tried mixing his food with another brand, which he seemed to like at first, but now he is refusing to eat that as well.  He gets all excited to eat (which is not what he did before when he didn't eat), but then when we put the bowl down, he doesn't eat it.

The vet found some masses that may be cancerous, but the initial tests were inconclusive.  At this point, we probably can't afford many more tests or treatments, especially since VPI only reimburses 25-30% of the costs.

I have owned him since he was a puppy and I am currently deployed with the Navy and have been away since February.  He and my wife are in a new environment in New Jersey until I get back.  Could that have something to do with it?

We would appreciate any suggestions!

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Since cost is an issue I would ask the vet to treat him symptomatically.  Have your vet give him sub-cutaneous fluid therapy, anti-nausea medication, appetite stimulants, GI protectants, such as pepcid or equivalent, sucralfate and,  others.  If he still does not eat after a week or so on this protocol than it may be necessary to have an abdominal ultrasound performed.  If there are masses in his abdomen, they could act as mechanical blockages to his digestive tract which could inhibit eating.  Not all abdominal masses are malignant, and if there is no metastasis to lungs or other areas than there may be a good prognosis.

[baileydogg]

Thank you so much for your response!