In addition to the green trip suggestion, you also need to get some more calories into this dog to build up his strength. In some cases, if they don't eat for a prolonged period of time, they get weak, they get lethargic and then don't want to eat even though they need to, and a bad situation just continues to feed off of itself in a vicious circle. Get a product called NutriCal. Your vet's office should sell it, as will any well-stocked pet store. Nutri-Cal is a VERY high calorie supplement that comes in a tube and it's used on pets that are either not eating their full rations or pets who have stopped eating completely. It will help to give him some much needed strength so that he can deal with whatever it is he has. Directions for feeding for the different weights will be on the tube. Please keep us up to date on him.
Ghilly
Hello & welcome...First of all, thank you for adopting this wonderful creature....Bless you for that.....
When I read this, my first thought is a "Tick Borne Disease"...If you live in a tick prone area (Even if it's one tick), you need to have him tested, to at least rule it out! Did your Vet test him?
Next, I think I'd get a second opinion and quick.....Do you have a copy of his blood work? What other levels are off? Do you know? How bad were his Kidney & Liver Values?
Next, I agree with Tony.....I use canned Green Tripe! Tony buys fresh & cooks it.....In the US, you can find some canned version, at any pet store.....I just bought some from Petco this week....Solid Gold is the brand I purchased....It would be worth a shot!
Please come back with anything else you can think of.....I'm hoping others will have some suggestions.......Karla
Hi,
I am really sorry to hear of your dogs trouble. I think the only way forward is to go to a different Vet. It is very unusual for a Labrador not to eat and it surprises me the Vet has not suggested putting him on a drip to keep up his strength. Did he have the runs or vomit prior to going off his food? I would get a second opinion as a matter of urgency.
Keep us informed
Beau
I wish I could give you some informed suggestions and advice, but it sounds like an urgent diagnosis is needed from your vet - or from an alternative vet if your current one doesn't seem able to diagnose. Not eating for a week is of great concern, so yes, feed him whatever he will eat as he needs the energy and sustenance and nutritional value of some intake. My favourite advice for non-eating dogs, is to try Green Tripe, which you can usually get from good pet stores in tinned or frozen block form. It MUST be GREEN tripe, not the white version sold for humans. The frozen blocks just need cooking (I use a microwave, 10mins at 30 per cent power). It stinks like hell, but all dogs love it. If your dog won't eat this, it won't eat anything. Green Tripe is full of nutriants and minerals and will help retain your dog's body weight. Feed on its own or mixed into a little cooked white rice.
Hopefully, others on here may recognise your dog's symptoms. Keep coming back to see what they might suggest. The priority though, I think, is a) getting some food into your dog; and b) getting an accurate diagnosis so you know what, if anything, can be done to help him. Tony