Dog not eating

[Tim2009]

I have a female that will turn 17 this March, and besides major authritis, she was doing well when my wife and I went on vacation. We had someone stay at the house while we were gone, and she called us to tell us Mulligan was not doing well. When we got home, Mulligan was not really with it, and was walking like she was very drunk and was falling over. This was last Wednesday, and she is doing better. She actually walks without falling down, and that is on ice and snow, so she shows signs of getting better, and is still doing her business outside when she goes. She is on antibiotics now, and that might be doing the job. The problem now, is she will not eat. I have tried everything, from cooking eggs with cheese, pasta with chicken or turkey, cottage cheese which she loves, treats, anything to try and get her to eat. The antibiotic might be making her stomach upset, but she just nibbles down a few cookies and that cannot be good. Her age doesn't help her smell, but I would think she would eat the things she knows and loves. Is there anything I can try to help her? She has seen her Vet who actually comes to the house, and he is checking in on her every other day, but maybe someone has another idea, because going to another vet really is not an option.

[Tim2009]

Just an update for all, Mulligan is doing better. The Vet took her off the antibiotic, and he has her on Pepcid for her stomach, so she must feel a little better. We tried your idea of NutriCal, and she loves it. Didn't realize how messy it would be at first, but Mulligan licked up the excess from my hands, so that was great. She also is eating freeze dried food from Nature's Variety, which cost more than any food I have seen, but she will only be on it for a day or two, and then we can try real food again. She continues to drink water all day, so I am not worried about that. I got alot of info from several sights, vets and others, and it seems like this is something she just has to get through. She went out 3 times today, and really did well, and has not fallen in a few days, so with a little help, she will do fine. Thank you all for your help, and I hope that I can return the favor someday.

[Ghilly]

THANK YOU!!!  That's it!  I don't know why, I just could NOT think of the name of that to save my life!  LOL!  Thanks again, Karla.  

Ghilly

[Misfits4Me]

I believe the disease that Ghilly is referring to is "Canine Vestibular Disease". Also, called "Old Dog Vestibular Disease". Another of the symptoms is motion sickness. It is considered to be like Vertigo in humans. This alone can cause nausea and thus not wanting to eat. The condition improves on it's own from a few days to a couple of weeks. Good luck to you both and please let us know how things are going....Karla

[Ghilly]

It sounds like you've got a good handle on the situation!  Kudos to you for acting so quickly on your little one's behalf!  :D

Yes, NutriCal is available at PetSmart.  It's also available from your vet's office, but in my experience it is about $10 at the vet's office and $4.99 or so at PetSmart, so I'd get it at PetSmart.  :)

Please keep us posted as to how your little girl is doing.   :)

Ghilly

[Tim2009]

Thank you. I will try that. I also wnet to another sight, and that had a vet answer, and he mentioned that the antibiotic, mixed with her Previcox for her authoritis could beupsetting her stomach, so we are taking her off of one of them, just waiting for vet to get back to me. Do I get NutriCal at a Petsmart?

Thanks again!!

[Ghilly]

I know I must sound like a broken record because I have suggested this to so many people in so many different scenarios in the last couple of weeks, but give her NutriCal.  NutriCal is an EXTREMELY high calorie food supplement that comes in a squeeze tube that you give to dogs and cats that are not eating normally, or even not eating at all.  It helps them to maintain their body weight and energy until they get over whatever it is they have.  It must taste really good to them, because much of the time they will readily lick it right out of the tube.  If she is reluctant to do that, take some and squirt it right into her mouth, way in the back, and it will stick to her tongue and gums like peanut butter so she will HAVE to swallow it.  

If she seems to be getting better with the antibiotics, chances are she picked up a bug from being stressed due to your being away.  I'm not saying that to make you feel guilty, but at 17 years of age, their immune systems are not functioning as well as a young animal's would be, and they are more prone to picking up things that their body would normally have laughed off.

Also, the name of the thing escapes me right now, but there is a syndrome that affects older dogs that causes them to react as though they have had a stroke.  I have to look through my files tonight and see if I can come up with any info for you on it, or at least the name of it.  Over time, the dog learns how to walk well again, however if you watch them, it's as though their brain is sending mixed signals to their legs.  Their front legs will be taking twice as many steps as their back legs will.  If you watch the front end of the dog, and then watch back end, it looks like two different dogs!  It could be that this is what has affected her, and if that's the case, it will take her a few weeks for her brain to figure out how to compensate for what has happened, but it will happen.  Just keep a close eye on her to make sure she's holding her weight ubtil she starts eating normally again, and the NutriCal will help with that.

Ghilly