not eating any dog food!!!

[annistonsmommy]

Anniston has always been a very healthy eater. Lately he wont even eat more than a couple mouthfuls of his food. Due to his braces i have to mush everything for him, hes had them on 3 weeks so far and has been eating fine until saturday. Saturday we had to bring him to the doggy dentist becasue he broke one of his rubber bands from his teeth. He was fine when the doctor had to replace the broken one, when he tried to tighten the opposite side he got very nasty. Not the usual attitude for him. He was growling and snrling and being very aggressive. So they gave him a sedative. He became very nasty to the people walking by him and almost bit some girl. The sedation made him worse. The doctor never got to tighten it. Any way since then he WILL NOT eat. Ive tried evrything. So today i had to , i didnt want to but i had to give him human food. He lost about 3-5 pds since sat. He ate the table food, but this is not what i want him used to. I dont know what else to try. He gets wet food and dry food. I cant leave the dry food dry though and have been wetting it and adding moist. But i think ive wasted about 5 pds of food already.
Also any suggestions on him letting go of the aggression? He has been slightly aggressive since saturday to me and husband?

Renee

[rottmommie]

ummm, braces hurt after being adjusted, dogs do not understand this.....
pain will make a dog crabby and snippy.......but stand your ground and let him know it isnt accepatble....
perhaps you can mix the food with a bit of cottage cheese and sometimes a spoonful of yougurt, or pnut butter, (just a little) and ask the vet for something to make him more comfortable....
it really does hurt to get them adjusted for a few days after, and every time they are adjusted it will do this.
hard kibble is not advisable cause it will break the brackets.....and that costs money .....
no bones either, and soft treats, i suggest freezing yogurt in ice cube trays, the plain stuff, and giving that as a treat (messy).

[Judy Chrusch]

I agree with rottmommie. If you feed kibble make sure you soak it in warm water till it's basically mush, the poor baby. I know what that's like, I had braces for many years and my one son had them and everytime they were tightened I was miserable. If he has rubber bands on they hurt even more bc of them moving. Rottmommie gave good advice and an aspirin a day wouldn't hurt when he's having trouble either especially the day he has them tightened or the bands replaced. I hope things get better for him. May I ask why he has them?

Judy

[annistonsmommy]

Unfortunately, anniston has braces because of an overbite, that seems to have worsen since he was a pup. He is putting deep holes, a q-tip top can fit in them, in the roof of his mouth, and the dentist is trying to pull his top canines back with the braces and then giving him a lower retainer which will be glued on his bottom canines, to push those out to the side to prevent them from hitting the roof of his mouth. This is not only a painful procedure for him, but it breaks my heart to have them on him. I will try the thing with the yogurt and peanut butter. I just really want him to eat.

My silly husband brought him home hamburgers tonight for dinner. I had to laugh becasue it really was cute, but that will be the last of that. LOL

Renee

[Barbara Surplus]

anniston's mum,
BARF to the rescue here. I realize you probably don't want to switch him if you're happy with the kibble you're feeding but right now he could use a good meal. Ground beef, mushed veggies and fruit would be instantly appealing, I'm sure. He also needs some good nutrition right about now.

Please think about it, even if it's just for the duration of his braces.
Barbara

[moondog]

I gotta agree with Barbara here. Not only would he be grumpy from sore gums, but also from hunger. I'd give him some really tasty food that's also healthy at least for the duration. Poor guy, HE doesn't understand any of it (but remember, he still has to mind his manners)!:)

[WorkinDogz]

Ok....we may have to revive my friend Barbara here.....but I agree with her about the need for solid nutrition right now. :D

His mouth HURTS...and hard kibble isn't making it any picnic for him. (by the way; pain does affect their personality and temperament temporarily and I sure wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't his happy-go-lucky self and much less tolerant of "games")

Couple of choices------ either water down his regular kibble until it's soft; then mash it up.....or :: gulp :: do the BARF thing (good heavens did I really just say that?? ;) ) until his mouth is recovered from the trauma.

Might also want to ask about a pain reliever for him from his DVM.

[Barbara Surplus]

Originally posted by WorkinDogz
.....or :: gulp :: do the BARF thing (good heavens did I really just say that?? ;) ) until his mouth is recovered from the trauma.

Might also want to ask about a pain reliever for him from his DVM.

You DID! Score one for good old Barbarini!! :D

As to the pain reliever, what do you think about MSM for pain relief, WD? I gave my hubby a few one day after he wrecked his back and he said it was the only thing that got him through the day at work. From what I know, it shouldn't irritate Anniston's stomach either if he hasn't been eating much.
Barbara

[WorkinDogz]

MSM...very bitter...(go ahead...ask me how I've made it through Lymes!!)

I've taken Cosequin for YEARS and the Vioxx they gave me for the Lyme made me more tired than it helped with any discomfort.....so....since I can't take any NSAID's (out with the Advil :( ) I decided to give MSM a try. 2 tablespoons daily and I felt better by the 2nd day.

I gag that stuff down; don't know how....but I do :)

Natural pain reliever.....can't say for sure; but I can say it sure is for me!! (even helps with PMS!!)

[Barbara Surplus]

Originally posted by WorkinDogz
2 tablespoons daily and I felt better by the 2nd day.

I gag that stuff down; don't know how....but I do :)

Well, you could always chuck it into a bowl full of raw meat and veggies. Can hardly taste it at all when I do that! :p
(We'll convert you yet!)
Barbara

[Judy Chrusch]

OMG did WD really say that, are you o.k. LOL??? I too suggested mixing warm water and letting the kibble sit a bit and I was gonna mention the BARF but don't like to push it but the ground beef and veggies would be good. The important thing is that you can get food in him, the poor baby. I hope all works out but I'd at least try the beef and veggies or if you don't want the beef you can mix ground turkey or ground chicken, or mackeral. Best of luck to you. Do you give any vitamins, Vit. C may help and especially with some of the inflamation he may have. Take care and let us know how he's eating.

WD, by the way how are you really doing since your bout with Lymes? I've been thinking of you.

Judy

[Burnsway]

Originally posted by WorkinDogz
Ok....we may have to revive my friend Barbara here.....but I agree with her about the need for solid nutrition right now. :D
either water down his regular kibble until it's soft; then mash it up.....or :: gulp :: do the BARF thing (good heavens did I really just say that?? ;) )

I too in a situation like this would probably have to go for the ole barf thingy.....:D

Ground beef, mushed veggies and fruit would be instantly appealing, I'm sure.

Actually that sounds appealing to me.....

[annistonsmommy]

Thanks for all the helpful advice. I will try the veggies beef and fruit. I did manage to get him to eat somewhat this morning. I had left over chicken gravy from a can and poured it all over his food. I mushed the hard kibble and he finally ate!!! I am going to the store today so i will pick him up some veggies and beef. My poor baby looks like he is hungry! Thanks again!!!

Renee and anniston

[Judy Chrusch]

Renee, I'm so glad Anniston ate alittle today. I just wanted to mention that you have to put the veggie and fruit in a blender. They don't digest it properly nor do they get the full benefit, nutritionally unless it's pulp or liquid form. Otherwise it will probably come out the same way it went in, if you know what I mean. Continue to let us know and keep us updated on his eating. Take care, you're such a good mommy!

Judy

[CarolineS]

The BARF purists will probably not agree with this (taking cover now, Barbara!) but it won't hurt to cook the ground beef or turkey for him first if you're at all nervous about giving him raw.

You can add cooked pasta or cooked rice for a carb. You can feed him about 1/3 meat to 2/3 carbs and chuck in a few smushed veggies if you want. If this is only for a short duration, (a couple of weeks), you don't really need to worry about vitamin and mineral supplements. Because of food allergies, my dog has been eating pasta along with her meat for two years now and I've never once seen her chew it. ;)