finicky eater or ill ?

[Linda]

Hi all,

Our puppy is a 6.5 month old F1 who has not gained any weight in 2.5 weeks. She has gone a day with-out food, but does drink water. In the last week she has thrown up bile in the morning twice. I understand this can happen when her stomach is empty. 

I have added "toppers" to her dry food ( we started alternating  Natures Domain and Natural Balance  to keep it interesting). It worked for a day or two but now she is no longer interested in either.

She used to be a happy, eager eater and  now it takes some coaxing and it needs to be really good ( chopped ham, peas, even peanut butter is a tough sell). Sometimes she won't eat a thing, even cheese or canned dog food.

She has vomited the food and toppers twice. She ate some topper today but skipped the dry food. Her activity level ranges too. In the last week she has seemed normal in terms of bowel and activity level. Then, she will throw us a loop and have loose stool and be really sleepy and mellow.  Given the mixed messages she is throwing us I don't know how to read her. 

I will try feeding her rice and boiled chicken as I have read here that is a great intro back into food if dogs are not feeling well. 

I just returned from the store and bought Orijen puppy food. No interest.  My gut is that she is just being a fussy eater ( to the point that she hasn't gained weight in 2.5 weeks and counting) and I don't want to cater to that given she is so young and this sets the stage a lifetime of coaxing. But, I am a new dog owner and don't want to overlook a health concern. 

Do you think I should ride this out or take her in to the vet?

Thanks for your help!
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[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

If you are concerned about health, take her to the vet for a quick check up.  This way you are  not second guessing an illness or infection.  Then, if she is pronounced healthy, feed her what you feed her and quit playing games with her food.  The throwing up because of an empty stomach is a problem because if she won't eat......  Give her a couple of cookies at bedtime. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I wholeheartedly agree with this advice.  I'd first find out if it's a health issue.  If not, I'd put the food down, give her about 10 - 15 minutes and then remove it until the next meal.  The bedtime cookies work wonders for the early morning "bile vomiting".

[Christine & Shelby]

I'd take her in to be check out.  Sounds like it could be something that she'll need some help getting past.  If she's eating and then throwing up the topper or whatever she's eaten... I'd get her checked out.  My Shelby had lots of sensitive tummy issues... one time similar to what you are describing.  They ended up giving her a shot for nasuea, told me to wait two hours and then begin with Chicken and Rice.  It was amazing.  FYI.... just a tip I've learned.... cook the rice in chicken broth.... makes it taste good and then hopefully she won't just eat around it.    Keep us updated.

[BG and Gavin]

Yes vet first.  If no problem I would look at her exercise routine.  Gavin will not usually touch his food unless he has worked for it.  So exercise is a must for him before each meal.  Has to work up an appetite I guess. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

That is interesting BG.  I guess Ned must rest before he eats because he most often eats once a day at night in the dark when no one is near.  I hear him munching.

[Martha & Cooper]

I would take her in and get a checkup.  My dogs have always held out for treats or toppers if I started doing that,but in the long run, when they got hungry, they ate.    If she is not eating normally and then throwing up what she does eat, something is going on.  

Please let us know how she is doing!

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

I have gone thru this with Oliver, it seemed that during the hot summer months he did not eat all that well.  He would eat about half or less than half of his daily requirement of food.  Then when the weather turned cold he ate like a horse.  Be has a senstivie tummy and at that same time I switched him to grain free, he also seems like a fussy eater as well.  I too put different toppers, both doodles seem to LOVE chicken liver, I cook the liver in a bit of water the mash it up when cooked.  I warm a couple of tablespoons with a bit of water and mix in into their dry food and they both love it.  I also buy canned salmon and do the same.  You also might want to try green tripe, I buy the Solid Gold brand which they love - it stinks but they love that as well.  Chicken liver is cheap so try that first.....   In just the past couple of days Oliver needs coaxing to eat his food again.... arrgghhh.   Do you give lots of treats during the day?  that could be a problem too, your puppy may be filling up on treats and not eating his/her food.  I do not give many treats, during the day.  Just to be on the safe side I would take him/her to the vet for a quick exam, it can't hurt then you will at least know its not a sickness and just  a picky eater.  Good Luck

[Linda]

Thanks everyone for your help with Millie. Great insights! 

I took her to the vet and they did a giardia test which came out negative. They said her weight was fine. She is 44 pounds at 6.5 months. Seems small for a F1 standard. 

They gave her an anti-nausea shot and gave us some endosorb to absorb toxins and alleviate diahrrea, some Metronidazole as an antibiotic, and some FortiFlora a nutritional supplement.  They want me to return with a stool sample. 

Millie seems ok but still does not want her food, though is interested in people food. I do see her eating small amounts  of kibble if she gets hungry enough. I suspect she is a fussy eater and didn't eat, so she threw up bile due to an empty stomach. Then I freaked and started adding toppings and perhaps they were too rich for her. I hope that is all it is. 

She did just have another bout of diahrrea but I suspect that was triggered by the thermometer in her rear. 

Thanks again for your help! Linda

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I know my two both slowed down in growth around 6-8 months. So that seems normal. And if everything checks out ok with vet, then I would do as suggested. Put it down and she eats or not, in 10-15 min and then doesn't get anythingnuntil dinner time. I have never had fussy eaters, and I have always added real food, raw foods or home cooked along with kibble, so my two are always very excited to eat. Sorry Millie is being fussy and I'm glad that is all it is. But still frustrating I know. There are several fussy eaters on DK, so hopefully some will be of help.

[Heather Martinez]

Teddy is a male F1 standard goldendoodle and he was 41 pounds at 7 months. At 7 months, his weight started to plateau and he went through a period of not wanting to eat around that time too, although he had no diarrhea or changes in activity level. Since then he's gone through a few periods of not wanting to eat and then being eager to eat again. However, he has always finished all his food by the next morning so he's never actually skipped a meal. Teddy is now 13 months old and he's 54 pounds. So it's possible Millie is just a small goldendoodle and maybe similar to Teddy. Hopefully the medication she was given helps out!