HELP! - not eating

[Hua]

I am at my wit's end and really don't know what else I can do. It's been going on for just over 2 weeks now. I'm not sure if he's just being really picky or if this is something that warrant a visit to the vet right the way. Here's what happened. Sorry it's a bit of a long read.

Some basic info: My Charlie - 4 years old. Miniature goldendoodle. Male and fixed. 28lb(slightly overweight). Been on Orijen Six Fish for 6 months, before that was on Acana Grassland for 2 years. Fed twice a day, morning and night always at around the same time. No issue with eating or stool before this. We haven't been to daycare for 3 months. Go to dog park every weekend.

Week 1

I bought a new bag of Orijen Six Fish after we finished the old one. Charlie all of a sudden decided that he doesn't like this food anymore and refused to eat it. I noticed that the fishy smell was a lot stronger than our last bag, but I figure he was being picky. So I decided to wait him out. No treat, just food. I put the bowl down for 20 minutes each time, and if he doesn't eat it, I take it away. He ate only few kibbles a day. Sometimes will put the kibbles in his mouth and spit it out. Still as energetic and affectionate as always. Nothing weird with behavior.

- That weekend we also went to the vet to get his annual canine parvo vaccination, and vet checked him over. No issue. I didn't think to mention him not eating (stupid of me) because I thought he was being difficult (He went through something similar as a puppy).

- After the vet visit. He went on a 3 day stretch without eating anything. I panicked and gave in, and went and bought Acana Grassland. He ate 1 day of that, and then stopped again.

Week 2

I pureed some sweet potato, carrots, broccoli, and mixed with boiled chicken and hard boiled egg (all his favorite). He would eat some of it (less than a cup a day), but is showing less and less interest in food. Still doesn't show any sign of pain or discomfort, but he's eating less and less every day. I've tried everything that I know of, chicken with rice, just rice, baby rice cereal, baby rice cereal with chicken broth. I got a bunch of kibble samples and tried to see if maybe he'll eat any of those. No luck. Tonight he only drank about half cup of chicken broth and ate 1 blueberry biscuit,and spit out the second biscuit i offered.

I'm really really worried now. All through this, he's acting normal (other than the not eating part), and drinking normally. Peeing fine. Just no poop. I'm going to call my vet first thing tomorrow, but I won't be able to bring him in until at least Thursday or Friday. Is there anyone who went through something similar? or have any advise for me? Thanks in advance.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, if he is peeing and pooping normally, is not lethargic, doesn't seem to be in pain, and has normal energy, somehow he has to be getting enough to eat. And if he's slightly overweight, missing a few meals won;t hurt him. I really would not worry, and I don;t think a vet visit is in order.  I would go back to giving him 20 minutes to eat and then putting the food away until the next meal time. If you want to use some kind of topper to try to get him to eat, stick with eggs. Keep in mind that rice is a grain, and many dogs don;t do well with rice, especially dogs who are on grain-free diets, which Charlie seems to be if he has been eating Orijen and Acana. Also, every commercial chicken broth on the market contains onions, which are toxic to dogs. 

You might try Orijen's Regional Red formula, or you can rotate a few of the Acana Regionals to try to keep him interested. But otherwise, I'd try to relax and not worry. 

This discussion might help you: http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/an-ode-...

[Hua]

Sorry forgot to mention.  I made the chicken broth myself, so there's nothing else in it.  I also tried different kind of toppers, and none of it worked.  I just weighted him and he's lost over 2 lbs in 2 wees. :(  How long can a dog last without eating?   I mean it's going to affect his energy level eventually.  I've noticed that he's been sleeping a lot more this week.

[Hua]

I started reading the post you linked.  There are some really good suggestions on it.  Thanks Karen!  I still worry because Charlie loved all kind of food and was never picky before this. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, if this is a new behavior, and he is sleeping more than usual, it might be a good idea to have the vet look him over and run some bloodwork, just to be sure there isn't a problem. Then if everything comes back normal, you can relax. :) 

[Denise, Winnie, and AngelAbby]

Karen, she said he ISN'T pooping.... nothing to poop or maybe blockage. If he were mine, I would make a trip to the vet I think.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Wow, I'm really getting old, totally missed that. I doubt that it's a blockage, but yes, no food = no poop. A vet visit is in order. 

[Hua]

We went to the vet this morning.  Charlie started having diarrhea (mostly just watery stuff) last night, again this morning, turned down peanut butter, chicken broth, yogurt and 5 different kind of treats in the morning, took a drink of water and proceed to puke all over the place.  Acted normal except with less energy (probably from lack of food).  I still freaked out and we went to the vet right the way.  Our vet took his temperature (slightly higher than normal), but didn't see any sign that he needs blood work or whatnot.  Vet said it's most likely something from the new bag of Orijen Six Fish that started this whole thing.  We got prescribed 10 tablet of Metronidazole (250mg/tablet) and a couple cans of Prescription Diet urgent care food.  Vet instruction is to give Charlie half a tablet, twice a day with a spoonful of the urgent care food, and then feed him 5 - 6 times a day of baby rice cereal/white rice and make sure he drinks water.  My poor baby hasn't been this sick for years. :(

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

With all due respect to your vet, I disagree that it's something from the new Orijen. Why would that cause Charlie to refuse all of these other types of food? And why would he prescribe an antibiotic for that? Did he check to make sure Charlie doesn't have a foreign body in the gut, this sounds a lot like what happens when a dog eats something he shouldn;t that doesn;t pass and is sitting there in the digestive tract. Not wanting to eat, vomiting, etc. That really should be checked, and if he doesn;t improve quickly, I'd insist on that.

Make sure to order a good probiotic like Proviable DC, the metronidazole is going to deplete the good gut flora and once it's discontinued, he's going to have ongoing diarrhea. 

Please keep us posted.

[Hua]

Yeah, I thought I should have insisted more testing be done as well. I'm going to see if he gets better today and tomorrow.  If not, I'm going to another vet to get a second opinion. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I personally have learned the hard way to never give a dog metronidazole without a very good reason, i.e. a verified infection or inflammation that requires that particular drug. There are better options for most GI issues. 

I hope Charlie feels better soon. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

It doesn't seem right that he is eating practically nothing and that 'nothing is wrong.'  I'd take him back to the vet if he isn't a bunch better tomorrow.