Here I go again...

[Marty]

This time it is about getting an old dog to eat. Biscotti is around 15, and never been excited about eating...she usually would, if you waited long enough. I get worried because sometimes she won't eat for 36 hrs, no matter what kind of enticing tactics I use.

I ground up a pork and veggie mix to mix in with her food...she liked it for a few days. Have done chicken as well.

I cooked some beef in the slow cooker today, and she seems to like the meat just shredded into her food.

I know this is not well balanced and probably too much protein at this point, but she needs to eat something!!! Sometimes I think anything is better than nothing!

Her last blood panel was OK, and she is going in again this week for another checkup.

Any ideas or even words of encouragement are most welcome...sometimes I just wanna cry...

[momPaws]

Oh, Marty, holding a good thought for Biscotti and for you.

[E's]

I'm with mom paws...it's so hard to know what to do when pets age. Few of us have really been there before...it's kind of the back side of progress in pet health care... That being said, I wouldn't worry about things like "balanced diet" etc... just give dear old Biscotti what she will eat that is easily digestible: meat/fish/egg flavored gruel, even dairy if she likes that (not cheese though of course.) Offer little portions - tiny even - and don't coax: they're so darned smart about that. Try to stay calm and unemotional (I know, that's easy for me to say but you know what I mean!)

[Traci]

What is her history with anorexia and what is your vet saying?

Was her last oral health exam ok, and when was that done?

What is her normal diet? Have you tried canned? Sometimes, even cheap brands like Alpo or Mighty Dog can be topped or mixed into the diet to encourage them to eat. Try mashing canned food with a fork in case she has a bad tooth.

[Marty]

Anorexia...she just has never seemed too interested in food. When she was young, when she finally sat down to eat, we knew she was serious about finishing. She is thunder phobic, so she will not eat during a storm, and sometimes just rain.

She has always been slim, but not to the point where the Vet or I were concerned.

Her last checkup was a year ago...teeth were fine then, and I think they still are. She doesn't seem to have any problem with dry food...when she decides to eat.

I have tried canned food, and she just doesn't like that stuff. Even my homemade was processed to be of that consistency, and I warmed it up for her (Buffy and Java love it, though). I have not tried the cheap brands...maybe I should.

[k9Karen]

I've noticed that my dogs seemed to lose their sense of smell as they aged, and with that came a reluctance to eat. Leah was the worst. I think she knew that I would give her something good if she refused to eat the dog food, but if I didn't, she would eventually eat what was in her bowl. Does it seem Biscotti has lost some of her sense of smell? If so - try spicing thinks up at bit with some seasonings that might appeal to her nose.