The title doesn’t even cover the half of it.
Basically, I got really sick with the flu for a bit. I couldn’t leave my bed. I called up my father and asked him to pick up dog food for me, even texted him a photo of the right one to buy… and he bought the wrong one. I can’t return it because he already opened it up and poured a bowl for my dog. My boy is a picky eater so he wouldn’t touch it.
When I got the right food though, he wouldn’t eat that either, or at least not as enthusiastically as he used to. At first for a few days he’d eat it but wouldn’t finish the bowl. Then a few days ago he just stopped eating it entirely. I was shocked because he’s been on the same kibble for around two years now and we’ve never had any issues with that. He would still eat his treats that I give him for practicing tricks and the chews I give him, it was just the kibble he refused.
I called up my vet for advice and she recommended trying the 20 minute rule, which is putting the food down for 20 minutes, ignoring him to give him a chance to eat, and if he doesn’t then remove the food and try again a few hours later. Obviously this is done without giving him any other food so I stopped giving him the treats and chews as well. I followed those directions and he wouldn’t eat for the whole day. I was hopeful he would be hungry enough the next day that he would eat it, but he still refused it. By this point my dog has been visibly losing weight and obviously it is very concerning.
Yesterday it was suggested I try putting a topper on the kibble. I tried putting some of his treats on there first and he happily gobbled up the treats, but then spit out any kibble on the floor. Then I tried an egg because I thought it might soak into the food and entice him more. He licked up the egg on top and, again, spit out the kibble. I tried some raw food from the pet store as a topper (he was on a raw food diet in the past but had to be switched off because I simply couldn’t afford it), but he wouldn’t touch it.
Finally today feeling distraught, I bought some new food for him. I know that dogs shouldn’t be abruptly switched to a new diet but I was desperate. To my absolute joy, he gobbled it up as happy as can be!
…Then he promptly threw it up. I don’t think it’s because he’s sick because he had no stomach upset from the egg or treats. I believe it’s either because it’s a new food or because I should have given him a smaller portion to get him used to it. But I could be wrong about that so I’m open to other ideas!
Please, if anyone has any advice, I am really freaking out. I understand pet advice is sensitive to a lot of people but I’m asking because I genuinely love and care about my dog with all my heart. If that wasn’t the case, I wouldn’t be asking in the first place. I need my little guy to be happy and healthy - that’s all I want.
Take him to the vet. Even if he is fine and just picky, you will rule out other possible issues that the food issue is masking or that he has been hiding.
Did you wash out the bowl or did you just dump the wrong food out and replace it with the right stuff? The lingering smell may be putting him off.
Definitely offer food in a smaller portion. The lack of food and then a bunch of food probably upset his stomach and that is probably why he puked.
Do you feed him from the table or give him human food in a certain way? Recreate doing that with his food. E.G. Put his bowl on the table while you eat and when you see him looking for some human food, give him the bowl.
Is it possible that he is on a hunger strike in protest? Dogs aren’t good with making signs or conveying complex ideas in any human language. Trying condemning the Palestinian genocide, big oil, big pharma, the military industrial complex, women’s rights infringement and see how he reacts. Addressing his grievance to his satisfaction can be a tricky one, so pledge to support his chosen crusade in a reasonable manner.
No dog is picky enough to starve itself to death, so you can leave food out and wait. Just leave a little out so he doesn’t binge and purge again.
But what if our political viewpoints are ideologically opposed? I’ve had this problem with one of my pups in the past and it was a difficult conversation to navigate as he is an adamant supporter of post-colonial nationalism and I prefer a more transnationalist approach to global politics.
How do you recommend approaching that subject?
Seriously, thanks for making me laugh I needed that today.
Sometimes you just need to agree to disagree, but in doing so find the commond ground. You are two different species with different views with different priorities in political ideology and it is irrational to assume that you can agree on everything.
Also walkies fixes everything.
Lol, thanks for your response! Got a laugh out of the second last paragraph. I do indeed wash the bowl out frequently, too!
To update, I had another chat with the vet who believed the throwing up was a result of giving too much food at once. She gave some helpful solutions and said if there were still any issues or sickness the next day, they’d get him booked in immediately.
In the meanwhile, someone on reddit suggested he may have gotten sick off his old food somehow or that there was something contaminating it like mold. I hadn’t even thought of this before and tried giving him a small portion of kibble from the same brand but from a different bag. He ate it up happily. Since then, I’ve been giving him small portions to get his stomach adjusted again, working his way up to normal, with no sickness or issues!
Either there was something wrong with the old food, or my support of his political viewpoints set him back on track again. Phew!
Two things from my non-vet but dealt with a picky dog perspective.
First, he could just have thrown up because he ate far too fast after having been essentially starving himself or only eating treats, so his body just kinda rejected it due to the amount or speed he ate.
Second, barring the first, he may be otherwise sick in some non obvious way, anything from a tooth that the food chewing hurts to something more serious.
Personally, I would see if he throws up again when feeding him a smaller portion or if he is one of those fast eating dogs that scarf it all down, perhaps one of the bowls that slows the feeding process.
Some questions that may inform other comments with better responses:
How old is your dog?
I am assuming male based on your post. Fixed?
Has he ever been sick with anything before?
Medications?
Any other symptoms you may have dismissed in your concern for his eating?
I hope your little buddy feels better!
Thank you so much for your thorough reply! I was thinking that as well, that he may have gotten too much food in too fast after such a long wait. I’ll try feeding him a smaller amount next time and see if his stomach tolerates that better. He’s a fast eater at the best of times and has had multiple occasions where he’s drank his water too fast and then barfed a bit up; normally I wouldn’t think too much of it but combined with all the other stress it got me really anxious.
As for the questions:
He’s 5 years old Male, neutered
In the past he’s had a lot of skin issues (he’s a hairless) but that was fixed up a couple months ago after a couple visits and some antibiotics; he’s got some autoimmune issues it seems, because the bacteria on his skin that normally would be at a normal level was basically multiplying rapidly and causing itchiness. Fortunately ever since the course of antibiotics he hasn’t had any more problems there!
I haven’t noticed any other symptoms going on. He still enjoys play and walks, and is drinking the same amount of water as he used to. Not sleepy or lethargic. Excited to see his favorite people. Overall the only issues I’ve observed have been the lack of eating and the weight loss as a result of that.
Very welcome! I would say the speed is the probable culprit, but would monitor it just to make sure it isn’t a dysbiosis or an allergy to the food.
My friend’s dog was allergic to chicken in its dogfood causing all kinds of skin and stomach issues.
Have you been taking him out to play or be distracted for an hour or so?
Yes, we do at least one play session daily and at least two walks daily, typically three. He still enjoys them but I’m a bit worried about expending too much energy when he hasn’t got enough food to make up for it.
When you say new food. Was it the same brand?
Same brand, but a wet food variety instead of his usual kibble. I figured the wet food might be more enticing to him!
Have you tried calling or going to a vet/professional?