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Dog won't eat!

(55 Posts)
hildajenniJ Sat 18-Mar-17 15:42:47

As you may know, I have a very elderly dog. She is 17, deaf and a bit demented. She will walk up to a wall or door and just stand and stare. She spends a lot of time sleeping, but when she is awake and alert, seems very much like her younger self in that she can still jump around albeit briefly! The problem is that she won't eat dried dog food or cans. She used to love Winalot and wolfed it down with Pedigree mixer. I've tried cat food, all sorts of different brands and pouches to no avail. She will eat an odd one. I've been making stews, chicken etc but she has started to refuse these. Today I resorted to opening a can of corner beef and gave her that at lunchtime​. She doesn't appear to have any mouth pain as when she is interested in food she will eat readily. I am loathe to take her to the Vet because I know he will probably recommend euthanasia, and as she still seems to have some enjoyment in life, I don't want to do that.
I would be grateful if anyone can give me any ideas about what and how to feed her. I've run out of ideas.
Thank you.

Anya Sat 01-Apr-17 21:33:49

I hollow out cocktail sausages and stuff medication inside.

MawBroon Sat 01-Apr-17 23:08:42

That is a cunning looking dog Rosie!! Her face says You can't fool ME!
I like liquid medication whenever possible (and why can't they put EVERYTHING in liquid form please?)
Baby Calpol syringe or Metacam syringe for Metacam bottles, hold the muzzle, look deep into dog's eyes, slip syringe into the gap at the side and Bingo ! Splutter from dog, but the deed is done!
For tablets, I have been known to grind them up in a pestle and mortar and roll up little balls of chicken liver paté and "pill powder" Delicious little canapés which usually work!
I had to leave a supply of these with Grace's antibiotics after her tail,op when she also had to go into kennels. They looked at me as if I was MAD.

MawBroon Sat 01-Apr-17 23:11:08

PS if Daisy is an "emancipated" dog, should this be on the Feminism thread ? grin

Rosieroe Tue 04-Apr-17 23:51:13

I've tried the sausage trick Anya and she wasn't hoodwinked by that. She wouldn't even look at a sausage for some time afterwards in case they were spiked. I've also tried cream cheese in the past but not pate (where did you get your accents?). That look is the one I get when I try hiding things in food MawBroon. I'll give the canapés a try (oh! The accent simply appeared as if by magic there!) - possibly just what an elderly canine feminist has been waiting for. ?