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8793709 tn?1409594060

when old dogs stop eating regularly

my 12yr old German Shepherd is suffering from arthritis, spondylitis and has great difficulty getting up from a sleeping to a sitting or from sitting to a standing (on all fours) position.

we recently started hydro therapy that's expected to help his joints. he's also on many meds (glucosamine etc) and occasional steroid shots from the vet. we visit the vet almost every week, either for a check up and meds, for aqua therapy, to have his rectum cleaned, for a furr-trimming, etc.

lately, his appetite has declined and it takes hours to make him eat. sometimes it helps to crumble a boiled egg over his food. but even that he refuses to eat at times.

is this a sure sign of old age? I heard dogs stop eating before they die? I hope this is not the case.

is there any other food I can give him, besides the regular dog food that he's refusing to eat?
as a puppy he used to eat cerelac (prridge type baby food), shall I try that again?

I'm very worried ... I need him to hang on!

Please help.
7 Responses
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1916673 tn?1420233270
Hi. You are very welcome. What did the blood results show? Anything?

Tony
Helpful - 0
8793709 tn?1409594060

hi tony ...
sorry for my delayed response ... and thanks for your post!

I read ur article and found it very insightful!
I immediately forwarded it to my parents,  cuz Rocker (my German Shepherd) lives with them.

thanks also to all the other people who contributed to my thread  :-)

cheers.
Helpful - 0
1916673 tn?1420233270
Hi again. That's good.Let us know what the blood results say. I note you are feeding dry food ... please please have a read of my article here: http://www.****.com/Why_Dry_Dog_Food_Is_Bad_For_Dogs

Tony
Helpful - 0
8793709 tn?1409594060
thank you for all your valuable advice !!

I think I'll give it a go with baked chicken and also soak his dry food for him, as he currently eats dry food. I've also just had his blood tested and am awaiting the results.

thank you for your kind support!  :-)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Have you tried other dog foods, dry or wet?  If you use dry, have you tried soaking it first in maybe chicken broth.  Our dog is 15 and we switched around trying to find something she liked, we then went back to the dry food she used to eat and began softening it first.  She won't eat it immediately, but she will when she finally gets to it.
Helpful - 0
1916673 tn?1420233270
Hi. Please get your vet to undertake a full blood check as soon as possible, as the poor eating is one symptom of severe and late stage kidney disease which is worth discounting earlier rather than later. Late stage kidney failure is a rapidly deteriorating condition that needs urgent management. If the kidney function proves okay, then there are many other potential issues this could be - and not just old age - many of these potential conditions are treatable to an easier or less easy degree. The blood check may show some unusual results, which could point to another problem, so it's well worth having it done.

Tony
Helpful - 0
1040373 tn?1273687488
He might like some chicken. I would bake a boneless, skinless chicken breast and put some shreds in his food. Especially if it's warm, it might entice him to eat.
Helpful - 0
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