[myadrian]

My dog is almost 14 years old and has major heart problems and valve problems. Has fluid around heart and lungs. Will not eat. Should I do more lab work on her or do I just let her be. She will not eat. I tried offering many dfferent items. Can someone let mek now how they dealt with this

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by myadrian

My dog is almost 14 years old and has major heart problems and valve problems. Has fluid around heart and lungs. Will not eat. Should I do more lab work on her or do I just let her be. She will not eat. I tried offering many dfferent items. Can someone let mek now how they dealt with this

Gosh! I don't know where to begin--I have 2 dogs--Corky, a cocker/golden retriever mix --will be 12 on june 13; Max--pure cocker, just turned 11 April 1st. Both have Dilated Cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart with fluid around heart and lungs) Mine is not a valve problem though. Corky's is very progressed--grade 15 for heart size--normal is in the 10 range. Max's is just starting to enlarge. What breed is your dog---I ask because of some breeds lacking taurine in their diet--cockers and larger dogs can have this problem---I believe that is why my dogs have this heart problem but it is only associated with the Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Corky is on meds--furosemide and Enalapril. Both have to avoid salt. The meds are to get rid of the fluid around the heart and lungs---Corky was forever coughing before he started the meds. If on any meds to get rid of fluid build-up -- You have to make sure the dog has access to drinking water at all times!! Like I said I don't know where to begin. I have posted quite a bit in this forum on heart disease--Don't know if you have read these or not but I will give you links to them as soon as I am done with this post. I will come back to this post with the links as I have to go find them and paste the links here so be sure to check back to see them!

I can prob. be more helpful if you could answer these questions----
1.--What is your breed of dog?
2.--You evidently have seen a vet---What all does he have to say?
3.--Is your dog on any meds?
4.--Did the vet do x-rays? What all tests have you had done?
5.--How long has this condition been known?
6.--You said she will not eat---Do you mean she isn't eating anything at all? How about drinking water? What kind of diet do you feed when she did eat? Do you feed commercial dog food and if so-what brand? Or do you do home-cooking or Raw? (If I know this--might be able to suggest some things!)
7.--What have you been giving to try to get her to eat? Have you tried peanut butter, liver, canned salmon or mackerel (Rinse out the salt!), cooked chicken meat---(warm food)
8.--You asked if you should do more lab work---Not sure what you mean here! Why and what would that be--Are you talking blood work or tests or what? Are you talking something that is going to change the outcome?

Some thoughts on the not eating with a heart condition---Is she so bad that you think she could be shutting down? Is she in any pain? What are the signs she is showing that you know it has to do with the heart problem--I am having a hard time trying to say what I want to here! If the dog will not eat --will go downhill pretty fast as they will just waste away. Is she enjoying life at all---I don't know your dog so I don't know what is 'normal' for her. Is she still a happy dog at all?

Enough questions for now (Please answer them --I love dogs--want to help if I can.) I am no expert but am going through a similar problem with my dogs. I will give you the links as soon as I find them! Have you checked out the 'net' for your dog's particular heart problem? And can you give me the name(s) of the disease/probs. ---What your vet called it? The links I give you may help answer some questions --I don't know.

Ever give Furosemide to your dog?

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (Heart Disease)

Heart Disease

[myadrian]

She is a mixed dachsund and 14 years old. She is on the same meds you stated. She had blood tests and x-rays and stated the valve is not working and she is only eating a litle bit. It cooked chicken with rice. only ate a little. She seems to look ok, but she is only drinking water and i think she should be drinking more. She has been like this most of the week. but she is eating less and less each day. she snubs her nose on the food. she walks very slowly. and has no enrrgy

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by myadrian

She is a mixed dachsund and 14 years old. She is on the same meds you stated. She had blood tests and x-rays and stated the valve is not working and she is only eating a litle bit. It cooked chicken with rice. only ate a little. She seems to look ok, but she is only drinking water and i think she should be drinking more. She has been like this most of the week. but she is eating less and less each day. she snubs her nose on the food. she walks very slowly. and has no enrrgy

Like my 2 dogs (one of mine anyway and other is just about there too) your dog is in the 'life expectency' for the breed ---12-15 yrs for the dachsund. I keep hoping mine will in the end die from old age and not from the disease and free of pain so I don't have to put them down---that being my worst fear.

I guess getting your dog to eat and drink is the best you can do (and giving the meds!). You didn't say what your dog's normal diet was but I think I would home-cook at this stage--You can control the salt/sodium and you might find something that hopefully would get your dog to eat. I feed mostly raw--never commercial dog food--and do a little home-cooking too. I believe the raw would be the healthiest but if your dog has never been fed that way--It might not like it and it also could cause problems trying to switch to raw with the dog's condition being what it is--It may cause detoxification which would be hard on a sick dog and if the immune system is already compromised--not a good idea either. I would give some supplements/vitamins also. One vitamin--B50 (use human grade) will be lost when a dog pees alot which is what the meds should be causing to happen! B vitamins are suppose to be good to increase an appetite too. I would look into fish oil too but be sure you also give Vitamin E as the fish oil can deplete Vitamin E from the system. I have always given CoQ10--which is suppose to be good for the heart. I give 30mg capsules. (All supplements are human grade) I am hoping/thinking that the links I gave you go into supplements in more detail.

Of course the condition is contributing to lack of an appetite. But have you checked the side effects of the meds which could be part of the problem too. How long has she been on the meds?? I hope your vet gave you 'print-outs' on these meds!! Did your vet tell you that tests should be done after being on the meds to see how they are effecting the kidneys, electrolytes, etc??
Sometimes the meds have to be changed if your dog is having problems with one of the meds!

This is off the 'net'--->
For dogs with a chronic illness that don't want to eat, try cooking food for them. Mix cooked ground turkey or beef with rice and veggies. Home-cooked food is often more palatable than regular dog food. Whatever the dog wants to eat is what you should feed her. You can try warming her meals slightly or adding some baby food to make it easier to chew.I don't agree with giving baby food as it has a lot of salt--Be careful! Offering small meals every couple hours can also help her to not feel overly full and nauseous.


Also off the net:
The Effects of Not Eating
A decrease in appetite is often the first sign of illness, followed by a complete loss of appetite and a refusal to eat. Often, the pet will also stop drinking, which is a very urgent situation, as dehydration can lead to organ failure in a matter of hours.

Lethargy is also a common early sign of illness, as failure to eat leads to hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar, which can result in lethargy, weakness and trembling.

“One of the simplest ways to combat lethargy is to boost blood sugar with honey or maple syrup, given every four to six hours. I recommend this for any pet who has stopped eating,” explained Dr. Levine, who added that rubbing the syrup or honey on the gums can help in instances where the pet will not lick it voluntarily.(Please don't use honey as it may cause botulism in a dog with a compromised immune system!!!)

The sugar contained in the honey or maple syrup will help reverse the effects of hypoglycemia, and in many cases this will trigger the pet to resume eating and drinking. One large spoonful is sufficient for every 20 pounds of body weight, given every four to six hours, depending on the animal’s activity level (more activity requires more sugar).

Failure to eat can also lead to a circular problem, as when the stomach is empty for an extended period of time, the organ’s lining can become inflamed and irritated by the bile and excess stomach acids that accumulate. This can lead to nausea, vomiting of a clear yellow liquid and a continued refusal to eat due to an upset stomach.

“If your pet has not resumed eating within 24 hours, or if he’s showing any other signs of illness, it’s important to get him to the vet as soon as possible because a failure to eat weakens the body, and this allows illness to get a better foothold,” Dr. Levine explained.


Dogs like the taste of garlic, so mix a small amount of finely chopped fresh garlic (one-eighth to one-fourth of a teaspoon depending on the size of the dog) to their food. The garlic taste may coax them to eat.

Here is a link to a thread I did in here on Foods that are Hazardous to Your Dog: Foods that are hazardous to a dog
I hope you will read it . It is a long informative thread!

[Todd]

I'm so sorry to hear about this.

When a dog stops eating that's usually the time to put him/her down but in this case I believe that you need to get an exact diagnosis from a vet and set up[ a treatment plan. This could improve things greatly and still provide her with at least a couple more quality years of life. You don't have an exact diagnosis from a vet yet right? An exact diagnosis can be very important when beginning a treatment plan, just like Corky and Max were diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Has your vet mentioned Mitral Insufficiency? Your dog may have this. Here's its definition from the net;

Mitral valve insufficiency

Heart failure in older dogs is usually due to problems with the mitral valve of the heart, and occurs most commonly in smaller breeds, such as Poodles, Yorkies, Pugs, Pomeranians, Lhasas, etc. As the dog ages, the mitral valve between the left atrium and left ventricle starts to fail. A heart valve is designed to prevent back flow. Blood can be easily pumped through the valve, but once the more forward chamber is filled, the valve closes to prevent blood from flowing backwards into the atrium. These valves greatly increase the efficiency of the heart as a pump, since the blood only has to be pumped once to keep it moving forward from one chamber to another chamber. No blood is spilling back, which would require additional effort to move it forward. In the case of a mitral valve disorder (referred to as mitral insufficiency), the valve ages and shrinks and thereby fails to completely close off the area on the left side of the heart between the two chambers. The left ventricle is very strong, and with mitral insufficiency, it easily forces a portion of the blood backward into the left atrium with each heartbeat. The pressure of blood within a normally functioning heart is highest in the left ventricle, as it is required to move the blood throughout the entire body. When blood flows backwards into the atrium, it elevates the blood pressure in that chamber and even further back into the lung field. There are additional complications, which increase pressures in the right side of the heart as it attempts to correctly pump blood forward into the lungs for oxygenation. Confronted with this elevated pressure within the lung field, the right side of the heart must work harder in moving the blood into the area.

Symptoms: The result of mitral insufficiency is elevated blood pressure within both the lung field and right side of the heart. The symptoms caused by this condition are very predictable. When hypertension (higher than normal blood pressure) occurs within the lungs, fluid actually leaves the blood vessels and leaks into the tissues. The medical term used to describe 'fluid in the lungs' is 'pulmonary edema.' This causes the affected individual to cough in an attempt to clear the lungs of the fluid, just as you would do with a chest cold. The cough that typically occurs after exercise, excitement, or when the animal has first gotten up after sleeping is the first clinical symptom noted with mitral insufficiency. In most cases, this is controlled with diuretics that cause the animal to urinate more and thereby remove excess fluids from his lungs.

As the condition progresses, the right side of the heart starts to fail because of its increased work and elevated pressures. At first the muscles strengthen, thereby increasing the mass and thickness of its walls. Over time, however, even these 'athletic' muscles cannot keep up with the ever-increasing pressures and they start to fail. During this latter stage of the disorder, the animal will be weaker and tire more easily, maybe even faint.

Treatment: Medications are used to strengthen and coordinate the muscles' contractions and they will help (and possibly eliminate) the clinical signs. These medications include digoxin and angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitor such as enalapril. Diuretics (water pills) such as Lasix can help remove the excess fluid that can accumulate in the lungs. Diets lower in sodium may assist in decreasing the fluid build-up. Limited exercise may be beneficial, however, consult with your veterinarian before starting your dog on an exercise program. Regardless of treatment, anatomical changes continue to occur internally so the medications will only slow down the progression of the disease. Even with therapy, the condition usually worsens over time, and in many cases, finally results in the death of the animal.

Prevention: There are few things that can be done to prevent mitral valve insufficiency. Diagnosing the disease earlier in its course is very helpful in slowing the progression. Notify your veterinarian of any signs of heart failure in your dog. Keeping your dog healthy and at his ideal weight can lessen the severity of symptoms if mitral insufficiency does occur. Valves of the heart can be injured by infection; this infection can result from severe dental problems, which allow bacteria from the mouth to enter the bloodstream. Good oral health then, is also important.

*Does this sound like it may be the problem? Even if so, it is still very important to get an exact diagnosis from your vet to be sure.

If this ends up being the issue, here are some more treatment options both from the net and my personal brain...;

Diuretics, vasodilators, angiotensin converting-enzyme inhibitors, and positive inotropic drugs all have the demonstrated capacity to lessen the severity of mitral regurgitation under certain conditions. The relative merits of specific agents vary with the clinical circumstances of each patient. In general, patients with acute congestive heart failure respond best to diuretics and rapidly acting vasodilators. The current standard of therapy for dogs with chronic congestive heart failure due to mitral regurgitation is combination therapy using furosemide, an ACE inhibitor, and digoxin. Such therapy is sometimes referred to as "triple-drug" therapy. The value of newer agents, such as the inodilator pimobendan, has not been sufficiently evaluated either as sole therapy or in combination with other drugs. Dogs requiring medical therapy to control the signs of heart failure should avoid strenuous exercise. Increasingly severe exercise restriction should be enforced as the disease progresses. The prognosis varies with the stage of the disease and it is currently impossible to predict the rate of progression for an individual patient.

A type of drugs called ACE inhibitors to reduce blood volume and pressure so as to relieve stress on the heart and to slow the deterioration of the heart muscles.

A diuretic to stimulate the kidneys to remove excessive fluid that is often built up in the lungs and abdomen

A digitalis-type drug to control an excessively fast heart rate

Now here are some natural remedies to compliment conventional treatment to strengthen the heart as a whole;

A lack of Vitamin E or selenium is known to cause damage to the heart muscles so consider supplementing the dog's diet with some.

Regular exercise but not too much at a time or too much running because of the stress it can put on the heart. Moderate, slow exercise is helpful though.

Healthy diet that's low in sodium. Raw or homemade is best but also high quality kibble is another option. What are you currently feeding?

[CorkyMax]

This is some info off the 'net' too. This is mainly pertaining to a sick dog but the info works for your dog and not eating or drinking.

Make Sure They Get Enough Fluids

Making sure your dog gets enough liquids is the most important part of her nursing care. Loss of body fluids and salt is much more dangerous than going hungry: this can cause her kidneys to shut down and even damage them permanently. So regardless of how sick she is, be certain she gets 20 milliliters per kilogram of body-weight each day. If she's drinking on her own, keep her water dish full, clean and fresh.

Be on the lookout for signs of dehydration. One of the first signals is decreased elasticity of the skin, which you can test by picking up a fold from the middle of her back and then letting it go-the skin should spring immediately back into place. If it returns slowly or creates a tent, the dog is dehydrated. Other signs include drying of the mucous membrane inside the mouth and eyes, sunken eyes, and some appearance of shock. If you notice any of these signs, call the vet at once.

If your dog is vomiting or has diarrhea, her chances of dehydrating increase. With diarrhea, concentrate on replacing her fluids, but you can also try human kaolin or other diarrhea mixtures to control her bowel movements. With vomiting, give her a half a teaspoon of milk of magnesia to help the problem. If you have doubts, check with your vet before giving her these substances.

In any case, if she appears not be drinking on her own, give her frequent small doses of glucose and water, salt and water, or just plain water by pouring liquid into her mouth from a small bottle or using a syringe without the needle or even a turkey baster to squirt it in. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is inserting the liquid between the outer surfaces of her molars and her cheek. Place your finger in that space and pull her cheek out slightly to make a "pocket," then pour or squirt small amounts inside. This works best if you tilt your dog's muzzle up and hold it there until you remove your finger and she swallows. Be careful not to raise the muzzle too high or give her too much because she might choke. If your dog will not take fluids orally despite your best efforts, call your vet; your dog may have to receive her fluids intravenously.

Feeding Your Dog

Good nutrition is always important for your dog, but it is especially so when she's recovering from an injury or illness. In fact, the balance of nutrients she needs may be different during the time she's recuperating-more protein to promote cell repair and fight infection, more fats and carbohydrates for the extra energy needed, and certain vitamins and minerals that promote healing. Check with your vet to see what you should be feeding the dog as she gets better and follow these tips to make eating easier for your ailing pet:

•Feed her a little at a time and often-for example, divide the daily allowance of food into two to four small meals.
•Warm the food to just below your dog's body temperature. Do not give her really hot food.
•Leave the food down 10 or 15 minutes and then remove it (after she finishes eating, of course). Dogs are more likely to eat fresh food than a dish that's been sitting out for a while.
•Some dogs like a little spice, like garlic powder. Ask your vet about what flavorings would be acceptable for your dog. Of course, your dog just may not feel like eating. If this is the case, you'll have to force-feed her. The easiest way to accomplish this is liquefy the food by adding water and then feed it to her as a fluid (use the method described above). Again, give her several small meals (a few teaspoons of food every 2 to 3 hours) rather than one large one. If you give her too much, she may vomit it back up.

This is also off the net and sounds good to do--also be sure to read the responses to the article!: Helping a Dog Who Won't Eat: Wondering, "Why Won't My Dog Eat?" Treatments for the Inappetant Dog

[Todd]

CONT...

Herbs are great too!

Herbs can be used to tackle dog heart problems from three approaches:
Using heart-supporting herbs to strengthen the heart.
Using diuretic herbs to stimulate the kidneys to eliminate the excess fluids in the lungs and/or other organs.
Using other supportive herbs to stimulate blood circulation.
Here are some great herbs that can be used on dogs with heart problems:

Hawthorn

Hawthorn is the herb for the heart. It normalizes heart activity by strengthening a weak or erratic heartbeat and it also dilates blood vessels of the heart and the brain. In addition, it is an antioxidant that helps remove free radicals that take away oxygen from the blood. It is a safe herb and can be used as a tonic for dogs with a weakened heart.

Ginkgo

Ginkgo acts on both the cardiovascular and nervous systems. In particular, it improves circulation by preventing or reducing the release of platelet-activating factor (PAF), the substance that increases blood stickiness. Ginkgo also maintains the elasticity of the blood vessels.

Dandelion

When a dog's heart is not pumping strong enough, causing fluid to build up in the lungs or other areas, a diuretic drug or herb can be used to help reduce the fluid build-up, thus reducing the load on the heart. Dandelion is a mild diuretic that also supports the liver and rich in potassium. Using dandelion is better than using diuretic drugs (e.g. furosemide) since such drugs usually deplete the body of potassium, causing adverse effects on all muscles including of course heart muscles.

Parsley

Parsley is a mild diuretic and it is also effective for liver support.

Cayenne

Cayenne is considered a tonic herb but it is extremely helpful for dogs with heart problems because cayenne stimulates blood circulation. In addition, it strengthens the heart, blood vessels and nerves.

Siberian Ginseng

Ginseng has been used for thousands of years in Asia as a tonic, especially for the heart.

When used as a heart tonic to treat dog heart problems, ginseng regulates heart rate and provides much needed energy and vitality to old dogs and those who are suffering from heart problems.

Garlic

A compound in garlic is effective at preventing blood clot formation in the vascular system. It can also reduce cholesterol levels and fat buildup in the arteries (atheorsclerosis). Therefore, it is an excellent cardiovascular tonic for dogs with heart problems.

Top

Supplements for Dog Heart Problems

Natural nutritional supplements should be given to your dog if he has heart disease. The following supplements are essential:

Coenzyme Q10

This enzyme is beneficial to the heart. It acts as an antioxidant that strengthens the heart muscles and improves heart muscle oxygenation.
Here is a good natural product of CoQ10: Vetri-Science Coenzyme Q10 - 10 mg

Vitamins A, B6, C, and E

These vitamins are antioxidants and are essential as they help remove free radicals from the body, thus preventing damage caused to the heart by the free radicals.

Essential Fatty Acids

Fatty acids, such as fish oil, evening primrose, or borage oil, are also beneficial to heart patients since they help protect muscle cells.
A great product can be found here: Integrative Therapeutics Eskimo 3 Fish Oil

Amino Acids - L-Taurine and L-Carnitine
L-Carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid which plays a vital role in the metabolism of fat. To put it simply, it enables cells to carry fatty acids (fuel) to the heart.

L-Taurine is a building block for all the other amino acids. L-Taurine is found to be able to reduce the risk of heart disease risk by maintaining a normal output of potassium from the heart muscles.
If you dog is suffering from heart disease, supplementing him with these amino acids can greatly improve the condition. It is also advisable to start supplementing your dog with these amino acids if he is starting to show some signs of heart failure.

Magnesium and Selenium

These two minerals are essential in improving heart function.
Natural Supplements for Dog Heart Problems - Good Products
Vetri-Science Cardio-Strength for Cats/Small Dogs 30 Caps

This formula contains cardio-support vitamins, minerals and amino acids such as L-Taurine, L-Carnitine, Dimethylglycine (DMG), EPA, Vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, Magnesium, Potassium and Selenium. It supports cardiovascular function and is beneficial to dogs (and cats!) with low cardio output, and those experiencing weakness or difficulty breathing. It is also a must for elderly dogs or for those at risk for heart disease.
Genesis Resources Canine Cardiovascular Support for Dogs

Another highly effective formula that benefits the entire cardiovascular system. It contains Vitamin E, Magnesium, Selenium, Grape Seed extract, CoQ10, Hawthorn, and Siberian Ginseng. Highly recommended for dogs with congestive heart failure or other congenital heart abnormalities.

Animals' Apawthecary Hawthorn Plus

This herbal formula include hawthorn, ginkgo, and garlic. It provides circulatory support in dogs through the antioxidant and strenthening activities of these herbs.

*As far a not drinking enough water goes, the dog should be prompted to drink more because it will assist the kidneys get rid of the built up fluid in the lungs. try mixing in some chicken stock/broth or yogurt in there. Fish or olive oil too if the dog likes it. Careful with the chicken stock though. Make sure it's low sodium.

Good luck and try and get an official diagnosis.

Todd

[CorkyMax]

Also want to try and give you some ideas on foods to try to get your dog to eat:
oatmeal--add a raw egg to it--Here is how I do oatmeal:For the morning meal they get mostly cooked oatmeal with various additions added in like eggs--raw yolk added in after oatmeal has cooled some. The egg white, I stir into the oatmeal as soon as I take it off the stove and this turns the egg white 'white' and means it is cooked--I may put meat tidbits in too--cooked pcs of chicken usually. I just found out recently that they even like cinnamon in their oatmeal. Note: I use minute oatmeal and cook it for about 3 minutes to make sure it is easier to digest--Dogs don't do grains well.

Your dog needs protein! Egg is the most complete protein there is! This does not mean an egg has as much protein as meat but that it is the most 'whole'
protein. If you can get her to eat some liver--(organic)-that is good too but do not feed organ/liver meats like regular meat--too rich--I would only give about a Tbsp or 2 in your dog's case right at this time if not eating enough other food--could cause diarrhea, etc. Beef heart is good for the heart too--lots of taurine in it too. Try some crushed fine garlic with the meal too but do not give more than 1 clove a day--This is from the onion family and even though you do not feed onion to a dog--the garlic is weaker than the onion and has a lot of good pluses, but you have to feed in small amounts!
You might try scrambling or poaching an egg or 2--no salt/bacon! Maybe a bit of butter--I hope you do not use margarine (car wax---I have an article on margarine I am going to have to put in this forum under Off Topic--be looking for it in the next couple of days!)

Try low salt peanut butter--Jif has a low sodium kind for sure. If your dog's tummy is quessy (mispelled)--Keep it small amount. Animals tend to like peanut butter--even deer! In looking at Jif I have: 1 Tbsp has 95 calories and 33 mg. sodium--4g of protein and 8g of fat with only 1 and a half g of the fat being saturated fat--And your dog needs some fat in it's diet! Do you have a bread machine? If so, try making oatmeal bread minus the salt. You could try mixing small chunks of this bread with the eggs, etc. Try small chunks with some butter or peanut butter--or use as a soaker for homemade chicken broth made without salt.--warm of course. If your dog likes garlic, you could add a little crushed to this mixture too. Your dog would prob. like cheese but too much salt--Is there such a cheese that is low salt? Yes, cottage cheese is salty too! Now this is just my take on the chicken and rice
--To me that is too bland and is for a dog that is recovering from surgery or for stomach or intestinal upsets. I can't see it as something to increase the appetite. Wonder if she would eat a home-made stew of beef and mashed fine veggies (dogs do not get the nutrients out of veggies unless crushed (pulverized) as the dog cannot break down the cellulose walls of veggies. Cook the veggies --potatoes-sweet potatoes (or yams)--carrots--green beans (frozen or fresh)--never canned--salty and lacking most of the nutrients because processed. Don't overcook the veggies as the heat destroys a lot of the nutrients (one of the main reasons I prefer raw feeding over cooked). To check out which more veggies to use in your stew--->

Check out this thread I did on veggies a while back:About Feeding Fruits & Vegetables

You should also use equal amounts of above ground veggies (green beans, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) to below ground veggies (carrots, yams, potatoes) And if you only use 1 of each for the stew for a total of 2 veggies --that would be enough! You might add crushed garlic to this stew and even add some home-made buttered bread chunks after cooking --whatever will try to get your dog to eat--experiment!

This is not the best thing but might get the appetite going and I wouldn't give too much--And please never give the dog anything with Splenda or other artificial sugars--dangerous--see the thread on Foods that are Hazardous to your Dog!-----ice cream--vanilla I would think best--definitely not chocolate or nuts.--Check the sodium content first too!

Guess that is all for tonight--getting late. Lol, I will prob. be thinking up foods in my sleep or at least when I first get into bed---If I think of something else --will be back tomorrow! I hope some of these ideas work for your dog--Got to get that dog eating and drinking. A way to get your dog to drink more water is to add a little vinegar as that makes them thirstier but it might backfire in this case as maybe she wouldn't drink any at all! I don't know. My 2 boys get vinegar (a tsp. a piece) in every supper meal. Have done this for long time. Here is why: What About Vinegar!!

That is a long thread also and very informative!

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

Also want to try and give you some ideas on foods to try to get your dog to eat:
oatmeal--add a raw egg to it--Here is how I do oatmeal:For the morning meal they get mostly cooked oatmeal with various additions added in like eggs--raw yolk added in after oatmeal has cooled some. The egg white, I stir into the oatmeal as soon as I take it off the stove and this turns the egg white 'white' and means it is cooked--I may put meat tidbits in too--cooked pcs of chicken usually. I just found out recently that they even like cinnamon in their oatmeal. Note: I use minute oatmeal and cook it for about 3 minutes to make sure it is easier to digest--Dogs don't do grains well.

Your dog needs protein! Egg is the most complete protein there is! This does not mean an egg has as much protein as meat but that it is the most 'whole'
protein. If you can get her to eat some liver--(organic)-that is good too but do not feed organ/liver meats like regular meat--too rich--I would only give about a Tbsp or 2 in your dog's case right at this time if not eating enough other food--could cause diarrhea, etc. Beef heart is good for the heart too--lots of taurine in it too. Try some crushed fine garlic with the meal too but do not give more than 1 clove a day--This is from the onion family and even though you do not feed onion to a dog--the garlic is weaker than the onion and has a lot of good pluses, but you have to feed in small amounts!
You might try scrambling or poaching an egg or 2--no salt/bacon! Maybe a bit of butter--I hope you do not use margarine (car wax---I have an article on margarine I am going to have to put in this forum under Off Topic--be looking for it in the next couple of days!)

Try low salt peanut butter--Jif has a low sodium kind for sure. If your dog's tummy is quessy (mispelled)--Keep it small amount. Animals tend to like peanut butter--even deer! In looking at Jif I have: 1 Tbsp has 95 calories and 33 mg. sodium--4g of protein and 8g of fat with only 1 and a half g of the fat being saturated fat--And your dog needs some fat in it's diet! Do you have a bread machine? If so, try making oatmeal bread minus the salt. You could try mixing small chunks of this bread with the eggs, etc. Try small chunks with some butter or peanut butter--or use as a soaker for homemade chicken broth made without salt.--warm of course. If your dog likes garlic, you could add a little crushed to this mixture too. Your dog would prob. like cheese but too much salt--Is there such a cheese that is low salt? Yes, cottage cheese is salty too! Now this is just my take on the chicken and rice
--To me that is too bland and is for a dog that is recovering from surgery or for stomach or intestinal upsets. I can't see it as something to increase the appetite. Wonder if she would eat a home-made stew of beef and mashed fine veggies (dogs do not get the nutrients out of veggies unless crushed (pulverized) as the dog cannot break down the cellulose walls of veggies. Cook the veggies --potatoes-sweet potatoes (or yams)--carrots--green beans (frozen or fresh)--never canned--salty and lacking most of the nutrients because processed. Don't overcook the veggies as the heat destroys a lot of the nutrients (one of the main reasons I prefer raw feeding over cooked). Be right back!

Meats like turkey and chicken are great too for more protein intake as well as fluids because they are also comprised of a high amount of moisture unlike kibble!