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Post by maidmarcia on Feb 11, 2013 8:52:05 GMT -5
Hi all,
I've been feeding Licorice Kirkland since I got him. It has had the best affect on his stomach... No diarrhea and very minimal farting.
These past two weeks though, Licorice has been refusing to eat. Usually when I would put the food out he would run over and gobble it right down.
Now he goes over, looks at his dish and then goes and lays down. He might eat a bit later, but he no longer scarfs it down like he used to.
This morning I put out his breakfast and he didn't touch it. I tried to hold the bowl up to his mouth and he only ate a tiny mouthful.
Like I said, he's been eating it for almost two years and I've never had this problem!
I don't know if he's acting like a diva or if something else is going on. His stool is pretty much the same and he isn't farting more often than not. I've tried switching to other types of Kirkland (salmon, turkey, lamb and rice, chicken) and it's the same thing!
Help!
He's perfectly healthy. He goes for runs and has a great coat. He doesn't have a temp or anything else going on that is apparent.
The only change to his routine is that someone locked off the yard we used to run him in so he hasn't been able to run and play as much as he used to.
We're also moving soon so everything is going into boxes and the apartment is a bit chaotic. Could this affect him at all?
He's not straining when he poops so he's not constipated.
I'm at a loss! I'm also more of a tough love person so I've been trying to wait this out and it's a real battle of the wills! I don't want to give in and start giving him fancier foods that he'll get used to but I don't know what else to do!
Usually my mantra is--if he gets hungry enough, he'll eat. Is this true with greyhounds?
A little advice would be much appreciated!!!
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Post by campgreyhound on Feb 11, 2013 10:36:01 GMT -5
Getting ready to move can definitely make a difference to a hound, stress could be partially responsible, but what you describe to me sounds like a tooth problem. Check his mouth, especially the back teeth, and see how they look.
I'm a toughie with my younger dogs, no one has ever gone past the third night without eating. The seniors I spoil rotten and they get whatever they want or will eat, even if I have to hand feed them. This starts at 11 and goes for as long as they're enjoying their lives. I have been known to cook kraft dinner for a old hound that would not eat lol.
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Midge
Grey Lover
Posts: 891
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Post by Midge on Feb 11, 2013 12:00:17 GMT -5
Everything Karen said plus one little thing. We fed our guys Kirkland for years. Riggin never had a problem (hoovermouthitis) and Millie's (13 1/2, so really getting up there) always an on-again, off-again, eater because her activity level really fluctuates with the weather. Holly is our true picky eater, she just won't eat if her food is in any way different. I think Kirkland switches their brand suppliers every once in a while. Same ingredients, but sometimes the kibble isn't the same size from one bag to the next or it even smells a little different (please tell me I'm not the only one who would notice that!).
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Midge
Grey Lover
Posts: 891
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Post by Midge on Feb 11, 2013 12:04:20 GMT -5
Getting ready to move can definitely make a difference to a hound, stress could be partially responsible, but what you describe to me sounds like a tooth problem. Check his mouth, especially the back teeth, and see how they look. I'm a toughie with my younger dogs, no one has ever gone past the third night without eating. The seniors I spoil rotten and they get whatever they want or will eat, even if I have to hand feed them. This starts at 11 and goes for as long as they're enjoying their lives. I have been known to cook kraft dinner for a old hound that would not eat lol. Kraft dinner... really? I'm always looking for new ways to spoil Millie, Kraft dinner won't upset stomachs at all? She's only got three teeth, and none of those are molars, she could probably handle macaroni (LOL, no problems with the spaghetti dinner!).
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Post by campgreyhound on Feb 11, 2013 13:32:22 GMT -5
Getting ready to move can definitely make a difference to a hound, stress could be partially responsible, but what you describe to me sounds like a tooth problem. Check his mouth, especially the back teeth, and see how they look. I'm a toughie with my younger dogs, no one has ever gone past the third night without eating. The seniors I spoil rotten and they get whatever they want or will eat, even if I have to hand feed them. This starts at 11 and goes for as long as they're enjoying their lives. I have been known to cook kraft dinner for a old hound that would not eat lol. Kraft dinner... really? I'm always looking for new ways to spoil Millie, Kraft dinner won't upset stomachs at all? She's only got three teeth, and none of those are molars, she could probably handle macaroni (LOL, no problems with the spaghetti dinner!). Yup, it's actually the only thing that Bailey would eat after his brother died. Of course, plain old cheese usually works really well too! If I made it with any regularity, I would make real mac and cheese, the sauce from the KD is just food coloring and cornsyrup and chemicals yuck. Oatmeal made with beef broth instead of water was also popular with the finicky eaters. The most popular is cooked turkey in turkey broth. I just stick a small turkey or turkey parts in a pot, cover with water and simmer for several hours until the meat falls off the bone. Then I go through and remove the bones, you can puree what's left or leave the cooked meats in chunks and serve in the broth. Excellent for sickies or seniors!
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Midge
Grey Lover
Posts: 891
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Post by Midge on Feb 11, 2013 18:00:05 GMT -5
Yup, it's actually the only thing that Bailey would eat after his brother died. Of course, plain old cheese usually works really well too! If I made it with any regularity, I would make real mac and cheese, the sauce from the KD is just food coloring and cornsyrup and chemicals yuck. Oatmeal made with beef broth instead of water was also popular with the finicky eaters. The most popular is cooked turkey in turkey broth. I just stick a small turkey or turkey parts in a pot, cover with water and simmer for several hours until the meat falls off the bone. Then I go through and remove the bones, you can puree what's left or leave the cooked meats in chunks and serve in the broth. Excellent for sickies or seniors! And didn't you just become Millie's newest BFF, LOL. Three teeth and Laryngeal Paralysis, we're pretty careful with what we give her. But I just love spoiling her a bit because she's special (and knows it). Yeah, we're so darned careful then she goes out and eats poop. She's learned how to use the muzzle with poop guard like some bizarre form of ice cream scoop. I love my little canine version of Betty White (all innocent and granny-like until the swearing starts), but don't kiss her on the lips.
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Post by micnmike on Feb 11, 2013 19:04:10 GMT -5
How is Licorice when it comes to treats? Does he resist at all, take longer to eat them? If he is being really careful as how to eat them, it could be a tooth. Are his gums red, swollen, any bumps on the gums, worse breathe than usual? Try cooking(brown if you can) minute rice in a broth and offering it, if it is a tooth, he will be able to eat it and keep his strength up until you can get him to a vet and get to the bottem of this.
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moncheri
Grey Addicted
Broodies are the best!
Posts: 2,843
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Post by moncheri on Feb 11, 2013 19:12:28 GMT -5
Yes I can attest to the turkey broth....I don't think I have ver told Karen this but after Buffy's first stay at Campgreyhound,i now cook up a turkey neck & turkey leg most weekends in the crock pot. The broth lasts about. 1 week (unless I use some for human turkey soup) and the meat supplements a couple of meals! Buffy absolutely loves it!
As far as advice for licorice, try making the kibble enticing with a can of sardines (unflavoured and in spring water) thrown over top or some turkey broth/chicken broth. If still same refusal to eat then my guess is a medical issue (teeth like Karen said) or nausea. Not to concern you, but when my first grey Chicky was first ill she wanted to eat but then barely took a couple of mouth fills, even if I hand fed her favorite dishes. The bile was backing up in her gut which upset her stomach so as hungry as she was she just couldn't eat.
Good luck and keep us posted.
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Post by maidmarcia on Feb 12, 2013 13:01:51 GMT -5
Hi everyone, thanks for the ideas! Licorice (luckily enough) has FANTASTIC teeth. I should post a picture sometime. He's still eating treats and I gave him a bone yesterday that he crunched down.
It seems as though he'll only eat supper nowadays. Last night he gobbled down his meal whereas in the morning he picked at it. I have no idea why???! It's so strange.
I would have no problems food spoiling if he was 11! Senior dogs definitely deserve to enjoy their meals in their golden years. He's only 6 though...
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Post by campgreyhound on Feb 12, 2013 14:28:47 GMT -5
If he's not losing weight or lethargic, this could just be his metabolism slowing down, as it does when they come off the track. You could start just giving him a snack in the morning and his main meal at night, I do that with my younger dogs that don't want breakfast anymore. It's just self-regulation.
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Post by Heather (& KC) on Feb 13, 2013 7:14:41 GMT -5
He's just trying to maintain his waistline!! ;D If he's not losing weight or lethargic, this could just be his metabolism slowing down, as it does when they come off the track. You could start just giving him a snack in the morning and his main meal at night, I do that with my younger dogs that don't want breakfast anymore. It's just self-regulation.
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Post by campgreyhound on Feb 13, 2013 10:01:03 GMT -5
That's exactly it Heather! They are very concerned with fitness He's just trying to maintain his waistline!! ;D If he's not losing weight or lethargic, this could just be his metabolism slowing down, as it does when they come off the track. You could start just giving him a snack in the morning and his main meal at night, I do that with my younger dogs that don't want breakfast anymore. It's just self-regulation.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2013 15:41:35 GMT -5
Well, they are former athletes...
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Post by luvastorm on Feb 15, 2013 14:32:56 GMT -5
We feed a small meal in the morning then a big dinner. For quite awhile our Senior, Sunny was ignoring breakfast then recently she's started gobbling it down.
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Post by maidmarcia on Feb 26, 2013 9:36:07 GMT -5
Hi everyone!
I've noticed that if I take Licorice on a rejuvenating walk in the morning, he gobbles down his breakfast. I'm now trying to take him out every morning in order to get him eating. It works most days!
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