Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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OK, we thought we had it covered, she ate the Natural Balance rolls after refusing other dog foods. Then she would eat home-cooked chicken, then eggs scrambled. Today she refuses all of it. Her tail is wagging, she is happy and in no pain. She is off the narcotics, 9 days post-op. This is seriously making me nuts. She starts chemo Thursday and I know she has to be eating to help her through this. She is already down a pound, to 14 pounds now. She won't even eat the stinky canned dog foods. The only thing that interests her is liverwurst and I can not give that to her everytime. She has always been an "eh" kind of eater who regulkated her intake well herself, but this is worrying me. Oh, and I have had to hand feed her several times and now she feels entitled to it. I thought of boiling chicken and adding stuff to it, but she is a very simple eater and does not really like added veggies. How can I help her eat in a healthy fashion?
Thanks,
Alicia
Maybe try a little soup. Boil the meat and veggies together. drain, and blend? A lot of the home cooked diets recommend this.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Ok I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but part of me thinks she's playing you like a violin (dogs are so smart that way!), and the other part thinks that perhaps she truly is feeling bad. Is she showing any signs of being nausteated? (drooling, dry heaves)
BUT, if she's hungry enough to want the liverwurst, I'm thinking that maybe she's waiting to see what's next on the menu? Has she ever challenged you with food before?
Yes, she needs to build up her strength. But the chemo is days away. Maybe you want to hold off food today and waited to see if that gets her appetite up?
Otherwise I would call your vet on Monday, maybe a blood workup can reveal any low values that are causing the decreased appeite.
I wish I could be more help here!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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I agree with Jerry that maybe she knows that if she holds out a little longer and turns up her nose that you will produce something cool and interesting. My dogs love getting little extras in their food and "know" when I am doing that. So I tried a little experiment and instead of adding yoghurt or broth (or other stuff to their food) I put a little water on the food and went through all the motions of making something special. It was just water and they ate it like I had cooked them steak. Too smart for their own good but I'm just a little bit smarter LOL.
I would stop hand feeding her, maybe in stages. At first I hand fed Radar a few times and then I hand fed him but had my hand resting in his food dish when I did it. A few times like that and then just sitting next to his dish while he ate - no probs and he didn't need hand feeding after that. Although I will admit that if he looks comfy I will bring his dish to him on occasion instead of making him get up.
If you need to give her an energy boost when she starts chemo - keep a tube of Nutrical on hand to give her some energy when she isn't eating full meals.
Thanks, all. I do think she is messing with my head. I really do not think she is in pain, she shows NO symptoms, and showed up when the others got treats today. I gave her nothing, so maybe that will make her hungry at dinner. I just have never had a food battle to deal with in one of our dogs, and I hate to start one now.
Something about Frenchie's, they tend to be a lot smarter than you would give them credit for, and the bulldog part makes them just plain stubborn.
Darn these dogs are smart 
Tai tried the same tricks on me. She would only eat if I fed her off of a spoon, which of course I did. My husband absolutely refused to entertain such a thought and she ate perfectly well out of her bowl for him. grrrrrrrrrr
I try not to fall for her dramatic acting but sometimes its really hard, I have to walk away and pretend I don't care if she eats or not, then she gobbles it up and licks the bowl 
Tai – 9 yr old lab. Diagnosed Osteosarcoma Dec 18/09. Front right leg amputated Dec 21/09. Started chemo Jan 7/10. Lung mets discovered Sept 16/10. Valiant to the end on Oct 26/10 when cancer reappeared in a leg and we made the decision to set her free. Forever in my heart where not even cancer can take her from me.
Sneaky dogs! Tonight I gave her her breakfast that she refused this morning, she refused again and I had my son come in, he showed it to her and she ate it. I have not given her anything tonight as far as snacks, I normally cook an egg and mix it with liverwurst, but no more. I am betting she will be hungry tomorrow! 
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