Category: Animal House
hello this is blackpanther and I need some ideas on how I can get my guide dog to eat her food at night because she is getting to skining
hmm. well, if she's gone off her food, maybe there's a problem? Perhaps you should take her to see a vet? It's unusual for dogs to go off their food unless there is something wrong with them.
I'd have to concur. And failing that try tempting him/her with food that has a stronger smell. From what I learned in my Vetenary assistance course dogs rely heavily on their sense of smell to know what tastes good, so, when a dog's habits change it can be do to something as minor as a cold that has the nose blocked, but as it could be much more major, I wouldn't let her lack of eating continue any longer then necessary. You could try placing food in her mouth and forcing her to eat it by not allowing her to spit it out and see if that activates the appitight, but then again, these are simply ways of tempting and information I personally have, and a vet should always be consulted...
If a dog, who has previously had a good appetite, refuses to eat, its not a good sign ..take her to the vet today.
agreed with goblin and everyone else here. the guide dog centre should be contacted and informed of this. After all, even though you have responsability for the dog, the guide dog centre are the owners of the dog, and maybe it needs a bit more training? dogs can forget stuff just like we can. good luck with getting your dog to eat. Oh yes, another thought I've just had, have you changed your dog's food lately? if so, this could be the problem. Always remember though that guide dogs often have special food which is calorie controlled for their breed/work etc, so giving the dog diffrent foods must be only done with the advice and full knowledge of the guide dog centre.
Although that may be true, not eating isn't a training issue. It sounds more like a health issue to me. My dog has occasionally not eaten but he is a shepherd and I was told shepherds may do that from time to time. He has never lost weight or gone for long periods without eating. If your dog has lost weight, I would definitely take him or her to a vet asap.
Additionally, depending on which school the dog is from, the original poster may have ownership. Just so you know that all guide dogs are not owned by the guide dog school they came from.
Have you tried feeding your dog apple cores?
I no this one blind woman, and she said that her dog loves apple cores.
I don't think that trying to feed the dog something like apple cores, is going to help matters. If the dog is not eating the food it is on, it could be for many reasons. Feeding it something that you don't plan to continue feeding it after it's appitite is regained, could be detromental to it's eating habbits in the future, pluss could create issues for the owner when working the dog, with scavingeing etc.
First of all, don't contact the guide dog school. It can be very detrimental to you and your dog. Even if you own your dog, that hasn't stopped overzellous, overly concerned, interfearing schools from prescribing foods and treatments that don't work and are unneccessary, sending in clueless field reps or even in some cases taking the dog away for no good reason. I have seen this happen several times to numerous friends and acquaintences. About the apple cores, if your dog doesn't normally have a very finicky stomach, you might try them. I would recccomend grinding them up in the blender first. Perhaps there is something in them that stimulates appatite. I would caussion you to not try other cores or pits. For example peach pits are highly poisoness and contain sionide. I would reccomend putting meat tenderizer on your dogs food. It may make it more intiseing, and it can also descourage stool eating if that ever becomes a problem. Ninety-eight percent lean ground beef and slightly over cooked white rice with no additional seasoning might also help. It is also helpful for diaria and upset stomachs. You might try a cooked, never raw egg, yoke and egg white mixed in with her food, or a whole milk real and natural cheese grated on top. A whole cooked egg once every two weeks can improve coat health and appearance as well. You might try puppialight. It is similar to pedialight. It replaces electrolights vitimins and minerals. It is usually meat or pultry flavored and is a liquid that you can offer in the dogs water dish in place of water. They won't usually drink it if it is mixed in with their drinking water.It is very helpful for dogs with stomach upset and especially vomiting, diaria, or malnutrition or dihydration due to depression or sickness. It is not always called puppialight, their are other generic brands out there, that probably work just as well. I hope that helps. Also try putting, warm, not hot, but warm water on your dogs food to soften it up. Perhaps your dog has a tooth problem or soar throat or mouth that can be discouraging it from eating. Hug that dog and kiss her furry little head and be sure to do lots of playing massaging and petting, talk to her, that alone may solve the problem.