Living with a spoiled dog.

[mac78]

It has been over a year that we have been trying to figure out our doggie who is 13 now. She is a Boston Terrier/Jack Russell mix.

She had eating issues, been to the vet, and takes daily medicine for her liver and occasional potty issues. Potty issues related to low estrogen, so she takes an estrogen pill every three days. 2 other pills for her liver function each day.

Her eating....I still struggle daily to figure out what/if she will eat. I was making batches of homemade dog food, but found she would eat it for 2/3 days, then would not touch it, and I was spending a lot of money on making her food, only to throw it out because she "didn't want it anymore". Some days she will eat really well, somedays not so well. I keep saying to myself she will eat when she is hungry.

She loves to eat a bowl of Cheerios in the morning. So now I actually make her a bowl of Cheerios each morning and 99% of the time she will eat it. She likes blueberry PopTarts, and on the weekends I will fix one and cut it into pieces and she will eat that. She likes beef n noodles, chicken n noodles, a hamburger on bun cut up in bites, sausage gravy and biscuits, lot of good people food. The crazy thing is, she will eat it for 2/3 days, then won't eat it any more. Not sure why. She will eat chicken patties and any other kind of cooked chicken/turkey. When I offer her food, I try to make it a healthy choice for her, and offer her a good amount each time, because I never know from one offering to the next whether or not she will eat, and if she does I want her to eat healthy and plenty.

Some days it gets very frustrating. And then we say we have to "jump start" her, by taking a piece of the food and rubbing it onto her gums for her to taste. Occasionally we catch her eating dog food during the day, whether she does it during the night I don't know.

So that my friends is life with a picky eater doggie.

[ChapterTwo]

Well, Marie, I hate to say it (and I guess you know it, because you called your dog "spoiled"), but the things you're doing are contributing to your dog being a fussy eater. You put something in front of her and if she doesn't eat it, you scurry around to make something else.

I found these two statements on a website (http://www.petmd.com/dog/centers/nutrition/faq#.TzQE1_lGR-w) about dogs and nutrition:

80% of dog owners have the misconception that the nutrition for dogs and humans is similar.

Less than 10% of dog owners actually know the correct proportions of the key nutrients that dogs need.

You might want to take a look at that website, and other sites, concerning good nutrition for dogs.

Just like with little kids, pets often like what is not the best for them. First of all, the Cheerios for breakfast and Pop Tarts have definitely got to go...:o

I think you need to choose a good dog food (your vet might have suggestions) and just put it down for your dog in the morning. If she doesn't eat after a while take it up, and make sure no one in the household gives her table food or treats. Try it again, at dinnertime. My thought is that one of the times you put down the food, when she gets hungry enough, she'll eat.

I hope these suggestions help a little, Marie. Good luck!

[mac78]

When we first took our dog to the vet over a year ago, she had lost considerable weight. We now give her meds for her issues. The vet told us over a year ago, that she would probably never eat dog food again, and that it was very common for Boston Terriers to become picky in their old age. She is back to about 18/19 pounds, but continues to be picky. There are days we sit and listen to her guts growl because she has not eaten. While I know the pop tart is not a good choice, sometimes, getting her to eat anything is a plus.

We have in the past just left things go and only offer her dog food, and she has went for a couple days without eating.

I do have dog recipes from the vet. Thanks, I will check out the links.

[ChapterTwo]

Wow, you've had quite a problem. I know my mother used to cook liver, brown rice and vegetables for their Yorkie, who lived to be 19! :o (And you thought you were talking about "spoiled"?) :o

Here is a forum where Boston Terrier owners share thoughts about their problem eaters...maybe they'll offer some solutions, Marie! http://www.bostonterrierforums.com/forum/new-puppy-help/4945-picky-fussy-eater.html

When I was a little girl, the older lady across the street had an adorable Boston, named "Monkey"!

[Rory Bremner]

Our 13 year old beagle has become a little fussy on his food (if you can believe it), too. I guess it's an age related syndrome?

[ChapterTwo]

Maybe (as with mature folks, sometimes) older dogs lose a bit of their sense of taste, and so the food isn't so appealing.

[mac78]

It has been really hard this past year with her. One day she eats well, and the next not so well. Some days I get so stressed out trying to figure out what to feed her, as we will fix and offer her something, and she walks away. I have made a variety of homemade dog food, and she would eat it a few times, then won't touch it. Drives me nuts.:confused: I have bought top quality dog food, canned, kibbles, and moist, and the little turd will not eat it. GRR. Some days I give up.

The vet told me that her best friend has a 7 yr old Boston Terrier and that she makes dogfood for it, her dog won't eat dog food either.

I am actually thinking of buying her a "Thundercoat", to maybe curb her anxiety a bit. The reviews on them are good. Man, it is hell getting old, even when you are a dog.:(;)

[ChapterTwo]

I had never heard of a "Thundercoat", Marie, but I just looked it up on Google. What's different than buying a snug sweater?

Has your vet ever prescribed Reconcile? It's like Prozac, for dogs (although my cat was given a lower dosage prescription for his deafness-induced anxiety). It worked like a charm! It was originally designed for separation anxiety, in dogs, but works for a lot of anxiety issues.

[Gigi]

I'd love a Boston Terrier- Already named her..."LUCY" :)

[mac78]

I'd love a Boston Terrier- Already named her..."LUCY" :)

They are wonderful pets. My dad had a full Boston named Maggie, she was a very sweet and smart dog. We will be getting another one someday. Always said we would like to clone our Holly, best dog in the world.

Chapter Two....I will call my vet and ask about that medication. She did give us an anxiety drug for her, but it didn't seem to do anything for her. I have noticed sometimes when the little kids yell and scream and she hears it, she will shake and shake and it is horrible. She tends to find a spot to "hide" till the afternoons.

The Thundercoat, I figured it must have some type of pressure points on it. I don't really know. It is 100% guaranteed though. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[mac78]

Over a year ago, when I first started having problems with my dog concerning her behavior and eating issues, someone posted a place to buy organic/homeopathic things for animals. I think it may have been you. If so, can you please give me the name of the website.

If not, Does anyone remember?

Thanks much.

[vintage girl]

Marie I was the one who posted the site that carries homeopathic remedies for pets. I have been doing homeopathic for years and it does work. I know you have mentioned before that the daycare kids make her anxious. Is there anywhere that you can put her during the day where it is quiet and private? Also, the reason she eats well one day and not the next, is that the people food is upsetting her stomach. Although it tastes good at the moment, it causes stomach upset later on. Have you tried feeding her a raw diet? In the past when I had older finicky eaters, I made this recipe and the dogs loved it:

5 pounds ground meat
5 cups Total whole grain cereal
5 cups oats (slow cooking type)
2½ cups raw wheat germ
¾ cup oil
¾ cup molasses
6 egg yolks
5 packets gelatin
2 ½ tablespoons Solid Gold Seameal supplement

Mix up, form balls, freeze, feed as treats or food supplement.

Mix all ingredients together thoroughly like you would a meatloaf.
Roll into balls no larger than 1 inch diameter.
Divide into at least 6 separate containers or bags. Freeze. Thaw as needed for feeding.

This is called Satin Balls, and you can find various receipes for it on the internet, with the ingredients varying slightly. I have never had a dog turn this down. Might well be worth trying. Here is the info on the holistic dog remedies:)

http://www.nativeremedies.com/petalive/?ysmchn=MSN&ysmcpn=MSN+PetAlive&ysmgrp=PetAlive+HomePage&ysmtac=PPC

Also may want to try Blue Buffalo dog food. It is completely natural and I have had great look with it in the past with rescues that would not eat. This was the only dog food that they would touch. Here is the link:

http://bluebuffalo.com/compare-dog-food/?utm_campaign=MSNCPC&utm_source=MSN&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=holistic+dogs

I know how hard this is for you and you definately love your dog. It is difficult to see them go through things like this as they age. Hang in there and hopefully you can get your sweet dog through this.:)

[RoseMary]

Marie, you also might try to incorporate Brewer's Yeast (I buy the human supplement kind--Swanson Premium Brand) into her diet. It can also be purchased in tablets that are easy to chew. You could mix it with canned food or probably the great looking recipe that vintagegirl posted. It will help her absorb more nutrients from her foods when she does eat. If you can afford the raw diet, I think it would really help her. That's something I would like to do for our dogs and cats, but can't afford it.

I have a cat that will be 18 in a few weeks and she has had Brewer's Yeast supplements all her life and still looks great, though her age is showing in that her balance is not as good as it used to be--she's not such a great jumper anymore--which is sad for a cat.

[mac78]

Thank you for all the info. I made it to the city tonight, which is the only place I can get the "good" stuff. I bought a bag of Blue Buffalo, small breed. It was small kibbles. I opened the bag, and my dog ate it, but only out of our hands. She pry ate 1/3 cup at midnight. Either she was really really hungry, or she actually liked it. We will see what tomorrow brings.

I have been buying Nature's Recipe, which is also supposed to be a A rated dog food. I have caught her eating it some, but not very often.

I am going to order the Thundercoat, purchase some calming drops from the website mentioned, and only offer her the Blue Buffalo dogfood. I will look for the Brewer's Yeast also.

We have also made a place for her by the bed with a couple fuzzy blankets to lay on and bury herself in. A few months ago she started to go in and lay down by the bed during the morning hours, when the daycare kids are the most active. We made her a permanent spot and she goes there every morning after Dave leaves for work, so she does have a quiet spot to get away.

Thanks for the help ladies. Hopefully she will eat it tomorrow too.

[ChapterTwo]

One other thought, Marie. Don't hesitate to contact dog food companies and ask for samples. I was hesitant to spend $6.99 for a bag of the Purina cat food which helps prevent hairballs, because I don't have $ to toss around and then not have them eat it. So I called Purina and asked if they had a small sample bag. They were kind enough to send me a coupon for a free full-size bag, and my kitties loved the food and are now eating that full-time! :)

[mac78]

Friday night we went to PetSmart and bought a bag of Blue Buffalo, and 3 varieties of the canned Blue Buffalo. Friday night, Holly ate a good size serving of the kibbles out of our hands. Saturday, she would not touch it, I offered it to her several times. She ate nothing Saturday. Sunday morning about 11:30, I opened one of the cans, and she ate a good serving size. I told hubby to not give her anything else, except for the Blue Buffalo. Hopefully she will come around.

Thanks for the tip of calling for samples, I may do that, the Blue Buffalo was $20 per bag for 6 pound bag, cans were $2.59 I think. I know it is excellent quality.

I really do appreciate all the tips and suggestions.

[ChapterTwo]

Wow, I see you really have your problems, with her "on again, off again" eating. You're doing a good job of trying to help the situation, Marie. Good luck!

[vintage girl]

Marie,

One of the toughest dogs I ever rehabbed for rescue, was a long haired chi that had the same eating issues as your girl. The only thing that worked with her was Blue Buffalo. She still eats it on a regular basis, almost 2 years later. But she does the same thing, some days eats and than will have a day where she will not eat, or will only eat once a day. She is also an older dog and will only drink water if you give it to her out of a cup and you hold the cup. I was working on the water issue when I found a good home for her. Her current owner is an older lady and likes to pamper her, so she still holds the cup of water for her;) But she is diligent about the food and her dog is healthy and maintaining her weight, even when she goes a day without eating. Not quite sure what is so appealing about Blue Buffalo, but have never ever had a dog turn it down:D You are doing great, keep to your plan of only offering the Blue Buffalo and I think you will find it works. Take care and give your sweet dog a big hug from me:)

[mac78]

Thank you. We are on day 3 I think. She hasn't ate much. I have Blue Buffalo in the kibbles and in canned. She has ate both, but not a lot. Yesterday I offered her the canned 3 times, wouldn't eat, then I offered the kibbles with a little warm water, she ate it finally....Out of my hand:rolleyes:

[vintage girl]

I would not offer continuously. I always leave a bowl of kibble down for my dogs. When they want to eat they will. As far as canned food, it is offered once only (in the morning), if they eat, that is good, if not, they wait until the next morning. With your girl, I would leave a bowl of kibble out and offer the wet food in the morning and at night. If she does not eat it within a reasonable time, I would put it back in the fridge and offer it at night, etc etc. Sometimes constantly offering them food will backfire and they will not eat at all. It is tough to go through, but they will not starve. Hang in there:)

[mac78]

Thank you. I will follow your instructions. :)