Feeding advice?? - Page 1

Okay, so I have a 10 1/2 month old intact Belgian Mal. male. Lately he hasn't been wanting to eat. Took him to the vet, everything's good.  I'm noticing the lack of appetite goes along with the fact he's started to mark areas in the yard. Maybe a hormone change. Not sure if this would have anything to do with it or not. I feed Blue Buffalo Wilderness for Puppies which he was eating just fine. He weighs about 80 lbs right now, he's a big boy.  I'm also boiling beef trimmings for him but he won't eat them----he did once or twice and then wasn't interested. He will eat boiled chicken breast but there isn't much fat in that. Not going to feed raw, he got very sick when I tried it. Any tips would be appreciated. Thank you.

You could try adding a few tablespoons of a good grain free canned food. Mix it in with the kibble and add some warm water and let it sit for a bit so the flavours of the canned mix in, then sprinkle a bit of parmesian cheese on top. Hmmmm. now I'm hungry!! My chow loves the Wellness grain free turkey canned.

Just took my male back to the vet this morning. He thinks it might be a bacteria issue. He gave me some prescription diet i/d food, some pills to thicken up his stool which is soft right now, and some pills to get rid of the bacteria. Hopefully this will all work.

the first few lines of your original post had me wondering if there was a bitch in heat somewhere near.
hope your fella is doing better :)
pjp

***not a big fan of blue & not an advocate of cooking meats for dogs.
your guy might benefit from some enzymes & probiotics.

My boy isn't doing good still. He won't eat the stuff the vet gave him. Tried putting his pills in peanut butter and inserting in a piece of chicken, isn't working. Having to just put the pills in his mouth and rub his throat until he swallows them. Hasn't drank a lot this morning, got him to eat about 1/2 a cup cooked chicken breast. Won't touch anything else and wouldn't finish all the chicken. Is playing with my spayed female, but then lays back down. He is going to the bathroom. Vet has him on Flagyl and Endosorb tablets , twice a day. Any advice out there? I'm worried about him.

You should call your vet. Or, find a new vet that knows about digestive issues. Your boy may have some digestive issues that may need to be dealt with asap.  Did he get into something that you don't know about? Maybe he needs an x-ray. Sorry I can't be of more help, but this sounds like a trip back to the vet may be in order. I would maybe ask your vet for a referral to an IMS vet since you have been back and forth so many times.  Or could you have your vet check for pancreatitis? I would get him in though, he should be eating if you are giving medication.  I agree with the poster above, maybe digestive enzymes and a probiotic would help.  

As of this afternoon, my boy has eaten some food and drank some water. He seems a little more energetic as well. He is now on his 4 th dose of the medications which the vet gave to him so I think they may be working.

Update. Meds seem to be working. My boy is more lively today. Eating more as well. Still doesn't have a big appetite but a lot better than a couple of days ago. Thank you to everyone who responded.

I'd just seen this post! I'm so sorry to hear your boy isn't doing well. I'll send you an email soon.

Some helpful hints about feeding I cut and pasted in case anyone is interested.
talking about digestive disorders

Management and Prevention

Below are some suggestions that, if followed, would help you manage your dog's condition and, over time, avoid or decrease the frequency of such instances.
Instead of feeding one or two large meals per day, divide your pet's daily food into three or four smaller meals. A snack, later in the evening and/or early in the morning will most likely solve the problem as this will keep the stomach full and avoid accumulation of bile and gastric fluids.
Avoid feeding your pet dry dog food as dehydrated kibble absorbs fluids and expands once it reaches the stomach. If the dog keeps eating to it's full capacity, such food will keep absorbing water from the digestive tract and continue to expand even after the dog has finished eating. This can lead to bloating as well as excessive production of gastric juices, besides irritating the already affected stomach walls. Instead, go for hydrated kibble as wet food will not show any change in its quantity after being eaten and whatever quantity reaches your pet's stomach is whatever quantity you fed it in the first place.
If your pet is allergic to any food item, avoid giving him/her that food as it may cause some allergic reactions in the stomach, which may eventually lead to throwing up or vomiting in dogs.
Discourage excessive activity after a meal so that the dog's body gets to rest to focus on just one thing - digestion and nutrition absorption. Activities like running, playing or jumping after having meal increases the possibility of vomiting and indigestion.
Make meal times a calm and peaceful affair. When feeding the dog, place the food in a quiet, relaxing place where the dog can enjoy its meal undisturbed.You can stay near your dog while he/she is eating and speak to him/her in a soothing voice, or engage in gentle petting occasionally.
Many dogs are prone to vomiting yellow bile on a regular basis. Fortunately, this problem often resolves very easily, with some basic changes in feeding frequency, medication and care. However, in case the aforementioned remedies do not lead to any improvement in the dog's symptoms in a couple of days, visit your veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/dogs-throwing-up-yellow-bile.html