ABout Geno again.. seems like he isnt feeling well now

 Canned pumpkin - works great for both constipation and diarhhea.

 Be sure to buy canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling, which includes spices and such.

I said it above -- I'm not at all convinced this dog is just being picky.  If he were mine he'd be at the vet first thing Monday for a FULL blood panel (and I mean ALL the liver and kidney values and everyting else). 

It could be anything from gastroeneteritis on down -- but I'm betting this dog may have some major angst issues that may have even graduated to an ulcer.  I've got a darned good recipe (slippery elm cocktail -- from my vet) that can really help -- but you can't do anything until you honestly KNOW what's going on with this dog.

I've been on your end too many times -- try and trying to resolve what absolutely LOOKS LIKE a behavior problem -- only to find out, with my butt kicked up between my shoulder blades that itg was health-related all the time.

When a dog tries this hard to not eat -- I may be in the minority but I'm going to find out what's going on in his body and in his head.  I'm not being ratty -- not at all -- I've just learned this one the hard way WAY too many times.

Good luck

Throwing up just bile generally means that a dog's stomach was empty for too long.

Some plain canned pumpkin (not the spiced pie mix) will help to firm up his stool.  When was his last fecal?

A marrow bone can upset a dog's stomach if he got a lot of marrow and is not used to it, but so can eating a bug in the yard.

Some dogs just do not do well on kibble - grain free or not.  There are so many ingredients in kibble that it is hard to pin down what a dog may be sensitive to.

Try giving him a raw chicken leg.  No, I am not kidding.  I bet his whole attitude toward food changes quickly and that he eats greedily.

Dogs are as likely to get salmonella from kibble as from raw meat.  Besides a dog with a normal immune system (and a canine's strong stomach acid) can handle a little salmonella with no trouble.  People, on the other hand, are not scavengers and have little tolerance for salmonella.  We should always wash our hands after handling raw meat or kibble.

The bones that are really dangerous to dogs are cooked bones.  Cooking makes bones brittle and prone to splintering.  Avoid weight bearing bones because some aggressive chewers can break a tooth.  Yes, a dog could choke on a bone, but dogs also sometimes choke on kibble. 

Raw meat and bones are a canine's species-appropriate diet.  They are carnivores - not "corn"-ivores and not omnivores.  They have the teeth of a carnivore.  They have the short digestive system length of a carnivore.  They have the strong stomach acid of a wolf.  They do not have digestive enzymes in their saliva like we do, so they get a lot of tartar from kibble diets.

The fact that dogs will eat things other than raw meat and bones does not make them omnivores.  They do not digest plant matter well.  A comparison of the large, stinky stool of a kibble-fed dog and the small, low odor stool of a raw-fed dog is a great demonstration of this.

If dogs were categorized only by what they are willing to chew up and swallow, some of them would have to be called "sock"-ivores. 

Feeding a dog a raw diet is not rocket science.  Our nutritional needs are more complicated than theirs and we seem to manage without complicated spreadsheets.  A variety of meats with enough bone to keep the stool firm is great.  If the dog gets constipated, cut back on the bone.

There are lots of raw feeding groups and documentation available, so instruction on raw feeding is not hard to find.

Note:  More and more breeders are weaning their pups to a raw diet.  The result is healthier pups with cleaner teeth. 

Despite my last post I do agree with Callie.  Rule out health issues before you assume that the diet is the basic problem.

Janet, this is a new dog to her and she's had all sorts of problems getting him to eat relaibly -- definitely not normal behavior.  Since she knows virtually nothing about this dog, that's why I'm saying bloodwork.  Often dogsa re SO stoci you just can't tell (even a vet can't) from palpating and generally looking.

The problem is you can spend months and months and a zillion bags of food on this and not ever know.  But with a honkin big blood panel, if this dog has some serious problem, it should give the vet a clue where to look -- and then she can go from there.

I've done it with a million dogs and findally with Tink I made **THE DECISION** (hear the Twilight Zone theme playing) -- ain't never gonna take a dog agin wifout BLOOD WORK **First**!!  It's never a waste -- if nothing more it's a baseline for later.

Am truly not tring to be snarky -- I get so danged mad at myself when I think back on all the times I've thot "behavior" and LATER *sigh* it turned out to be health.  I've learned ... slowly ... but I'd rather give someone else the benefit of what my stupidity has cost me. *isgh*

 thanks all of you for your input and suggestions..... Actually  Geno is fine and back to normal now..... I think it was the bone i gave him... it was from petsmart  2 in a pack, the kind he can chew up and eat all of it, but it was big...he seemed to be getting perkier and so dinner time i put his food down and he ate it all.... i had leftover turkey and grinded it up and mixed it in. he ate all of it.. then was out in the yard playing and back to his old self....

I dont think there is anything really wrong with him physically.  he came from a shelter down south and was at a foster home around here for 5wks til i got him... he had all his shots and tested for heartworm etc etc.....i think he has just been given different foods and that in and of itself can make him picky....when 1st rescued by the group they gave him garbage food, alpo mighty dog, who the hek knows why....then she switched him to wellness puppy.....i guess its my fault, i shouldve bought that for him and fed it to him.... but when i took him to my vet, she gave us hills SD...dont know why cause its not the best nutrition either.... i tried better high end canned food and kibble and cause he seemed like he liked it 1 minute and not the next, i tried other stuff... then i decided no more...im buying 1 thing and he will have to learn this is what he gets....and TOTW lamb is what he gets......

I also looked into the RAW diet for dogs... The girl at the feed store i go to, explained it...also just feeding him good nutritious foods grounded up...meats and fruits and veggies sweet potatoes etc etc... so right now, i just want to get him in a routine to eat this way then once he is doing well, i will decide to gradually ad fresh foods i grind up or good canned meats to moisten up his food.....

anyways, he seems good now.....not to worry.. he isnt the 1st dog ive ever had....but he is the 1st stubborn finicky one for sure...hahaha

 Janet, thanks for the good info.... I always thought chicken bones werent good for them... but you are saying to take a chicken leg out of the pack, id rinse it off then just give it to the dog?? if he hasnt had RAW meat before this wont upset his stomach will it?  I did read at 1st feeding RAW meat will be strange to them but they will adjust to it......I recall many yrs back our sheepdog got hold of a turkey resting on the counter after being cooked... and ate the whole darn thing... he did have a bone stuck in his upper jaw and we had to hold him a bit to pop it out.....i do watch him when he chews bones, but bones from birds etc you dont worry they WILL splinter and harm them? geez i may have to go buy a pack of chiken legs and give him one  and see what he does with it..... and he being 9-10 months old always likes chewing, he can rip a football or soccer ball aprt to shreds and chew toys that shouldnt be chewed thru...so id hope he doesnt get hurt with a chicken bone, raw....and what do you think his attitude towards food will change for after eating a raw chicken leg??  instinct kicking in or something? i still want him to eat his regular food too, so i hope giving him that wont make him more picky......people want the best for their pets, most anyways....but some foods get expensive... canned food, the good stuff is over 2 bucs a can or more and that can get expensive weekly... real good dry food is good, moisten it a bit.. ideally id like him to eat that and be able to add in some canned food.. we shall see....thanks for your thoughts

nancy361

 Janet, thanks for the good info.... I always thought chicken bones werent good for them... but you are saying to take a chicken leg out of the pack, id rinse it off then just give it to the dog?? if he hasnt had RAW meat before this wont upset his stomach will it?  I

RAW chicken bones are ok -- not cooked.  And honestly -- I'm in Florida - bacteria capital of the known planet -- so I literally bring a pot of water to boil, and plungs the pieces in the water for about 10 seconds and then out (I use a big hand-held sieve).

I use non-weight bearing bones -- like wings and backs rather than legs (and my dogs are all 20 - 35) but they tend to splinter less.  the first time he may look at you like you are out of your mind -- but once they try them usually they like them.

I don't raw feed -- I give the occasional "recreational bone" (usually chicken wings or backs)  but otherwise I homecook for my 3.  It's something I've done for about 35 years -- long before it was trendy.  But I had a little dog who had survived pancreatitis and I *had* to cook for her to get it low fat enough for her.

 Then I've had cancer dogs and dogs with special needs -- and I've just discovered that this way their coats are nicer, the dogs are healthier and if someone need s something individual it's no biggie.  It's not cheap -- usually about the same as premium kibble.  I cook ONCE a week and then portion it out.(freezing what I need to). 

But once he's had a piece of raw chicken -- he's not going to bang on the table and insist everything else be raw -- I always present it as a treat. 

Jewlieee

I'm sorry, but this dog needs less not more. A cup of food 2x per day, several dog biscuits in between and an entrie bone. That is a LOT for a dog of that size.

That's what I'm thinking too.  I don't think you need to rush him to the vet when he gets an upset tummy for 24 hours unless he's vomiting everything and has extreme diarreah.

His eating habits aren't cause for concern unless he's not eating anything.  Since he's feeling better and has no more vomiting and diarreah I'd chalk it up to the bones and too much to eat in one day. 

 The dog only gets his food, dry TOTW kibble a little moistened.....I dont give him tons of treats... he has these baby size milk bones, and after , only after, he ate all his breakfast, which i measured about 1/2 cup or a wee bit more....which he ate, then i praised him and gave him a baby sized biscuit.. later on in the day when he was outside i gave him that bone to gnaw on,,,,,,,i have all intentions to stick to what he gets to get him stable and use to the way things are.. eating what he gets 2x a day, and its been about 1/2 to 3/4 cup each time... he seems to be eating it all. im not giving him any raw bones or changing his diet again... his poop is fine his stomach is fine and he is well......he got 1 baby size biscuit today and  thats it....i dont want him filled up on treats cause then he may not eat.....I think as i said, it was that bone that upset his stomach, and NO i dont plan to give him that anymore...But  thanks though, the "poor" dog is fine  :)

also im not rushing him to the VET either.unless he is really sick. BUT he wasnt that bad that other day... he has been fine since....

 yea i think so too....im trying to start fresh with him, so even though VET said 2 cups per day, im giving a little less each feeding... i want to see when HE stops eating and how much is leftover.....they know when they are full....so ive been giving him about say 3/4 cup each feeding give or take if he seems like he is looking for more then ill bump it up a tad, but i wont go over 1 cup each feeding.... i was told when he is done growing he should be about 40 lbs or so.....he has gained weight for sure since FEB when i got him...he def. weighs more then 21 lbs now....hahahaha