Dog Community

Won't eat when left with the sitter

Posted : 8/27/2006 8:48:03 PM

This may belong in behavior, but I'll try here first...

I've been away from home for a few days and left one of my dogs with my mom since the dog does not like particularly like men and isn't comfortable being left alone with my SO. Shy loves visiting my mom but does not like being left there. She whines at the door, paces, doesn't sleep and 'looks' for me. She also won't eat. This time, she didn't eat Thurs, Fri, or Sat, so this morning my mom put some steak in with her kibble and got her to eat some, maybe a cup. Shy is ~12 years old and a 30-something lb sheltie mix. I have to leave her two or three times a year, usually for 5 days or less.

Is this a situation that calls for tough love, or should we be trying to get something into her? She just gets so stressed... [

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tony

Posted : 8/27/2006 9:31:53 PM

My dog is the same way, if we leave her all day she will not eat a thing, even when we go on vacation without her, my sister watches her and has to hand feed her kibble and cook for her otherwise she would go the whole week without eating, probably some sort of seperation anxiety.

chewbecca

Posted : 8/27/2006 9:58:51 PM

I wish to God I had some suggestions for you, but I don't know.
I HATE HATE HATE the tough love route, but maybe that's the way you should go.
Poor girl just misses you!
I think as long as she is eating SOME she'll be ok for the time you're away.
If the steak worked, maybe whoever is watching her can add some cooked food to her kibble.
Sorry I can't be of much help.

Edie

Posted : 8/27/2006 10:05:21 PM

I think if this situation only occurs a few times a year,let your mom spoil her a little [

] By the time the tough love things starts to work she'll be back home with you anyway. She must be missing you something terrible if she's not eating,is she a good eater at home?

miranadobe

Posted : 8/27/2006 11:37:33 PM

Sounds like a sensitive dog who's just stressed out. She will eat eventually, particularly if things start to settle into a routine she can rely on. Babying her will only feed into the belief that she has something to worry about. (although I totally understand that you don't want a 12yr old dog over-stressing herself.) More activities and less "thinking" time can help. Does she become particularly engrossed in anything at home - puzzle toys, or gnawing on bones? Cloma-calm (sp?) is an herbal thing that can just take a bit of the edge off the nerves.

willowchow

Posted : 8/27/2006 11:58:31 PM

Hi Kelly---I'd say just let your mom do whatever she needs to so that at least she's eating something. It might not be how much she normally eats. But, if she starts eating a little her appetite might pick up and she'll eat even more. I wouldn't do the tough love thing (not a big fan of it anyway). I don't think it's necesssary in this case. She's just anxious and not sure what's going on. She'll be fine once she sees you've come back.

I pet sit and if one of my clients dogs go more than three days without taking any food I call the owner and let them know I'm going to add something so they will.

Also, the drug is Clomicalm and it's not herbal.

sooner

Posted : 8/28/2006 1:21:47 PM

ORIGINAL: Edie

I think if this situation only occurs a few times a year,let your mom spoil her a little [] By the time the tough love things starts to work she'll be back home with you anyway. She must be missing you something terrible if she's not eating,is she a good eater at home?

Yes, she eats fine at home. She's a rescue who had a tought start to life, then it was just me and her for several years so we're pretty tight.

Thanks for the responses everyone, since it is just a few times a year I'm not going to worry too much, my mom can spoil her a little and I'll also send some good canned food with her in the future.

sallya

Posted : 8/28/2006 2:32:10 PM

I say let her eat what she wants. When we are stressed and afraid, we sometimes feel bad in the tummy too. She is 12 and had a rough life at first. I would just want her to be as happy as possible. I agree, she is sensitive, my Trudy is too. I am the same way. [

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miranadobe

Posted : 8/29/2006 1:14:43 AM

Also, the drug is Clomicalm and it's not herbal.

I shouldn't post late at night - I make mistakes. I was thinking of Rescue Remedy, being made from flower essences
[linkhttp://www.naturalcanine.com/html/rescue_remedy.html]http://www.naturalcanine.com/html/rescue_remedy.html[/link]

Like Kelly said, good canned food will likely do the trick, and that's not babying her. Sending good thoughts she'll be well the next time you go away.