Picky dogs stink! (jennie_c_d)

 Also, let me mention that this is completely unnerving, for me. When she doesn't eat, I pick up her bowl, and have to throw it away (because it's icky soaked kibble). I am not used to dogs that don't eat what I put down. And, I am concerned about her not getting enough. She's small, and doesn't have much to lose. Her mouth definitely needs work, but I'm trying to save her the anesthesia.

Brutus was picky when we first got him.  Now, he's just like the rest of our guys.  He'll eat anything that doesn't eat him first!

I have learned that you can put soaked kibble in the fridge, & reheat it for the next feeding.  He seemed to prefer the stinky, reheated food.

Have you thought about crock potting a topper.  Even chicken broth soaked kibble might be more appealing to her.

 I will be crock potting, after this. I just needed something quick, tonight, because I hated to think of the traumatized, little, old lady with nothing in her tummy. I'd been using canned toppers, because my dogs eat canned food, just fine, and I don't have to do the dishes, when I'm done. I don't like doing dishes, JEWEL!

I guess I need to soak her stupid kibble in a ceramic bowl, so I can reheat it. Ugh. 

For what it's worth, aside from this one issue, she is a perfectly wonderful dog. Totally house trained. Good with dogs. Loves people. Loves playing dress up. Good snuggler. Quiet. Barely sheds. Alllll the good stuff I can think of. 

Wait! When did you get a new dog?  I will require piccies in order to comment.... ;)

shamrockmommy

Wait! When did you get a new dog?  I will require piccies in order to comment.... ;)

Go to the photo section!  They are there...

http://community.dog.com/forums/t/99432.aspx

Jewel is an evil IG that may be a foster, and may be a permanent resident. Depends on whether I can part with her, after 3 weeks.

 She's beautiful Jennie; I love Iggy's. How sad that someone would leave an older dog at the shelter; people can be so heartless. Good luck getting her to eat; maybe she's just adjusting to the new surroundings and will get her appetite back soon.

What a pretty girl!  Good luck whatever you decide. Having 3 dogs is busy, but not too bad. The only time it's truly a pain is travelling/moving Other than that, I hardly even notice my (sleepy couch potato) trio.

 I know it's not everybody's cup of tea but if you have access to Bil-Jac frozen or dry, I have never known a dog to turn that stuff down, frozen especially!

 ETA I also found Freshpet Select refrigerated dog food rolls that my dogs are currently eating. They adore it too.

So, I pander. She HAS TO EAT with her heart meds. She gets pills in a 'Pill Pocket', and it pains my soul to even purchase something so junky. Some days, she gets soaked kibble. Some days, she gets kibble with canned. Some days, she gets all canned. On 'extra special' days, all she wants is turkey lunchmeat, LOL. I honestly give her a day's worth of food, at both breakfast and dinner. If she eats more, great, if not, she has a chance at dinner time to eat enough. I have gone as far as to buy her one of those plastic cat dishes, with the two compartments, and offer her TWO things at once.

I don't think Jewel is as elderly as Tiki...but I knew you would appreciate the specialness.

 Kirby will eat anything, including your pocket lint if offered, however I have an old man cat who has become a very picky eater in his last year or so of life.  He also has some teeth issues, but because he has terminal cancer and his immune system is highly compromised we don't want to put him under to fiddle with his teeth.  Initially we tried wet food but that only worked for a couple months because he has never really cared for wet food.  What ultimately has worked for him however is getting kibble with teeny tiny pieces.  He can eat that without really needing to chew and has been doing great since switching to it.

I talked to a colleague of mine who has greys and IGs, and is very active in rescue for both breeds, thus has fostered quite a few of each.  Bad teeth are pretty prominent in those breeds.  She said you're doing the right thing...softening everything, crock potting, etc.  She said she's done her fair share of "cooking into mush" and has also pureed food with good success.

She said you're very right on waiting til the spay to get the dental.  And, she said she usually sees good results after dentals as far as dogs' appetites for crunchier foods coming back around.

Oh, and not that it makes a difference, but I vote for Jewel to stay with you, teehee!!!

 It's highly possible that the dog is just still somewhat traumatized from the new environment and isn't eating well because she's stressed.

When I first got Rascal, it was a solid 3 months before he ate everything that was in his bowl, and he was only getting 1/4 cup kibble 2x/day. I gave him canned laced with chicken, beef, veggies, etc. for a good long time while I was convincing him that I was his friend and he was safe with me.

I think a little bit of pandering isn't going to kill her :) (Might kill you, though! lol) Give her some time with the tasty mushes and I bet in a month or so she will have a more "normal" appetite.

Rascal still isn't a chow hound, but he now usually cleans his bowl (ocassionally he will go through a week or so when he doesn't, but I guess that's how he self-regulates to stay at a good weight). And I typically feed him just plain kibble which he gobbles right up. (Often I add salmon or yogurt or something, but he eats the plain kibble just as well.)

have you tried feeding her around other animals? Many times competition is a great motivator. IN a controlled situation...like someone who is REALLY gaga about food being fed in a crate next to her might pique her interest a bit in her own stuff?

Cleo used to be picky until I let a hound in to finish her meals every night....then she stopped being picky. Now she just grazes thruout the day...but she never misses a day like she used to.

jennie_c_d

 Also, let me mention that this is completely unnerving, for me. When she doesn't eat, I pick up her bowl, and have to throw it away (because it's icky soaked kibble). I am not used to dogs that don't eat what I put down. And, I am concerned about her not getting enough. She's small, and doesn't have much to lose. Her mouth definitely needs work, but I'm trying to save her the anesthesia.

Speak to your vet.  If her condition is good enough to undergo spay, you can have it done at the same time.  I had my Dancer's teeth done when she was 14, so 8 really isn't that old.  An older dog may be at risk from anesthesia, but they are also at risk from malnutrition if their mouths prevent them from taking in enough food.   If her mouth hurts so badly that she isn't eating, she really needs attention sooner than later, if possible.  All the other things you are doing are just stop gaps that don't seem to be working anyway.  I suspect she may not be picky, just in pain, although it certainly is possible that she is still feeling out the environmnent.  Till you get it done, my advice is to use wet dog food that you can mix with a bit of water to make it even smoother, and warm it a little.  That keeps the extremes of temperature from bothering her teeth, plus releases some of the scent to make it more appealing.  Hint: Innova Evo is very smooth to start with.  I also like Eagle Pack canned foods for this. (Fergie, the now nearly toothless 20 year old Yorkie agrees!)