Will dogs starve themselves to death?

Author
jbow
Max Output Level: -0.2 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 7601
  • Joined: 11/26/2003
  • Status: offline
March 08, 12 3:15 PM (permalink)

Will dogs starve themselves to death?

You may remember I had a sick dog a few months ago. The vet got him eating again but to keep him eating I had to hand feed him for a while and of course his mom, the ****, well she got what he got. They will no longer eat dry dog foor, they will no longer eat canned dog food. Now they are becoming more picky than any 6yo I have ever seen. Last night I baked some chicken livers, they will usually eat them but I mixed in a little left over rice and added two cups of some toy breed dry dog food I bought. They let it sit, they let it sit. They will not eat the toy breed dog foor that was 12 bucks for a small bag, (from the pet store). I got some flavoring sauce, the flies love it but they will not touch it. I tried some plain bread, they always liked that... no more. I bought a pack of chicken breasts and baked all five. They are three of them if I cut them in pieces then I made some fresh rice with half water and half chicken broth and cut up the last two pieces of chicken and made two plates. They or something ate about half of one and then it sat there. They will no longer eat milk bones. They will eat steak, pizza if I hand feed it to them, or they will eat fried chicken and ... I am sick of it. For the last couple of days that stuff they didn't eat, I threw out and have left two kinds of dry food out in the pen... I am beginning to wonder if they will just starve with food in front of them.
Wifey is going to bring home a couple of cans of loaf style Alpo or Pedigree and if they won't eat that I am just going to stick to the dry food until they eat or die... I don't know what else to do. I just refuse to feed them better food than I get.

Do you think that they will get the message and eat if they get hungry enough? They are (I think) 16 and 17 years old. Maybe 17 and 18. The older one gets around fine but the younger has that thing where the back legs stop working. He gets around but not too well and if he stands his back end gets lower and lower. Anyway, I am at a loss as to what to do.

Thanks for any help and does anyone want to buy a dog?

J

Sonar Platinum
Studiocat Pro 16G RAM (some bells and whistles)
HP Pavilion dm4 1165-dx (i5)-8G RAM
Octa-Capture
KRK Rokit-8s
MIDI keyboards...
Control Pad
mics. 
I HATE THIS CMPUTER KEYBARD!
#1

10 Replies Related Threads

    trimph1
    Max Output Level: -12 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 6348
    • Joined: 9/7/2010
    • Location: London ON
    • Status: offline
    Re:Will dogs starve themselves to death? March 08, 12 3:18 PM (permalink)
    mmmm...I'm not so sure whether they will purposely starve themselves or not but I am wondering about kidney function here. Did the vet test for that?

    The space you have will always be exceeded in direct proportion to the amount of stuff you have...Thornton's Postulate.

    Bushpianos
    #2
    bapu
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 86000
    • Joined: 11/25/2006
    • Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
    • Status: offline
    Re:Will dogs starve themselves to death? March 08, 12 3:23 PM (permalink)
    That is a tough call Julien. I suspect all species know when their time is up even if their bodies only eat off the 'fat of land' to prolong the end.
    #3
    jbow
    Max Output Level: -0.2 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 7601
    • Joined: 11/26/2003
    • Status: offline
    Re:Will dogs starve themselves to death? March 08, 12 3:38 PM (permalink)
    That is a tough call Julien. I suspect all species know when their time is up even if their bodies only eat off the 'fat of land' to prolong the end.


    I suspect you are right. It is just hard for us to know what to do... if only I were an Indian I am sure I would know.

    I am wondering about kidney function here. Did the vet test for that?

    The sick one was the only one I took to the vet. They are not drinking any more than normal, I've seen that in other pets. They drink a lot and don't pee much. The vet said other than his legs, he was healthy. I just need them to eat.

    I am afraid if I give in and give them what they want I will be stuck doing it everyday from now on and won't be able to go on vacation/holiday because no one else is going to do it for them and I really don't think I should be, just got to figure out haw to get them eating dog food again. It's always something.

    J

    Sonar Platinum
    Studiocat Pro 16G RAM (some bells and whistles)
    HP Pavilion dm4 1165-dx (i5)-8G RAM
    Octa-Capture
    KRK Rokit-8s
    MIDI keyboards...
    Control Pad
    mics. 
    I HATE THIS CMPUTER KEYBARD!
    #4
    jbow
    Max Output Level: -0.2 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 7601
    • Joined: 11/26/2003
    • Status: offline
    Re:Will dogs starve themselves to death? March 08, 12 5:04 PM (permalink)
    I bet they would eat a pound of BECAN every day. One a buy one get one free I could feed them for 5 bucks a day. Perhaps two double cheese burgers each from BK. They are 125 each, still 5 bucks a day. I bought the chicken breasts on sale for 179.00 a pound so that was not too bad. I also tried the hamburger meat in a 5# tube from Walmart, the 80/20 mix... they wont eat it cooked or raw. They did eat it cooked in a Beef Stroganoff HB Helper meal... but that adds another 1.80 to the mix. The tube is 13 bucks for five pounds, I cut it into five 1# portions, so that is about 1.35 per pound then the HB Helper makes it around 3.00 a day which isn't too bad. That isn't too much more than canned dog food... in fact I saw some 1# cans of dog food at the pet store that were just under 4 bucks a can... I was thinking about the large cans that are about 1.25 a can... No way I am buying 4 dollar a can dog food.

    Oh well, I will try the regular dog food,they may be hungry enough by now to eat it. The chicken livers are less than 2 doallars a pound so I can always stay with that, buy a weeks worth and cook them up all at once... but dang it.. I want them to eat dog food.

    I'll let yo know what happens. There should be a song in here somewhere.

    J

    Sonar Platinum
    Studiocat Pro 16G RAM (some bells and whistles)
    HP Pavilion dm4 1165-dx (i5)-8G RAM
    Octa-Capture
    KRK Rokit-8s
    MIDI keyboards...
    Control Pad
    mics. 
    I HATE THIS CMPUTER KEYBARD!
    #5
    Garry Stubbs
    Max Output Level: -49 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2619
    • Joined: 2/18/2008
    • Location: Castlethorpe, UK
    • Status: offline
    Re:Will dogs starve themselves to death? March 08, 12 9:01 PM (permalink)
    I have nursed 2 of my dogs through to the end. It's heartbreaking. Just treat them like the old folk they are, with care and dignity. I am sure you know. Sometimes old folk need help eating, it's all about quality of life in the end. It's the least we can do after all they give to us unconditionally.

    Here's a song

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v044SCWA4LA

    Regards

    Garry


    https://soundcloud.com/garry-kiosk
    Sonar Platinum 64-bit: Q6600 8Gb Win7 64-bit: KRK Monitors: ART MPA PRO VLA ii preamp: 3 x 500Gb internal SATA disks: Superior Drummer2: GPO4: Realstrat: Saxlab: Rapture: Dimension Pro: Ozone 4: Edirol SPS-660: PCR-500 MIDI controller: Korg PadKontrol: Fender / Gibson / Yamaha / Ibanez guitars:Guitar Rig 5: Dual 22" Monitors: Mapex Drums, Sabian AAX cymbals: Alesis DM5 Pro Kit: SE Electronics and Shure Mics: Mathmos Lava Lamp (40W)
    #6
    Old55
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 19791
    • Joined: 9/19/2008
    • Location: Californiashire
    • Status: offline
    Re:Will dogs starve themselves to death? March 08, 12 10:10 PM (permalink)
    Good luck, Julien.  

    Should auld acquaintance be forgot--hey, who the hell are you guys?  
     
    X2(X3 pending hardware upgrade), Emulator X2, E-mu 1212M, Virtual String Machine
    #7
    yorolpal
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 13829
    • Joined: 11/20/2003
    • Status: offline
    Re:Will dogs starve themselves to death? March 08, 12 10:27 PM (permalink)
    My heart goes out to you, ol pal.  As a lifelong dog companion I know how hard and sometimes frustrating it can be.  My best advice is to try to think about them as if they were a parent with the ailments they present.  We are all in it for the long haul...but they get a shorter reprieve.  What I have always done is try and put myself in their place...would I still want to go on given current circumstances?  I feel for you.  It's very tough being the decision maker.  Stay strong, ol pal.

    https://soundcloud.com/doghouse-riley/tracks 
    https://doghouseriley1.bandcamp.com 
    Where you come from is gone...where you thought you were goin to weren't never there...and where you are ain't no good unless you can get away from it.
     
    SPLAT 64 bit running on a Studio Cat Pro System Win 10 64bit 2.8ghz Core i7 with 24 gigs ram. MOTU Audio Express.
    #8
    jbow
    Max Output Level: -0.2 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 7601
    • Joined: 11/26/2003
    • Status: offline
    Re:Will dogs starve themselves to death? March 09, 12 9:01 AM (permalink)
    I split a can of Pedigree beef dog food and the sick one ate a bite or two after a while, I am not sure if the other one ate anything at all.
    I wonder it dogs can get dementia. he older one is acting strange like she is not comfortable with me getting near her or touching her. She has always been skittish, I got her used and I don't know what she went through before I got her. I think they may be eating just a little of the dry food they have eaten for years but not much. I will give it till sometime next week and if it does not improve I'll do what I have to do.

    Thanks,

    Julien

    Sonar Platinum
    Studiocat Pro 16G RAM (some bells and whistles)
    HP Pavilion dm4 1165-dx (i5)-8G RAM
    Octa-Capture
    KRK Rokit-8s
    MIDI keyboards...
    Control Pad
    mics. 
    I HATE THIS CMPUTER KEYBARD!
    #9
    Guitarhacker
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 24398
    • Joined: 12/7/2007
    • Location: NC
    • Status: offline
    Re:Will dogs starve themselves to death? March 09, 12 9:16 AM (permalink)
    Yeah... that's a hard one... I believe animals know when it's "time to go" and humans also to varying degrees. Some tribes of Indians would go out and set on a blanket, smoke their pipes and watch the sunset. 

    Dogs at that age are pretty old. If they were younger, I would say they had other issues if they are not eating dry dog food. I saw a few episodes of Dog Whisperer that fit exactly what you described, however, the age plays a large part in your case.  

    Keep trying if you feel the need, as I'm sure you do, but enjoy them while they are still here with you. I've had a number of dogs, and as much as we don't want them to pass on, they do. 

    If you really love dogs, and yeah, dogs are such great companions.....the solution to that is to get a new  puppy or visit the pound and rescue one.  A new dog will never take the place of the old ones, but they do simply add a new dimension to your life and begin a new adventure with you. Because they love unconditionally. 



    My website & music: www.herbhartley.com

    MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW   
    Focusrite Firewire Saffire Interface


    BMI/NSAI

    "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer 
    #10
    julibee
    Max Output Level: -47 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2826
    • Joined: 3/28/2008
    • Location: San Marcos, CA
    • Status: offline
    Re:Will dogs starve themselves to death? March 09, 12 11:03 AM (permalink)
    Julien, this is so sad....  Part of me wants to say that they will eat when they are hungry enough, and yet, the other part of me thinks I should tell you that when I KNEW my dog was dying of Lymphoma... When the steroids that turned him from a picky eater into a chow-hound that would eat anything... were no longer working and he wasn't eating anymore, I just gave him whatever we were eating (just a bit, on top of his dry food).  That being said, we eat pretty healthily here.  And that dog loved spaghetti more than life itself...

    I agree with Herb, here... When the second dog died not three months after the first, I went to the shelter the very next day.  Gave me something else to think about and pet and snuggle when I really wanted to just cry in a hole somewhere.

    She who must be obeyed. ***New and Improved with a Scarlett 8i6!***
    Soundcloud     www.juliannamcduffie.com
    #11
    Jump to:
    © 2025 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1