Not Eating.....

Hi All,

I picked up my Staffy/Shar Pei cross last night. She is 10 months old, beautiful in both appearance and temperament.

I may be a little overly concerned, but since I got her, she has only eaten a couple of treats and a spare hot-dog sausage. She has not touched her food, and only drunk a little water.

I suspect that this may be because she is now in a new home. I just wonder if this is normal, and how long should I wait before I really worry.

Although I have had a true-blue staffy before, I got him when he was only about 8 weeks old, and he settled immediately. With Ruby being a bit older, is it normal for me to expect a day or two of settling in?



I look forward to reading your comments


Thank you in advance for your help.

i would give the dog 3 weeks to settle in how long has the dog not eaten a meal for ? if its 2 days or more id seek advice from a vet.

Not eaten for 24 hours.....

She seems perfectly happy, been for some lovely walks, and seems perfectly settled. But I am a little worried about the eating though

what are you feeding her? could be shes just fussy

Her last owner gave me a bag of the food she has been eating since she was weaned....

I will try he on Bakers complete or Iams, later.... I just want her to eat her normal food first!!!

Jesus, don't give her Bakers, that stuff is poison. If you do change then check out this site. You can input your daily budget and get suggestions for most of the decent foods, whether wet or dry or whatever

http://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/

If she is drinking it is likely just nerves about her new home

I wouldnt buy bakers personally myself as above check the website out its a really good site

Bloody Hell!

Thank you for the web link to the food site!

I didn't know it existed. And I am so surprised at the quality ratings of even the more famous brands

Ah bless her. I think shar pei's in generally can be a little fussy - they were always the first to go off their food in kennels. Try not to make meal times too big a deal or you will be creating a rod for your own back - buy a food that you would like to/can afford to feed long term and just put a portion down twice a day for 15 minutes. If she hasn't eaten after that time pick it back up and try again in the evening. There are a few tricks that you can try - mixing a little warm water into dry food and make it smell a little more appetising, or a forkful of good quality wet food mixed in well.

Dry food is very bland, the only flavouring comes from a coating of animal fat on the outside, the rest is just dry and plain. I would happily feed very few dry diets personally - but that is just personal choice. As mentioned avoid all of the big brands - I wouldn't feed anything that you can buy in a regular supermarket (baring "Lily's kitchen" but that is crazy expensive!) I feed nature diet wet trays and a variety of raw meat and bones - we've never had a missed meal here!

I spoke to the vet this morning. He has said that time is the key.....

He said as long as she is drinking then it could take up to five days.... but I am keeping an eye out. I am going to try a different food and will mix some steak in with it tonight..... see what happens

Have u tried chicken and rice to whet her appetite? I woukd leave the steak it has a high fat content and a lot of salt see what other people think though thats just me personally

I would give it time too. And maybe a change of food? Agree with Mia, try chicken and rice, its always a hit with Pixee, she can be very fussy, finally worked out what she likes. She wont eat the same thing day in day out, so I try to change it now and then, I use wainwrights trays, they do turkey, lamb, duck. Every now and then, she will get cooked liver boiled in water (she does not like raw) instead of her normal food, and chicken and rice or just chicken and veg. When we have a roast, she will also get one, I am very careful not to overfeed her, and she is still a good weight. As long as she is drinking, thats the main thing for now.

Thank you once again....

I am going shopping this evening and will pick up some samples of different food to see if anything teases her into eating.

I guess I ought to show family loyalty (kind of, as I am a Wainwright

Here also is a list of dry foods for your dog http://staffy-bull-terrier.com/dry_food

PhilWUK wrote:
I guess I ought to show family loyalty (kind of, as I am a Wainwright

Bo eats mostly Wainwrights, the grain-free trays. Quite good value and although it looks horrible it has very good ingredients.

Well, i have news

News?!?! Do tell!

Dnt keep us in suspense lol.

I tried to post a reply off my phone, but it only posted the first few words.

Anyhow, I borrowed some food off my neighbour. Unfortunately it was Bakers, and it disappeared in under 30 seconds.

It would appear that she just doesn't like the food I brought with her. I am going to pets at home in an hour or so and will take her with and see if they have samples.

Anyhow, I am a little more relaxed because I know she will eat. I just need to get her the right food, and some better treats, maybe a new lead as well, maybe a new toy.....

I had this with Gizmo when I'd just got him. He'd turn his nose up at everything after one meal of it just to see whether I'd give him Bakers again. Now he gets Burns organic and sometimes Natures something or other but the first time I gave him it I had to wait almost 5 hours before he cracked and ate it.

Am still waiting, I will call the vet again tomorrow. I am going to try mixing some chicken breast into his Wainwright dry food tonight.... See what happens.

Her, even: Auto text, and I missed it... Oops

Someone at work puts bisto gravey on her dog's kibble because he doesn't like dry food. Worth a shot?

You have to be mag careful with gravy as many contain onion powder which can be toxic to dogs.

Aha.... Mixed 2 slices of chicken breast in. Not more than 10 grams. And that was it.... Am going to continue this for a while. But slowly reduce the chicken to nothing...
She just had her first meal

Yay good news

Going to have to rename this thread, eating like a horse

She has Just eaten her second bowl.

Admittedly she tried to be sly and just eat the little bit of added chicken. I did look at her and say "You cannot do that... you have to eat it all"

So she did

I want to thank you all for your help, advice and support.

But it does look like the eating problem has passed

Quick question if I may... If I cooked a joint of lamb, can I give Ruby the bone?

I know not cooked chicken bones, but lamb is ok?

Thank you

No sure abt the lamb bone as i dnt feed raw i would only have the gravy as a very very short term option it. Also has a high salt content. Since she seems to enjoy gravy have u thought of feeding the dog natures harvest, natures menu, or wainwrights these are all good quality ingredients and a high meat content tyical flavours are chicken, poultry and lamb depending what brand you buy.

No cooked bones are safe unfortunately, but if you pop to the butchers I'm sure she would enjoy a raw meaty bone