He won't eat or drink

#1 · March 23, 2022, 6:06 pm

My 16 year old dog had some neurological damage on Monday. Following a couple of days on drips at the vet, we brought him home, but he hasn't eaten or drank anything. He acts averse to food and water. What can I do to help him? Please help.

#2 · March 23, 2022, 6:07 pm

What exactly was he diagnosed with? Have you told your vet about this/? Vets sell prescription food A/D which is helpful to entice a dog to eat. Have you tried baby food with no onion or garlic in it? I am worried about the not drinking, he may need fluids as older dogs can dehydrate quickly. A drop of pancake syrup on gums may perk him up a bit. Warming up foods may entice him to eat.

Does he by any chance have "vestibular" disease with head tilted, wobbly gait? These dogs are often nauseous and need medicine to reduce it so that they can start eating.

#3 · March 23, 2022, 6:08 pm

Quote from dragondawg on March 23, 2022, 6:08 pm
Assuming it's Vestibular Syndrome which it sounds like...

About 2 weeks ago my 13 yr old female puppy came down with Vestibular Syndrome at 2AM in the morning. Sounds of her tripping, and banging into the bedroom walls. She had all the classical symptoms including "horizontal nystagmus" , when the eyes literally swirl around causing vertigo, and nausea. It took close to 4-5 days for her to start drinking water again. Which presents the problem of dehydration. Thus, the first 3 days I had to take her in for SC saline injections to keep her hydrated. Then I spent a day (Sunday) using a syringe to squirt water into her mount, being careful not to get it down the trachea. As she started to drink water again, it was analogous to what would be expected with a stroke. She had to re-train her tongue, and jaws to work together. Which meant 1/2 the water ended up on the floor. Fortunately my CLL cancer 13 yr old puppy on Prednisone is always ready to drink water, and he cleaned up any water puddles.

Food intake took a little longer. Throughout this time period she was on Cerenia for nausea from the emergency Vet hospital. The local Vet suggested adding in Meclizine (50 mg/ 70-75 lbs puppy), an OTC drug for motion sickness. Consult your Vet for dosage. She had little interest in food until the nystagmus, and whirling eyes (vertigo) went away. That occurred in the 5-7 day time period. I asked the Vets about prescribing an appetite stimulant such as Mirtazapine. A drug which had helped my CLL puppy regain his appetite while recovering from a severe infection in early April. The Vets turned down that request. As in just allow her to recover using anti-nausea medication.

About the only thing she was interest in initially was melted cheese - used to wrap around her pills. So I fed her a little cheese. Tried cottage cheese, where she again had trouble with her tongue-jaw coordination. Cottage cheese going every which way out of the small bowl. Her brother did clean up duty. Kept offering her the usual dried doggy food each morning, which she refused, until one morning she didn't. Neither did she refuse left over steak snibbles that night on her food. Been eating ever since. Where she knows where the bowl is. Can smell the food in the bowl. Then does a figure eight with her head to find the food in the bowl. Very strange ritual on her part.

It's a very very slow recovery process. Mine still has a head tilt to the left (e.g. the affected side), and stumbles on uneven ground at 17 days.

In summary... Keep the dog hydrated by whatever means, including trips to the Vet for SC injections. Offer him cheese, milk, ice cream, tuna fish, or whatever else has been one of his favorites in the past. Keep the Vets appraised of his condition. Especially if he doesn't start eating after 5-7 days.

Assuming it's Vestibular Syndrome which it sounds like...

About 2 weeks ago my 13 yr old female puppy came down with Vestibular Syndrome at 2AM in the morning. Sounds of her tripping, and banging into the bedroom walls. She had all the classical symptoms including "horizontal nystagmus" , when the eyes literally swirl around causing vertigo, and nausea. It took close to 4-5 days for her to start drinking water again. Which presents the problem of dehydration. Thus, the first 3 days I had to take her in for SC saline injections to keep her hydrated. Then I spent a day (Sunday) using a syringe to squirt water into her mount, being careful not to get it down the trachea. As she started to drink water again, it was analogous to what would be expected with a stroke. She had to re-train her tongue, and jaws to work together. Which meant 1/2 the water ended up on the floor. Fortunately my CLL cancer 13 yr old puppy on Prednisone is always ready to drink water, and he cleaned up any water puddles.

Food intake took a little longer. Throughout this time period she was on Cerenia for nausea from the emergency Vet hospital. The local Vet suggested adding in Meclizine (50 mg/ 70-75 lbs puppy), an OTC drug for motion sickness. Consult your Vet for dosage. She had little interest in food until the nystagmus, and whirling eyes (vertigo) went away. That occurred in the 5-7 day time period. I asked the Vets about prescribing an appetite stimulant such as Mirtazapine. A drug which had helped my CLL puppy regain his appetite while recovering from a severe infection in early April. The Vets turned down that request. As in just allow her to recover using anti-nausea medication.

About the only thing she was interest in initially was melted cheese - used to wrap around her pills. So I fed her a little cheese. Tried cottage cheese, where she again had trouble with her tongue-jaw coordination. Cottage cheese going every which way out of the small bowl. Her brother did clean up duty. Kept offering her the usual dried doggy food each morning, which she refused, until one morning she didn't. Neither did she refuse left over steak snibbles that night on her food. Been eating ever since. Where she knows where the bowl is. Can smell the food in the bowl. Then does a figure eight with her head to find the food in the bowl. Very strange ritual on her part.

It's a very very slow recovery process. Mine still has a head tilt to the left (e.g. the affected side), and stumbles on uneven ground at 17 days.

In summary... Keep the dog hydrated by whatever means, including trips to the Vet for SC injections. Offer him cheese, milk, ice cream, tuna fish, or whatever else has been one of his favorites in the past. Keep the Vets appraised of his condition. Especially if he doesn't start eating after 5-7 days.

#4 · March 23, 2022, 6:14 pm

Dragondawg gave you a very thorough answer. I have really nothing to add, other than hoping you dog's appetite comes back and recovers well.

#5 · March 23, 2022, 6:15 pm

I would recommend putting him on Only Natural Pet Ultimate Daily Canine Vitamins Plus to help with his overall health and neurological condition. There is a wonderful supplement called Health Concerns Quiet Digestion that should help bring his appetite back. Health Concerns Quiet Digestion is a Chinese herbal remedy for vomiting and is based on a successful patented formula and Bo He Wan, for gastrointestinal distress, including indigestion and stomach flu. This is a human supplement, not one designed specifically for pets; however, it is completely safe and effective for use on your pet. You might also want to consider a supplement called Newton Homeopathics Fever & Infection.