Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Still not eating...

Maddison was able to come home last night for a "trial run" and seems happy to be back. But she still won't eat. (Which makes it harder to give her all of her many meds.) Any suggestions on how to get them eating again? I have tried making her chicken & rice, peanut butter and hot dogs, all with no response. She is taking an appetite stimulant 2x daily. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them, also, about how long it took for your babies to start eating again. Thanks for your help.

Kathy N.C.

Kathy, So sorry to hear about Maddison. This is awful, isn't it? I started my dog with a piece of toast with butter and a little cinnamon/sugar. Have you tried scrambled eggs with a little cheese? My dog, Jennie, had no appetite for only a couple of days so I didn't have this worry. Hopefully the appeitite stimulant will kick in soon. Also, there is a product called Pill Pockets that help immensely to disguise the medication. Good luck and take care of yourself and Maddison!

Gail SD

Kathy - You might also try pure meat baby food - if Beech-Nut is available in your area, they have an early stage product that is just beef, or chicken, or turkey. When Murray was in the hospital and when he came home, that was all he ate for several days until he was able to tolerate a bland diet of rice and boiled turkey/burger. As you probably know, just make sure you don't pick up a product that contains onions, garlic. Bonnie

Bonnie Chicago

Bonnie, Please be very careful to read the labels on all baby foods. Sometimes these companies put onion in the foods to make them more palatable. Onions are not good for dogs and can cause something called Heinz body anemia if given in sufficient quantities. Daily doses of baby food can have a cumulative effect. Here is the first website I found with an explanation: http://monkeymaddness.com/articles/onions.html It is actually a website for monkey owners, but the same thing applies to dogs. Here is another site I found very quickly: http://www.jlhweb.net/Boxermap/onions.html Wish I had more time to find a scholarly article, perhaps later. Patrice

Patrice New York State

To add to what Patrice mentioned, some baby foods also have garlic in the ingredients. That is also not good for doggies and can cause anemia. So make sure to check for that. Hope Maddison will start eating soon.

leslie ca

Patrice, Thanks for reinforcing my message to NOT pick up a baby food with onions, garlic. I cook organic for me and Murray so I constantly scrutinize labels - but good reminder for everyone. Bonnie

Bonnie Chicago

yea this is an unfortunate thing, so frustrating... definately try scrambled eggs, possibly some plain or vanilla yougurt and if she likes that, start mixing things in the yougurt um, try cooking fish...talapia when sway was at her absolute worst the hospital got her to eat some canned Hills A/D, and i still randomly give it to her even now ...although i have cut way back because it is extremely high in calories etc... but it is something to try if they are not eating because it is really tasty for them

josh california

Kathy, I feel for you. Bugy was diagioned on Dec 10 2007 and we have been battling since. Bugy also would not eat anything. We ended up placing a feeding tube in his neck and feed him that way for a few weeks. He had lost so much weight that he was starving to death but because he felt so bad he wouldn't eat. I'm so sorry to hear that you are going thru this. I can tell you that we also tried everything, baby food, people food, treats and everything in between but nnothing worked. Please don't let the not eating go on to long. I'm sure Maddison is weak from this diease and the longer she goes without eating the worst it gets. I know I've been there. Good luck to you both. Lisa :(

Lisa Rhode Island

Kathy, Popeye seemed to regain his appetite with lean sirloin steak, cooked RARE an hand fed to him.

Allison TX

Thanks for the reminder to make sure onions aren't in the baby food. That is something I always check. Kathy, I hope Maddison starts eating soon. Just keep trying different things and maybe something will appeal to her. Once the meds kick in she should have an appetite! Hugs Nancy and Lindy

Nancy CO

what ever she would eat give it to her.try to remember all her favovirite things.Bella likeked liverwurst i put all her meds in them and she took them.i was so happy that she tok her meds for me.what ever it took i did it.just keep plugging away .good luck im praying for you .stay strong . Bellas ma ma

kathy pacific

I also picked up a suringe at the drug store and thinen down the gerber chicken baby food with alittle chicken broth and if i at least got 2 or 3 full tubes in her before her meds i felt that she at least had something in there to asord the meds.just put it on the side of her mouth and she will lick it down without even realizing shes doing it. Good luck Kathy

kathy pacifica

Hello, everyone. Thank you so much for all of your advice. Maddison went this morning for a check up and her pcv was up to 20 (from 19 on Thursday) which was very good news. The Dr. ran some test on her kidneys and her bun was at 44, something else was a 1013 (I cant remember what he called it) and her set. level was a 6.6 He was very concerned about the sert. level and decided to keep her and put her back on iv fluids to hopefully help her kidneys process everything. He also has started to "force feed" her canned ad since she still refuses to eat. She gets more bllod work done on Monday so I am hoping that her pcv will continue to rise but her kidneys will get everything under control. Thank you for all your support and I hope your babies are staying strong. Thank you, Kathy & Maddison

Kathy N.C.

This thread was discussed between 22/02/2008 and 24/02/2008

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