How can I get Lily to eat ?

[Mayblossom]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

Since we lost Molly, our beautiful Springer, 4 months ago,Lily seems to have lost all interest in food. Just seems as if she doesn’t feel the need to eat now Molly isn’t with her. We get the odd bits down her when we can but she won’t touch dog food , occasionally,if we have lamb, steak or casserole , she’ll have a tiny amount but nowhere as much as she used to have. I’m getting so frustrated keep trying everything I think might tempt her but not having much luck.Guess without Molly being there she has no competition. She’s not losing weight so obviously having enough to keep her ticking over , Hubby keeps saying she needs a new friend but don’t want to go down that route as Lily is 10 and a half and I could be going through all this again when it’s Lily’s time to go do I just leave her and not try and get her to eat? She’s perfectly healthy, no,problems with teeth etc as had her checked, it’s really getting to me as everyday I know the battle I’m going to be having.

 

[JoanneF]

What is her normal food? I ask because we feed Gentle a lot of the time and sometimes raw (minced) and the raw doesn't touch the sides when T gets it. So maybe changing from her normal to raw or even wet might be more tempting?

 

[JoanneF]

Oh, and try not to stress in case Lily picks up on that too?

 

[Mayblossom]

We’ve tried everything Jo, raw, tinned, kibble, wasted so much food ! Some days she’ll eat a little tinned then next day won’t touch it. She used to love chicken now just looks at it and walks away, running out of ideas now . Can dogs have a type of anorexia if they are depressed ? Is she still grieving nearly 5 months on? I’m getting quite neurotic about it !

 

[Mayblossom]

Oh, and try not to stress in case Lily picks up on that too?

Now that’s spooky Jo as was just about to say is she picking up on me being stressed about it !

 

[JudyN]

It must be so sad to see :-( Does she seem to be depessed in other ways? Does she enjoy walks, react to other people/dogs as she did before? Will she play as she did before?

It might be worth asking the vet about antidepressants - people need these occasionally, so there's no reason to think that dogs don't.

I know it's different, but when Jasper was ill and wouldn't eat, he still loved chicken broth... I then left bits of the boiled chicken in to get him eating again. But what I would do is decide what you're going to give her to eat, put the food down, and leave her to it. Later, when she's not in the kitchen, go back in and dispose what's left... then she doesn't see you stressing about what she has and hasn't eaten. Don't offer her anything else (apart from treats she'd get normally) till the next mealtime.

Another thought - will she take food as treats, or puzzle games? If so, it might be possible to give her all the food she needs in training/play sessions.

 

[Mayblossom]

Thanks Judy, she’s lost confidence regarding other dogs, today we spotted a golden lab on the walk with it’s owner and she stopped, looked at it and turned to head for home, other times she’ll happily go and see another dog and have a sniff, she’s very sociable whereas Molls would bark at every dog we met, bless her. They would never really play together apart from chasing balls and taking it in turns to bring the ball back, she still plays ball but only in the house and garden. Loves the beach so is always happy there.
Won’t take treats either Judy always did when Molls was about. Lils has never had a huge appetite but always ate her dinner and both girls had a chew for breakfast, Lils wouldn’t leave it or Molls would snaffle it She’s being very inconsistent and I can’t make her out, might ask the vet regarding anti depressants ( can give me some too )
Will try your suggestion re putting food in kitchen as I do get so stressed, worry so much about her. Hubby and me are still upset every time we talk about Molls so poor Lily must be feeling it too , poor girlie.

 

[JoanneF]

Hubby and me are still upset every time we talk about Molls

I wonder if she is picking up on that too, as well as you getting a little anxious about her eating. Also - if you put something like wet food down and she doesn't eat it, could you freeze it rather than waste it?

 

[Kara 1]

Have you thought about adopting /fostering from the oldies club ....

 

[Mayblossom]

I couldn’t bear to have an older dog Kara as find it too painful to lose them, been so sad losing Molly don’t want to go through it again, think it’s something to do with getting older as have lost many beautiful pets over the years but have never felt so bad as I have with Molly.

 

[Kara 1]

Bless you ...i know how you feel ....we took 2 oldies from kennels as we didn't want them to die in kennels one at 13 and one at 14 ...Both had life limiting health and it broke our hearts but i would do it again in a heartbeat ....oldies are so special. ..
But i do agree that as i get older i become more fragile xxxxx

 

[JudyN]

I wonder if you really need to focus on yourselves for a while, and on getting through the pain of losing Molly. Would it be worth talking to a pet grieving service, or even your doctor if you're feeling down generally? You'll be doing this for Lily, as well as yourself, and when Lily picks up you'll see a lot more sunshine in your life yourself.

 

[Mayblossom]

Hubby and me seem to be ok for a while Judy but just needs something little to set us off, last night when Lily wouldn’t eat we were saying if Molly was back with us then Lily would eat...set us both off , Molly was such a beautiful girl and so vulnerable, took us a good few years to get her to come for a proper cuddle but the wait was so worthwhile, Molls was scared of every dog except Lily, never a cross word between them in 9 years. We’re away for a few days so we can take Lily to her favourite beach and hopefully cheer her up, she just came to me crying so I had some cheese and corned beef ( not very healthy but never mind) and she ate it as if she was really hungry, made me feel much happier. Thanks ladies for listening to my ramblings and your advice, means a lot and makes me feel so much better xx

 

[Kara 1]

I think you and hubby need to heal so lilly can too ...dogs pick up on our emotions. ..i hope your weekend away can give you some peace and remember all the good times and what a lovely life molly had with you both ...lots of love to you xxxxx

 

[Mayblossom]

Bless you Kara,hoping we get through this with Lily, breaks my heart seeing her like this xx

 

[JoanneF]

I'm sorry to.hear you are still in so much pain. I don't know if it's something you would want to consider but the Blue Cross has a pet bereavement counselling service.

 

[Mayblossom]

Thanks Jo, we just can’t figure out why we have never felt like this before, lost so many pets over the years with ponies, cats and dogs but this time it’s been especially difficult, could be that we’re older and it hits us harder....but have a positive with Lily this morning, she’s actually had some breakfast and eaten a couple of treats! Made my day ​

 

[JudyN]

That's such good news!

 

[Kara 1]

Some dogs just get into your heart more than others we rescued a French bulldog many years ago..she had been neglected and had 5 previous homes ...
She was the most amazing dog ...apart from having a love hate relationship with my Jack Russell she was perfect..when she was PTS I was devastated..it took me months to get used to her not being around...I don't think I will ever get over losing her you just come ro terns with it and I have like you lost many treasured pets but some get right into your heartxxx

 

[Mayblossom]

So very true Kara, made me feel a bit guilty about the ones we’ve lost and recovered reasonably quickly, never forgotten them but were able to talk about them with lovely memories and not burst into tears as we keep doing now. As you say, they get right into your hearts