Friday, April 24, 2009

Jarie, Please Eat

Jarie is such a pretty girl, don't you think? I had just finished giving her a bath in these pictures so she was still wet. She enjoyed running up and down the street with hubby, air-drying! What is it about a dog and water? When she gets wet, her energy level triples.
She is still not well. Does anyone have a magic potion to make her eat? I am afraid she is getting worse. We have been battling the eating issue now for a month. It is really getting old. I don't mind when she skips one meal, or eats a few hours late, but now she is skipping days. She didn't eat yesterday, hasn't eaten this morning.

Last week I was able to get her to eat a piece of cheese, even a slice of bread, (I know, not the best choice, but if it works, well you get the point) to get something in her stomach so she can take her supplements. Now she won't take anything, and I have tried everything. Her tummy is growling, she acts like she wants to eat, but she won't.

We are limited at what we can give her because of all of her food allergies, yet, at this point I just need her to eat.
Unfortunately her not eating has started to affect her IBD. Once that happens, we have to keep that under control, so it doesn't affect any bleeding in the intestines, or lower GI tract or that will then affect her vWD (von Willebrands Disease). A domino effect, which we do not want.
She is still a happy girl though. Always wanting to run, play, tear up the toys, following me around the house, looking for something to get into.

This photo you can see her round spot on her side where she chewed all her hair off back in October. Finally, after all these months, the hair is coming back. A very slow process.
I know Jarie will recover in time, this is not the first time we have gone through this with her, and it won't be the last. Honestly, I don't think she is even aware that she is not as healthy as she could be.

27 comments:

Laura said...

What a sweetie. Has she been to the vet to make sure something isn't going on that is making her not want to eat? Sounds like she is okay if her energy level is still good. Have you tried adding some "gravy" to her food. They make a "dog gravy". Also if you can add some warm water - something to get the food to smell to peak her interest. Good luck!

Cyndi and Stumpy said...

T?
I searched your blog for "raw" and nothing came up. Have you tried a raw food diet? there have been some amazing results with regards to allergies and other diet related issues. there are alos a lot of prepared raw foods out there now.

from dogchannel.com... pros and cons with readers input

http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-nutrition/raw-food-diets.aspx

I am sorry jarie is not doing well. I hate that you are not posting so frequently, although I have been hoping it's because you are enjoying some golorious spring weather.
How are you feeling?

Lisa said...

I have nothing! Except....she is beautiful and I know you are worried.

My Natasha use to do this when she was a pup....I would spoon feed her and worry so much. My vet said she would not eat because I was spoiling her.;) Now that we have Daisy aka...."Davey" (renamed by my 2 year old) Natasha eats!
I wish it was that simple for you and Jarie....but it does not sound like it. Please keep us posted on her progress.....I for one will worry and wonder.

My best to you all.

troutbirder said...

I don't know about all this. But I wish you and Jarrie well. My Baron well through an eating spell last year till the vet figured out he had giardia. Ten days of anti-biotics and he was ok.

Dana said...

She is beautiful. I hope you guys find what works for her:)It's hard loving animals so much:)

Dana said...

Read todays post please:)

Maude Lynn said...

What a beautiful dog!

My mother-in-law used to put cottage cheese in her dog's food to get her to eat. I'm not sure if cottage cheese is good for dogs, though!

Susan English Mason said...

Have you tried beef or chicken broth? My formula for trying is to think of single items she has traditionally liked to eat and try putting a little bit with a lot of broth. See if maybe she can at least drink some nourishment.

Cyndi and Stumpy said...

I just remembered yogurt... mixed with her food...not the low fat artificially sweetened stuff, go organic...or if she is allergic to dairy sometimes goat products are less troublesome.

T said...

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

I'm sorry, when i posted asking for a magic potion, I really meant MAGIC, like sarcastically! LOL.

I can not change Jarie's diet, No food that she does not currently eat can be given to her, especially right now, or it will upset her IBD more. It really is just a waiting game with her, as long as she eats, I can give her her meds and supplements.

She did finally eat about half a cup of her food just a bit ago. Hooray!. She just needs to make eating a routine so she will get better, and right now, she has thrown her whole system off.

We will get there.

Betty said...

Jarie is just gorgeous. Whatever you do, I'm sure you are giving her the very best care. For your sake, and hers, I hope she perks up and starts eating more regularly. Keep us posted about her, okay?

Andrea said...

Oh, those eyes!

When Buster was battling cancer I would make him a "meat loaf" (got the recipe from a book, written by a doctor so I felt OK with the idea). It was mixture of ground turkey, oats, canned carrots, milk. I would make a large batch once a week. We did this to avoid the additives, etc. in commercial dog food.

Since I'm not sure what Jarie can and cannot eat, I'm not sure if this website will be of help or not: www.evopet.com

Good luck!

Jane said...

What a beautiful dog! I just love GSDs. I've read the comments as well as your reply and have no other suggestions to make. I know that all of my GSDs loved bologna and would usually take that over dry food any day of the week. Good luck, let us know how it goes!

Jane

Daniela said...

Oh, she is beautiful..just beautiful. Can she have A/D by Science diet? I'm not sure since she has so many allergies, but it's highly palatable. Maybe some boiled chicken and rice? I know you're worried about your baby.

Oh, ps...River now officially lives with us...she is staying in the house and loves running around the yard. She is in a very large crate when we are not home which is never more than an hour or two at a time..she's now happy..thanks so much for asking about her the other day..

Kisses to you and your baby..I hope she starts eating soon. Let me know.

♥Mimi♥ said...

I don't know what her limitations are concerning her diet, but whenever my dogs won't eat I boil up some chicken livers with a little bit of celery. Then I put them in a food processor with a bit of the juice/water and mash them up. My dogs and my cats salivate for this stuff!

I'll be keeping your girl in my thoughts. I've had GSDs in my home and life since 1980...would NEVER be without one!

Unknown said...

Jarie
Please eat. I'll share some of my favs with you: apples, bananas, tuna, peanut butter. Well.. maybe just a few. I don't know much about GI and allergy issues to offer any good suggestions. I hope it resolves soon. Here I licked a peanut butter kiss onto your computer screen.
Norwood

Jan said...

I am so sorry for her. When I was a kit our dog got sick and we had to force her to eat. We got her to eat peanut butter. Then she licked it off her mouth and she realized it was good. Lots of protein in it. Good luck with her. What we do for our animals.

Katt said...

Glad she finally ate something, T. She looks like a real sweetheart. My GSD mix is also a very, very picky eater and it drives me nuts sometimes. Good luck with precious Jarie.

♥Caroline♥ said...

Poor Jarie, i will pray for her!

Unknown said...

T
Just checking in on Jarie. Oh.. and another reason. I flipped upside down. Just letting you know.. hee hee
Norwood

♥Mimi♥ said...

Just checking in on your sweetie. I know all too well what it's like to have a sick pet and to be pulling out your hair. Please know that my heart is with you and this beautiful baby of yours.

I don't know why, but my GSDs have always been a little off now and then during meals. Not to compare things with this sweetheart's illness. It always bothers me when they don't like their plate clean. If it goes on for more than a day or so I begin to pull out my hair but as long as they are drinking and have good spirits I try not to sit in a pile on the floor and cry.

Phyllis said...

Jarie is beautiful; I'm so partial to GSD's and used to have a white girl.

I'm sure you've tried everything, but boiled skinless chicken breast always seems to go down pretty well with dogs.

You're doing such a good job taking care of her.

Stacy Disarrayed said...

she's gorgeous!

T said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
T said...

Thank you so much everyone. Mimi, thank you for the very kind words. And Norwood, thank you sweetie for always checking in:).

I am happy to report Jarie has eaten the last 2 days now. But...she didn't her her dinner tonight, ugh. We are not out of the woods yet. Hopefully she is on the road to becoming a little more routine. I won't think she is routinely eating, until it has been a week straight of eating,without skipping meals. She has done the two day eating, then not for two days before. Here is hoping.

Right now, i am in another crisis but, with Jake. UGH. This is not going well, I will update about him when i know more.

Thank you all.

Dog_geek said...

I'm just catching up - so sorry to hear that Jake and Jarie are having trouble. I hope that Jarie has continued eating, and that Jake is okay!

DayPhoto said...

You are one amazing woman! Our prayers go to you and each and every animal that you touch!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/