How to Feed a Sick Dog That Won't Eat

Lethargy in a dog is a sign something is wrong.

Having a dog that is sick and refusing to eat can be very distressing. Most owners want to to force-feed their dog immediately, although that is not always necessary. Sometimes your dog is simply not feeling well and needs a short respite. However, if your dog has gone two days without eating and is showing other signs of illness, it is time to call the veterinarian and get some food and fluids into your pet.

Things You'll Need

• Eggs
• Milk
• Sugar
• Soft food
• Bread
• Water
• Eye dropper or medicine syringe
• Children's pain and fever medication

Instructions

1. 

   Watch for blisters, cuts and abrasions.

   Open your dog's mouth and check for injuries to the gums, tongue, cheek or teeth. Some dogs are very fond of chewing on anything that it can get into the mouth. Injuries will make it extremely hard for your dog to eat, and your pet should be checked by a veterinarian. The good news is that as soon as its mouth heals, your dog should commence eating.

2. 

   There are several types of thermometer you can use.

   Use a pet thermometer to check your dog's temperature. It is important to try and determine if your dog is seriously ill or simply a little under the weather. Normal rectal temperature for dogs is 100.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Below 99 or above 104 degrees constitutes an emergency situation and you should contact your veterinarian.

3. 

   Children's chewable pain relievers.

   Choose the appropriate amount of children's pain and fever reliever for your dog. Whether illness or injury is the problem, a painkiller can help relieve fever and aches. Most bottles will have a chart on the back that lists both age and weight for humans; you can apply the weight aspect to your dog. You can use adult fever and pain reliever, but it can be more difficult to get down because the animal will have to swallow and it may be reluctant to do so.

4. 

   Medicine droppers will vary in size

   Dissolve the children's pain medication in a few teaspoons of water if your dog will not swallow or chew the pill. When the pill is completely dissolved, draw the mixture into the eye dropper or medicine syringe. Gently place the eye dropper tip in the corner of the dog's mouth, pressed against the rearmost teeth you can reach. Squeeze the bulb of the syringe until the medication and water is fully administered. If your dog will easily open its mouth, you can administer the medication from the front; just go slow so that none is wasted or goes down the wrong pipe.

5. 

   Room-temperature mixture may go down easier.

   Mix one cup of milk with one egg, adding a bit of sugar for flavor. This is the first substance you should offer an ailing pet. Eggs provide protein-rich nutrients; the milk provides calcium and protein, and also acts as a soothing substance for irritated stomach linings. If the mixture is tolerated well, give your dog at least half a cup every couple of hours for six hours. You may then attempt to give your dog more solid food. You can use the eye dropper to carefully force-feed your pet. If you cannot get your dog to drink this mixture after a couple of attempts, call the vet immediately. You can continue this pattern for up to a couple of days if your pet is getting nutrition.

6. Offer soft canned dog food to your pet after a couple of rounds of the milk-and-egg mixture. Your dog may not be interested at first, but it is wise to offer regular dog food often. If this pet is the only dog in the vicinity, keep a small amount of canned dog food down at all times.

7. 

   Milk and bread

   If your dog is not interested in the canned dog food, soak a piece of bread in the milk and egg, and offer it to your dog. Gingerly place some of the soggy bread in your dog's mouth, being careful not to cause the animal to gag or choke. The hope is that the dog will begin to move the bread around on the tongue and eventually decide swallow it. Be very careful with this step.

Tips & Warnings

• Bread, eggs and milk are examples used here, but in fact anything soft will work. Watery oatmeal, grits or cornmeal mash are also fine choices. The key is to get something in your dog's stomach that will proide calories but not irritate the lining.

• Be careful of feeding your dog table scraps. There are several seemingly harmless people-food choices that can make your dog extremely ill.

• Be very careful around your pet's teeth; sick or injured dogs do not always react they way they normally do, and placing fingers in close proximity to your pet's mouth could earn you a nasty nip. Listen for growling and watch for signs of irritation.

• Even when this process is working you should touch base with your veterinarian and let the doctor know what is going on, if your pet has a history of medical problems, this may be more than a simple upset stomach.

• Be aware that parvovirus carries the very symptoms mentioned above and is very often fatal. If your puppy or dog has not been vaccinated and suddenly will not eat, you should call the vet immediately. Only rapid intervention offers any chance of recovery.

References

• Dog Training Site: Feeding the Sick Dog
• The Dog Health Guide: An Egg Saved My Dog
• Dog Lover's Online: Feeding Sick Dogs

Resources

• Web MD: Foods Dogs Should Not Eat