Billy Boy (Golden Retriever Puppy) refused to eat for more than a week..

Posted by jessechp
Jun 6, 2008
I owned a Golden Retriever named Billy and he is now 9months old. Billy is a very health puppy. He is active and likes to stay along with my family members. He stays in our house with us. We have another two 11months old and another 10 year old local dog staying outside the house. Recently, Billy refused to eat for more than a week. I have tried giving him all types of delicious food right from steamed to stir fry chicken meat, dog can food and other food that we think is healthy for him. He just refused to eat. I even need to force him to eat through spoon feeding. He would ate a little bit only. He doesn't show any sickness. He runs and play actively with my other doggies. He loves to drink a lot of plain water. I tried to make him eat by telling him that if he finishes his meal he would be given a treat. Well, he obeyed at first but later he refused as well. He would opt for the treats instead of his food. When he is outside the house, he would go to eat the grass. So, I thought he might be sick. So, I took him to the vet. The vet told me that he had a fever and gave him an injection and commented that his blood is infected. Vet also told me that he has not enough blood and they gave him another injection to gain Billy's appetite. The vet also advised me to give him antibiotics and vitamins for a week. I thought Billy's problem would be over after the injections and medications for the last 3 days. To my disappointment, he still refused to eat.
Yesterday, I found him having ulcer under his tounge. Is there anything wrong with Billy for loosing his appetite? He is getting thin now. I hope you would revert to my email. Thanks..
Posted by Kate
Jun 11, 2008
Hi there,

Well you must be pretty concerned! It is definitely not normal for a pup to not eat, especially for this long. I'm not sure exactly what your vet diagnosed but it sounds like they may have found that Billy Boy has an infection. Often the treatment for something like this may involve antibiotics and lots of TLC The fact that you have found an ulcer on his tongue makes me think that this may be the reason he does not want to eat. He is just too sore! Ulcers develop for a variety of reasons, so another trip to the vet would be a good idea.

Let me know how you get on
Kate
Posted by jessechp
Jul 2, 2008
Hi Kate,

Billy is healthy now. Thanks for your concerned. I took him to his regular vet for 2nd opinion. The vet gave him an injection and some antibiotics for his ulcer. Well, his ulcer got better. After a week, Billy still refused to eat. I was so frustrated in forcing him to eat. At first my hubby told me that it must be Billy's bad behaviour for being choosy in his food. I didn't believe him and we took Billy back to the vet to check. The vet eventually check on his heart beat and his ulcer. The vet told me to use traditional way to cure Billy's ulcer. He recommended us to put the table salt on his tounge. I told the vet about Billy's appetite. My hubby immediately told the vet that it was Billy's bad behaviour and not poor appetite. The vet took a tablet of canine plus (a multivitamin tablet). Billy ate the tablet without hesitation. The vet confirmed the Billy is healthy and it is his bad behaviour.

We took Billy home. The vet told me not to give him any food that night till the next evening. Well, I didn't follow exactly what the vet told me because I felt pity for treating him so. That night I told Billy softly that if he doesn't finish his food tonight, he will not be given any food the next day and no one's gonna pity him. I was so surprised that his bowl was empty the next morning. Billy sleeps with us and I put his bowl in our bedroom as well.

It seems like Billy does understand what we told him and it is really his bad behaviour for being choosy. I do try to take away his bowl (normally his eating time is around 4pm) when he is not eating after half an hour and show him only during our dinner time.

Now, Billy would only take his food when we are having our dinner. I put his bowl under our dinning table and make him sit and eat his dinner with us. He is happy to part of our eating gathering...

Share with you some photos of Billy right from 6 weeks old to 9 months old now.