Dog not eating

[eldee]

I've posted elsewhere and been told not to worry and criticized over the food type and honestly I don't think that is the right approach to be taking. We just adopted a new dog on Thursday and she was recently spayed. She had been eating fine at her temporary home but they can't say for sure how much she was eating... turns out she was sneaking the other dog's food because she liked it better.

I know both the beneful she came with and the pedigree that she preferred have fillers and aren't the best but right now getting her to eat is more important before trying to transition her to a better quality food. She sleeps most of the day and even taking her out for exercise hoping to spark her appetite isn't working.

If anyone can think of anything. Adding a little broth to her food did nothing and although she went bonkers at the pet store near some treats she's only picked at one and ate 1/3 of it. She has no nervous behavior or aggression issues other then seeming very timid and almost afraid of her food dish. I have to wonder if she was ever mistreated because she will literally walk to it very slowly, grab a few pieces of food and take them to another location (or shrink back away from the bowl) I've been really observing her behavior this weekend and taking notes.

She's well behaved and being more affectionate but she just won't eat. I'm used to our shelties who wouldn't budge from the food dish until they were done eating...except for the litter runt who did the sneak and run routine but he didn't seem afraid of the dish when no one was near it (pet or human wise)

[BabyElephant]

OK if you've just adopted her she's bound to be stressed, don't push it. Leave the food down for 30 mins (whatever food that is at this stage) and walk away. Don't watch her, don't even stay in the same room, just leave her too it. If she doesn't eat it after 30 mins then take it up.

Is she drinking properly? That's important. If she isn't can you check if she's dehydrated. You said she was recently spayed - how recently?

Have you tried feeding her from a plate? I know it might put a bit of mess on your floor but some dogs don't like bowls.

Getting her on to a better quality food should be your ulitmate aim (IMO) but you are right, the thing she needs right now is to eat. I wouldn't be too worried if she's drinking properly but I would monitor just how much she is eating.

[eldee]

She was spayed on the 25th of last month and cleared by the vet this past Weds. We've been in the loop since then and everything else was fine with her health.

She is drinking what I suppose is fine for her activity level... and is going when we walk her so that part is ok. I tried putting a little bit of her food down at this spot of carpet (mess is no big deal) she seems to like and she sniffed at it before leaving it be. I picked it up (about 20-30 mins later) to put it back into the dish and go figure she came up to me and ate it from my hand. She's sat down and eaten a little since then so maybe she's turning around a little.

Our goal is to get her on something better but once she's eating. Now finding a good food for her is the question. All of our other dogs have been shelties and VERY active and this little girl is a very laid back beagle. The vet is a science diet fan so I'm just going to do my own research.

[Dauxside]

Transitioning her from food to food can cause a picky eater. Select what she's going to be on and put her on that. As BE said, put food down wait a bit and take it back up.

We, humans, think that if a dog miss a meal or two it's a horrid problem, it's really not. My male will occassionally try to be picky (he's not keen on the vinegar I add to his food) - if he doesn't eat his food is taken up. He's not offered anything else to coerce him. Next meal he's given the choice to eat or not. Sometimes he'll go 24 hrs without a meal (always fresh water) but he comes round when he realizes not only didn't he get to eat but he didn't get any treats with the other dog.

It may seem harsh but it also teaches the dog that you have the food, you give the food, and you can take the food away.

[Moo]

Any changes yet?

I agree with the above. If you are going to transition her eventually, pick the food you want now, and stick with it. If you're having this much of a problem trying to get her to eat what she's already been on, switching again will probably be no easy task. Stress can often upset stomachs too.

Did I hear correctly? A laid back beagle? lol, they make those? And ones that don't eat yet.