Why is my puppy refusing his kibble after starting medication?

Hi there. Yes, stress could be the cause of Bear's eating behavior. I would try feeding him away from the other dog, somewhere where he doesn't feel challenged because this could be an issue. You can also try high calorie food like Royal Canin GI high energy to help make sure he's getting plenty of calories. There is also the canine phermone collar called DAP which can help settle their nerves and this may be worth a try. I hope that helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Is this new that he won't eat his kibble? If so then I recommend bringing Bear to the veterinarian to have him examined. If this is not new I would try adding water to the food to see if he would like it. I would not hand feed him or just feed him piece by piece. Would he eat off of a plate? Or maybe if his bowls are not raised, raising his bowls. I would also make sure he isn't thin. So if your veterinarian said he is ideal weight as long as he is not losing I am not as concerned. They will eat when they are hungry unless something medical is going on. With you hand feeding or adding stuff he is going to wait to eat because he knows he will be getting something else. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear your dog is having stomach issues on a medication. Typically, a bland diet (such as boiled white meat chicken and white rice) can be helpful for medication-induced GI upset. If your dog isn't eating, vomiting, having diarrhea or otherwise feeling ill, then I would recommend having him evaluated by his veterinarian, as something more than just a medication reaction may be going on. Good luck!

I would talk to your veterinarian about trying a prescription diet. There are hypoallergenic foods that you can get so their body doesn't recognize the proteins. Bear would have to be on it for a full 2 months to see if it is going to work. If it works then he has food allergies. If it doesn't work then he has environmental allergies. I would try this first prior to switching to something else. I would also recommend making sure he is on a flea and tick prevention that is a pill since they also can be used to treat mites. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Jaguar. Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach is meant to give you general veterinary advice. As veterinarians, we cannot diagnose or treat pets that we have not examined in person. So I am happy to guide you, but I cannot legally prescribe any medication for Jaguar. From your pictures, his skin does have the appearance of an infection. This can be due to an allergy to something in his diet (more likely if he has vomiting and diarrhea as well) or the environment. Mites can also cause this appearance as can a fungal infection known as ringworm. His veterinarian will need to examine him and may recommend skin testing. In the meantime, you can bathe him with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula to soothe the skin. I hope this information helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I have had excellent luck with Royal Canin so I can definitely support giving that a try. In general for giant breed dogs, feed according to the bag. Being 7 months, Bear is probably past the biggest of the growth spurts but we probably still don’t want to free feed. However, it the giant breed formulas, it is safer to feed larger quantities while still keeping bone growth at a proper rate. As for the beard, I have a schnauzer so I can relate a little. My best advice is just to wash the beard with a puppy shampoo once a week. Rinse and dry thoroughly. Finally, for the skin. Adding about 2000 mg per day of Fish oil can sometimes help with the skin however, I recommend talking to your vet. If Bear is already this itchy, food or environmental allergies could be to blame. Bet wishes to you and Bear!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Bear! Diarrhea can be a sign of a vaccine reaction but since he was having abnormal stools prior to the Vet visit I think it is likely a continuation of his previous issues. I would still ask for deworming medications as adult worms do not always shed eggs that will show up in the stool sample. I would also change his food and get him on a puppy food that doesn't contain chicken. It is possible the weight loss and chronic abnormal stools are due to a food allergy. If that doesn't improve his weight and stools then I would do blood work and B12/folate/TLI/PLI testing for intestinal and pancreatic disease. Causes of poor weight gain/weight loss and diarrhea in a puppy are: intestinal parasites, food allergy/intolerance, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatic insufficiency. Good luck!