My senior dog won't eat after a fall and bruising. What can I do?

I'm sorry to hear that Cocoa isn't feeling well! Dogs with chronic health issues like this often lose their appetite, and it can be hard to get them to eat. If she eats dry food, you can try soaking it in some low-sodium beef or chicken broth for a few minutes to soften it and add flavor. If she eats wet food, you can try warming it briefly in the microwave to make it more enticing, or try different types of canned food to see if you can find one that interests her. Plain boiled chicken and rice, or rice mixed with chicken or beef-flavored baby food can also be a good choice in the short-term for dogs who aren't as hungry as usual. Finally, if needed, you could ask your veterinarian about prescribing an appetite stimulant such as mirtazapine - this can be very effective for some pets with chronic health issues, to help improve their appetite.

I'm sorry that Princess is so sick! I would try to tempt her to eat by offering her small amounts of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice. You can also soak her dry food in gently warmed low sodium beef or chicken broth. Should she refuse to eat any of these choices, I would take Princess back into the vet who can give her a medication that may stimulate her appetite.

If there are any wounds, clean then with mild soap and water and keep neosporin on it to minimize the infection. He is walking... this is a good sign!! You can try chicken or rice, Gatorade, low fat yogurt. Or chicken broth to help stimulate his appetite. He is in pain and that can decrease their appetite so you may have to syringe feed or place some in his mouth to help him. Generally day 2-3 is the worst for pain and should improve from there. Other than that, rest is all else you can do

HI, I am sorry to hear about Chiquita. If you know that she had some sort of trauma she may in a lot of pain. Pain can cause a dramatic decrease in appetite. She probably isn't moving around much because she is very hurt. Since it has been three days without improvement but actually worsening of signs - now she is not eating - I would highly recommend taking her to either her veterinarian first thing in the morning or an emergency veterinarian this evening. I am sure she needs pain medications and a thorough evaluation to determine why she is getting worse rather then improving. Best of luck to you and your dog.

Any calories at this stage are welcome so boiled chicken and rice, with some vegetables, would be a good option if she is willing to take it. Vitamins/minerals such as the nutritional gel or a tonic would also be recommended whilst she is undergoing investigations for the cause of her poor appetite (kidney, liver or cushings disease would all be possibilities)

Poor Lucy! If she's not eating anything it's possible she may be in some pain. If your vet didn't prescribe pain medications, talking with them to see if that is an option may help Lucy feel well enough to eat. If she is on pain medications or other medications, these can sometimes cause some stomach upset. Offering a bland meal of boiled rice and chicken may help with minor tummy upset, however if she continues to refuse food or looks very sad and lethargic, scheduling a recheck with your vet to make sure there isn't anything else ongoing is best.

Dog bites cause a lot of bruising and often they become infected. With your dog’s age I recommend veterinary treatment right away. Since she’s not eating much she may be developing a fever or be bruised and painful. Again dog bites can be very serious so I do recommend you take her for an exam and treatment soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Lexi.