My female English Mastiff rescue is anorexic?

[mydarlingclementine]

Several months ago I adopted a ten week old english mastiff puppy from a rescuer that helped care for dogs rescued from a puppy mill that was raided in West Virginia. She is a pure breed but was in horrible conditions, dead animals littered the property, two puppies were alive out of nine. She weighed six pounds at ten weeks. She was very sickly. Several vet visits later, she is happy and seemingly healthy.

My problem is she is anorexic, she often refuses food. She snacks on kibble here and there (solid gold); but she refused canned food totally. I ended up cooking for her everyday, chicken, sweet potatoes, green beans, rice, and vitamins, but I often end up chasing her around the house, forcing it into her mouth, and waiting for her to swallow. Other days she will eat five or six pieces of chicken no problem.

She is a decent height, about 28 inches, at 11 months old. But she hovers around 80-90 pounds. She hasn't gained in months, her legs are sticks, and her muscles aren't getting the nutrition they need. She is puny.

How can I stimulate her appetite? She has had everything from wormer to barium radiographies done, and still nothing.

Can anyone help?

 

[Ryan Davis]

Garlic or Garlic Powder can be used to stimulate appetite. http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/garlic-for-dogs.html Goes over how much to give etc. There are also supplements sold that say they can stimulate appetite you will have to google for them I have no experience with them.

 

[ElJayBee]

You can try something called "Satin Balls" that have been used many times to help sickly dogs gain weight. I'm going to quote the info from another forum I frequent. Maybe this could help you?

Here ya go:

""Satin Balls" are a total canine diet. But be very careful, as it will put weight on a dog fast, if you feed enough. It can be feed by itself, but because it is so rich and high in calories, I only feed as a supplement.

So, if you have a sick dog needing to be built up or an underweight dog dog with little or no appetite, they may do very well on "Satin Balls" as a supplement.
Also, I give about a 1/4 pound occasionally, to maintain beautiful coats and energy level.
Don't mix or hide Satin Balls in with kibble, your dog will make a mess of the kibble, trying to get to the Satin Balls.
It is perfectly fine to freeze Satin Balls in pre-formed and weighed portions.
When mixing the ingredients, it is a gooey mass. For easy clean up purposes, I wear Latex Exam Gloves and mix by hand ...lol... but that is just me.
There are many sites with recipes for "Satin Balls", but I chose the following, because it breaks the recipe down into various sizes.

My dogs love Satin Balls and I bet yours will too

Satin Balls ~~~

All ingredients are uncooked RAW and "Satin Balls" are served raw.

Satin Balls for Little Dogs -- or to try out recipe on your dog to see if he will eat it.

1 lb cheap hamburger (for high fat %)
1 and 1/3 cups Total cereal
1 and 1/2 cups uncooked oatmeal
1 raw egg
6 Tablespoons wheat germ
1 package Knox unflavored gelatin
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
2 Tablespoons unsulfured molasses
Pinch of salt

Satin Balls Half Recipe
5 lbs cheap hamburger (for high fat %)
1/2 large box Total cereal (about 6 cups cereal)
1/2 large box uncooked oatmeal (about 7.5 cups oats)
5 raw eggs
1/2 of 15oz jar wheat germ (about 2 cups)
5 packages Knox unflavored gelatin
5/8 cup vegetable oil (this is pretty close to 2/3 cup)
5/8 cup unsulfured molasses
Pinch of salt ​

Satin Balls Full Recipe
10 lbs cheap hamburger (high fat %)
1 large box Total cereal (about 12 cups cereal)
1 large box uncooked oatmeal (about 15 cups oats)
10 raw eggs
1 15oz jar wheat germ
10 packages Knox unflavored gelatin
1 and 1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 and 1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
Pinch of salt

Notes:

"Whole Wheat Total" cereal (blue box) comes in large 1 lb 2 oz size (about 12 cups settled) and a smaller 12 oz size (about 8 cups cereal), which would work in Little Dog or Half Recipe. But in the long run, the large size is more economical. Don't get Raisin Total or Lo Carb. Total.

Uncooked Oatmeal like "Quaker Old Fashioned Oats" and less expensive supermarket house brand, come in large 2 lb 10oz size (15 cups oats) or smaller 18 oz size (about 7 cups oats).

15oz jar of wheat germ is about 4 cups. Some stores only carry a 12oz jar of wheat germ, which contains about 3 and 1/4 cups of it.

Vegetable oil -- use a good one. I use olive oil.

You will find additional notes and comments at the following site ~ http://theherbs.info/Pets/satinball.html"​

 

[Ripsmom]

if the vet hasn't done a blood chem profile yet... I would definitely do it. just to rule out any major health issues that you can't necessarily see with an exam. my dane was like that as a young dog..appetite was lousy, hard time keeping weight on...come to find out he had addison's disease which is life threatening if not maintained.

 

[Little Monster]

I would recommend having her checked for Giardia. It is an intestinal parasite. I know you said she was dewormed, but this little critter isn't covered by typical dewormers (Pyrantel, Fenbedazole, Drontal etc.) Sometimes two have to be given at the same time to get rid of the bug. Lots of vets will 'check' for it, but I would have a SNAP test done. It is very specific to Giardia and very accurate. The classic symptoms are on and off soft stools (not necessarily diarrhea) and inability to gain weight. People can get it too!