I’m lost on what to do… Please help… Lots of sleep no eat

[Mdaniel1984]

My boy will be 3 years old next month... Over the past 2 months he's started to show very odd behavior in the sense of not interested in eating and a struggle to get him out of bed to even go eat. He's also been napping more throughout the day then he's ever have.

Run down on physical side

- Poop and Pee are good (No Diarrhea No Blood nice firm poop)

- Wants to go outside and play in the snow and eat it and go for walks

- Will play with his toys but when it comes to the rope he will bring it over and drop it in front of me... When I pick it back up and try to engage there is no interest... BUT when he brings over his Kong Bones that are rubber he will tug around with those no problem.

- Wants to eat Treats and other Foods

Food Eating Issue

- This about 2 months ago slowly going to his bowl and just eating it, where all the months prior no issues no problems... I believe it was the food so we are transferring from Pruina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach Turkey and Oatmeal to Royal Caninin. Started this past Sunday on the 22nd and seems to be going well he does ever push the food around to get to the good stuff leaving the old stuff out...


went to the Vet and the following was performed

- This was our yearly checkup the Doctor stated "Everything seems normal No Temp, No Ear Infections, nothing seems to be in the throat, Teeth look good no obvious issues lymph nodes feel fine" There is a few Bacteria Spots on his skin which he will be taking meds for the next 2 weeks.

- So I brought up everything above and she stated get a Chem 17 Panel done which I did... Nothing was found everything was good all his levels were good no issues.

- She said the only options going forward would be getting scans done, she wants to see if the meds might help him out "Maybe there is a allergy that is going on and he's down and out." She said his age she wouldn't jump to scans right away because he's not high in age and everything else he's doing is normal.

The only change in our routine was the first time EVER moving his kennel into another room. Though he has showed no issues and goes in and sleeps and no barking or upset... I did move it back to test and see if he will go back to normal maybe thinking this is all in his head...

On 12/28 we put his kibble into a plate he ate his breakfast then with the same plate he was reluctant at first but ate it… Is this a issue thinking bad food is in old bowl?!?

I need some help.... I need some Pet Parent Guidance... I'm beyond stressed out....

 

[helsonwheels]

We say this often in here, stay away from Royal Canin, Science Hill n anything from Purina. It’s all fillers. Dogs ends up having more issues especially skin issues.

I do have a question, what was he eating before you switched?

Start with the food before giving meds. Btw, Quercetin is great for allergies. One capsule per day. For dogs n humans. Have you tried a high protein kibble like Acana, Zignature, Open Farm?

 

[Mdaniel1984]

We say this often in here, stay away from Royal Canin, Science Hill n anything from Purina. It’s all fillers. Dogs ends up having more issues especially skin issues.

I do have a question, what was he eating before you switched?

Start with the food before giving meds. Btw, Quercetin is great for allergies. One capsule per day. For dogs n humans. Have you tried a high protein kibble like Acana, Zignature, Open Farm?

My boy was on Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin Stomach Turkey

I unfortunately don’t have a over abundance of funds dip into the highest quality of kibble

 

[helsonwheels]

My boy was on Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin Stomach Turkey

I unfortunately don’t have a over abundance of funds dip into the highest quality of kibble

Have you looked at zignature? There’s also the Costco brand dog food called Natures Domain. My son use to feed his 2 pit bulls n German Shepherd that for a good 5yrs n never had issues. It was a red bag.

Kirkland Nature's Domain Dog Food Review (Dry) | Dog Food Advisor

Kirkland Nature's Domain Dog Food - an independent review, star rating and recall history by the editors of The Dog Food Advisor.

www.dogfoodadvisor.com

 

[Mdaniel1984]

Have you looked at zignature? There’s also the Costco brand dog food called Natures Domain. My son use to feed his 2 pit bulls n German Shepherd that for a good 5yrs n never had issues. It was a red bag.

Kirkland Nature's Domain Dog Food Review (Dry) | Dog Food Advisor

Kirkland Nature's Domain Dog Food - an independent review, star rating and recall history by the editors of The Dog Food Advisor.

www.dogfoodadvisor.com

I have read up on the brand and there are so many mixed reviews on the food just like with any kind of food, the company is only 14 years old… I’m very data driven when it comes to my findings, when you look at 14 years that’s not long to show an established life of the product.

PPP was solid for 3 years when my boy was on it, he has allergies but it’s not food related they are environmental because they flare up only certain times of the year. His poops and coat have been nice no bald spots and very little to know hot spots.

RC seems to be more solid then PPP from everything I read and what tests are performed and formulated for certain breeds… NOW it could be all mobojumbo but only time will tell and the reviews as I said about Zignature they are over the place. My plan is to supplement some kibble for real food to get a mix in there (Rice, Egg, Veggies, Fruits) I just need to get a consistent feeding going and get off whatever trail he is on….

The Costco brand I don’t have a membership…

Dogs are like humans they can tolerate certain foods and not others.

 

[Manydogs]

If you take your own advice, no point in asking for advice .?

 

[2BullyMama]

As mentioned, anything Purina or RC is crap food… the less you pay for food the more you’ll pay at the vet.

Zingnature, Open Farm, Earthborn holistic are good kibbles that many here and others I know outside of bulldogs do very well in those… using novel proteins and avoiding chicken.

Over all.. raw and fresh are the best to feed

 

[helsonwheels]

There’s a reason why vets pushes RC and numerous sells RC, Science Hill in their facilities. Also they get kickbacks from the companies. To me, they’re red flags.

 

[Dmrock]

My boy was on Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin Stomach Turkey

I unfortunately don’t have a over abundance of funds dip into the highest quality of kibble

The first thing I did when I got my puppy was take him off of Royal canin not only is it junk but expensive. Mine is on open farms and it's no higher than rc

 

[benny]

I fed the same proplan formula for a good while. I use to get in fights about it on this forum (people on here hate it). The same thing happened to me (and some friends of mine a few months later). She stopped eating eventually. I was assuming the dogs are trying to tell us something.

We switched to raw (which was horribly expensive) for a few months and she ate it up. I eventually switched her to Open Farm with ancient grains.

If he is eating the RC but not the ProPlan, I think that's a tell. I don't care for RC but I would feed it if it's working (sounds like it is sort of working).

Things to try
High Value Toppers: See if you can get a sack of "Stella and Chewy's Magical Dinner Dust" OR a beef LUCY dog food roll, and sprinkle on top of the RC before feeding. If the appetite suddenly changes, I would find a different food.

Softer Food: How is his jaw? if his jaw is straight this may be less of an issue, but if it is at all wry the RC kibble will be a lot easier to eat than the ProPlan because of the shape and size... Try adding a lot of hot water to the kibble. By a lot I mean at least half by volume of what you're feeding in kibble (feed a cup of kibble put at least a half cup of HOT water). Wait for the water to soak in (if it is hot this will take 10-20 minutes. If it is not hot this will take a long time). Wait until the kibble is no longer scaulding and has soaked up the water and feed it.

updated to add: the open farm is very small and difficult to eat when dry. I actually switched to it and off of it a long while ago before discovering the soaked in water trick. We've been feeding open farm for nearly a year now.

 

[helsonwheels]

@benny it’s not because we hate it, it’s because what’s going to happen down the road. As you already know most of us older members on here, we know and it never fails, when someone posts an issue of allergies or skin issues etc, we all know approximately 75% of the time by asking “what are you feeding your dog,” RC, SH or Purina comes up. Yes of course people can feed there dogs what they want, it’s their dogs and their right. Eventually the owner will realize down the road they’ll need to switch food. We just basically give heads up to avoid vet bills and change now for the dog’s health.