Murphy isn't eating much since Wednesday (July 20)

[livetohike]

He's eating about half of his regular allotment of dog food and turning up his nose at his biscuits :-(. It's been really hot and humid here in PA. He's 8.5 years old now and never had a problem with eating.

All other functions are normal. Anyone else having a problem with their dog's appetite in the heat?

[Stinky The Clown]

1. All three of ours are eating less than half of normal

They're sleeping more, too.

They do this every time we have a hot spell. The Shih-Tzu has thrown up a few times, too; they're not at all a heat tolerant breed. The Border Collie is just moving really slow. The GSD seems to be least affected, although she threw up some grass she'd eaten maybe a week ago.

[livetohike]

2. Thanks Stinky....this has never happened to any of my dogs

before. Murphy is the ACD. Cindy is ravenous as ever :-). I know you guys must be sweltering down there, too.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. Tonight it started to cool down some. The two Bigs ate heartily. The Little ate well, too.

Through all of this, they've been drinking and drooling more. The GSD, especially, is drooling a lot more than normal.

Apart from this, they seem quite normal.

How about yours? Apart from the eating, are they acting normal?

[livetohike]

7. There's a new problem Stinky

Murphy was trying to eat and he's making snorting sounds - I can't quite describe it. I think he's hungry, but the snorting is keeping him from eating. I have to call his vet. Murphy is so vet phobic. He's never had a decent check up because he snaps at every vet he's ever seen and he's 8.5 now. Getting his vaccines is a real struggle.

We knew this day would come...where he would have a problem that would require an exam. We have some tranquilizers the vet gave us, so I guess now would be time to use them.

Thanks for your help :hi:.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. I wish the old guy well.

I know perfectly well how it feels to be old, cranky, and cantankerous. :hi:

[Auntie Bush]

24. Good luck with your dog and let us know how he's doing. nt

[rox63]

3. Is he drinking plenty of water?

It's important to keep him well hydrated in the heat.

[livetohike]

4. Yes, he's drinking normally

Everything seems okay, except for the reduced appetite. :-(

[KC]

19. Hope

he's ok Let us know how the appt goes

[Coyote_Bandit]

6. That's normal according to my vet

Mine are doing the same. They were recently boarded for about a week and I had opportunity to discuss the issue with my vet - who was not concerned.

I - on the other hand - remain concerned. The heat here is not about to break anytime soon. I've resorted to trying various food enticements every couple of days or so. I'm really trying to get them to eat normally at least 3 days a week.

[livetohike]

8. Thanks Coyote_Bandit

We have a break in our heat. Finally. However, the humidity is so high you wouldn't notice that the air is cooler.

Murphy has developed a new problem. He was trying to eat and started snorting - then he stopped trying to eat. It seems his throat/nose or both are keeping him from eating and breathing at the same time. This has never happened either.

I will have to give his vet a call, but as I posted up thread, Murphy is a problem at the vet. I don't know how she will proceed to examine him. :-(

[roody]

9. Have you tried soft food?

Something from a can even diluted and mashed for easy eating. Or soak hard food for some minutes.

[livetohike]

12. Thanks roody

:hi: Murphy ate about 1/2 of his normal dinner again tonight. He picked his canned food out amongst the kibble (which I softened with water).

[Withywindle]

14. The snorting sounds like it could be a mild respiratory problem.

My roommate's dog snorts and gasps sometimes. It's not age (Barney is young) nor size or snout configuration (he's a little beagle/terrier mix with a long nose)--it's kind of like doggie asthma or hay fever. Definitely worth the vet trip to get it checked out; if it's like Barney's condition, it's not life-threatening but it does beg some small lifestyle changes, like a different diet or vitamins and/or vacuuming more to get rid of irritants.

Lack of appetite is probably heat-related but I don't think the snorting is.

[livetohike]

15. Thanks. He's sneezing a few times a day too

We just got home from a camping vacation. I hope he didn't snort some foxtails, or such :-(. Although I didn't see any where we were (Upper Peninsula).

[livetohike]

16. Update on Murphy:

Thanks for all the advice everyone :-).

Murphy has an appointment with the vet tomorrow (Thursday). They will have to put him under to take a blood sample.

I think it may have something to do with his teeth. He will not chew his dry food, or dog biscuits. I made him some boiled chicken, rice and broth last night and he ate it all. After this morning's walk, he wouldn't even look at his biscuits. I gave him some baked sweet potato with some more chicken and he ate it and was looking for more. I brush his teeth 2-3 times per week and haven't seen anything abnormal, but I guess it could be in his root :shrug:.

All other functions are normal - except for the sneezing and occasional snorting.

[Withywindle]

17. Good to check with the vet; keep us posted.

I really think the sneezing and snorting might be allergies; dogs get 'em too. But if he's being a pickier eater than usual, that sounds like a different issue entirely.

[badgerpup]

11. Gospel according to my Sainted Vet...

Critters do tend to eat less in the summer and more in the winner.

Not to worry most likely...he doesn't need the extra energy to keep himself warm; old Sol is doing that just fine.

(Where's a "The temperature is Too Damn High!" icon when you need one? :silly:)

[livetohike]

13. LOL

Thanks badgerpup. The humidity is the same as the temperature here today. I can't remember prolonged heat like this here.

[NNN0LHI]

18. I was having the same problem with mine and it turned out to be allergies

She was allergic to the food we were feeding her because it had chicken in it. An allergy test showed that she was highly allergic to chicken.

Since we changed her food and got her on some medication for allergies she eats fine now.

Good luck.

Don

[KC]

20. I wonder

if he might have a sore throat ?

[livetohike]

21. Hi KC

it was tonsillitis! So you are right about the sore throat. He just finished the antibiotic he was on (Cephalexin) and he is back to his ornery self :-).

[KC]

23. I'm so

glad that's all it was and he is back to being himself !

[Curmudgeoness]

22. Well, it sounds like you have narrowed the problem down

since he will eat soft food without issue. Let us know how the vet visit goes. We are rooting for this to be an easy fix.

[livetohike]

25. Thanks Curmudgeoness

Murphy is doing great :-). He's completed the first round of antibiotics and now into a different type for three weeks. He seems back to normal in all respects.