Sunday, July 28, 2013

Feeding Cissy

I thought I would give a little update on Cissy.  She does seem to be in pretty good spirits.  She and I continue with our daily 'conversations' and she enjoys going for walks with us and rolling in the grass.
However with Cissy we are faced with her being a very picky eater. Getting her to eat can be a roller coaster ride. Some days she loves what you feed her, other days, not so much. She will turn her nose up at kibble, hamburger, chicken, turkey, liver and white or brown rice.

But Cissy does like fish.  So last week after she'd eaten very little for a couple of days, more out of desperation than anything, I cooked pasta added half of a can of salmon and a cup of regular kibble, topped with parmesan cheese, which she happily ate. This became the meal of choice for the entire week; she ate practically everything each time she was fed.
~Cissy's meals last week~
I was feeling really good about what Cissy was eating until I discussed it with the vet who has been caring for her.  She urged me to remember to try and make her meals more "nutritionally-balanced." There's no question that I totally agree with her.  But I have to admit that there is a part of me that just wants to stick with the meal that's a 'sure thing.'  Those of you who have had dogs that won't eat, know that feeling when you give them a bowl of food that you have specially prepared, and as you set it down you say a silent prayer that they'll eat...Then when they refuse it, your heart sinks.  I worry about that happening if I change Cissy's meals.  But then, Cissy has surprised me before and this may not be any different.  We'll see.

41 comments:

  1. Izzy was a fussy puppy. Did not like to eat. Finally put yogurt on op of her food and that stimulated her to eat everything in the bowl. I say give them what they want, at least for a while and then back off the high cal stuff. The poor girl has to eat after all. Xox

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  2. Does she like eggs? You could crack a whole egg on her food and see if she goes for it. Except for the kibble, that pasta dish looks pretty good! Ha!

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  3. Give her kisses for me please

    Stop on by for a visit
    Kari
    http://dogisgodinreverse.com/

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  4. Cissy might well be like the children at a school, I think in UK, they were allowed to eat anything they liked, any day, and at the end of a week or month, they managed to get ample nutrition, even if some only ate bananas for one day, then fruit another, then something else, it added up in the end. Maybe Cissy is like that, and for me, I would go with whatever she is happiest with... with so much TLC in abundance, and a plate of food she really likes, it adds up to a wonderful life for dear Cissy. Cheers from Jean.

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  5. oh, i hope the sweet girl will eat better for you. if she turns away from hamburger, rice, chicken, etc... hmmm.

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  6. My girls like scrambled eggs, green beans, cooked carrots, cottage cheese and any kind of pasta. They have always been fed a couple of tablespoons of people food on their evening kibbles. I say with Cissy...go with your gut!

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  7. You said there was kibble in the mix right? That would seem to help balance it nutritionally. I say at this stage she gets to eat whatever she likes to eat. We had this struggle with Nina in her last months. The kidney disease made it so we had a constant guessing game what would seem palatable for her.

    That bowl of food for Cissy looks good enough for anyone to eat (minus the kibble of course).

    Cindy

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  8. Hi Kim, sure hope Cissy eats, such a sweet girl, big hugs from me to her, Francine.

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  9. So far, we've had no problems with eating. We eat almost anything.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

    We love sardines over our kibble.

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  10. Oh I hope and pray she will eat what you give her. She is such a sweet girl.
    Blessings,
    Goose

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  11. Kim I'm sure you have been frustrated Wanting so badly to give her the best thing and wanting to give her anything that she would eat.
    At this stage I'd say whatever tastes best to her bless her heart.

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  12. Cissy has the most beautiful face!

    Your bowl of fish, pasta, kibble looks good and I am glad she eats it. She looks real heavy though, so how much food does she get at a meal. More than a cup? If she would get a cup for b'fast and again for supper, she'd be doing good, I would think.

    They often like canned mackerel too.

    Cheers,
    Jo

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  13. Turn her nose up at hamburger ? A canine first ?

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  14. Sounds like Cissy is a girl who knows what she likes and makes sure she gets it, lol. You have hit on her food of choice, I'd stick with it :)

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  15. It is great you have found something she that makes her eat regularly. If you do want to change what she eats do it very slowly (over several weeks reducing) the pasta and slowly adding a bit more kibble, but any food she eats now is better for her than her not eating.

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  16. Cissy is no different than alot of animals that have been home fed. She knows what she likes and she knows what she doesn't/ I have a similar problem with Roscoe. Unless I give him something home made with his hard food he won't eat. He will go on for days and it breaks my heart. I used to make him pasta with chicken and carrots but since he has gained so much weight, than I have eliminated the pasta and rice all together. Now I just boil the chicken and carrots and broccoli for him and then add the hard food. He does not eat canned foods either. Never liked them, not even when he was a puppy.
    Good luck with Cissy's feedings. Keep us updated.
    Ana

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  17. Think of it this way, Cissy is getting a varied diet because she's choosing it herself. It's frustrating for you, I know, as you watch her turn her nose up at dinner time after time ... been there before myself.

    Here's a story for you: When our Emma started going to a holistic vet for acupuncture for the bad discs in her back, the vet did a thorough work up and asked lots of questions about Emma's diet. At that time, we fed dog food with either yogurt or cottage cheese on it. The vet told me that Emma needed to eat more REAL food, with real meat and vegetables and starches in addition to kibble. Now I cook a big pot of 'dog stew' every few weeks, and I freeze it to portion it out mealtime. The dogs (one dog right now) get half kibble and half stew at every meal.

    Looks to me like Cissy's latest dinner is just about what the vet instructed me to do for my dogs ... it's REAL food, with dog food, and (most importantly) Cissy is eating it. I think you should stay the course ... not that you asked for my opinion. That happy look on Cissy's face is encouragement enough, and proof that she is better now, under your care, than probably every before.

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  18. Newton is jealous and would like such a delightful meal :)

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  19. Yup - I get that with Oliver. He's so sensitive and some mornings he just won't eat. Maybe you can slowly begin adding kibble to the salmon mix so eventually it's mostly kibble with salmon mixed in? I have to do this with Ollie - add chicken, chicken gravy or pumpkin puree to his from time-to-time. You're right, it's so hard - you don't want to see them refuse to eat but then there's the nutritional side of it.....ugh! :)

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  20. She is eating and that is the main thing. I normally feed a raw food diet but when they are old or ill, sometimes anything goes :0)
    Have you tried some canned tripe? Smells awful but dogs love it.

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  21. Such a pretty girl. I would do the wrong thing, I'm afraid, and just feed her whatever she would eat. :(

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  22. Are you sure she doesn't have Collie in her? With all the opinions she expresses and her food pickiness it makes me wonder. :-) I'd say feed her what she wants, chances are she is going to tire of it and then it'll be on to something new. The girls like Sardines but only get those once a month, on the other three weeks they get a can of salmon during the week. Anyway, I understand completely your joy that she is eating SOMEthing. I have had several collies from the time they were young that would 'fast' for two or three days then eat well for a few days etc. etc.
    Good luck!
    Tammy

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  23. I guess I don't know what nutritionally balanced means. That dish you fussed over looks great. Did your vet give you any idea of what might be missing?

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  24. Cissy will not let herself starve, she will eat when she is hungry. Is she skinny?/ With all that fur you can not see if she is skinny....

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  25. I have only had one picky eater, Angel. And she would always come around and eat eventually. All my other dogs only stopped eating when they gave up on life. And that would scare me with an old dog like Cissy.

    I wonder if the nutrition part really matters that much at her age. Maybe you can ask the vet if there are any supplements you could add to ensure she gets what the vet feels she needs. I would tend to lean to letting Cissy enjoy her life now and eat the food she likes.

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  26. We know the feeling - Monty is the worlds pickiest eater, and we find ourselves doing the same thing. Sometimes we feel a meal is better than no meal. Harlow is starting to take after him.

    We are behind in reading blogs.

    Sam

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  27. that poor gal has been through and survived so much ...give her what she wants..and yes kibble hidden in there is "nutritional" isn't it?
    My friend used to put a can of soup over the dogs food...beef veg usually...she devoured it
    Let the dog have what she wants!
    Hey if I make it to 90 I'm gonna drink and smoke and swear alot

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  28. I agree...go with your gut! If she is eating it...that is great!! Have you ever tried coconut oil?? My girlz just love it!
    Xo Jeanne

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  29. When Dillon gets bored with his usual food we change it. Always add our leftovers to give it a bit of flavour !

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  30. Good luck with her, Kim. *hugs* ♥

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  31. At this stage in her life can't she just have what she loves? I would spoil her too :)

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  32. Sure looks like you got a lot of good advice here. Lots sound worth trying. I know, it's so heartbreaking when getting them to eat is a struggle. Henri eats Blue Buffalo Salmon-flavored, but I have to put a dollop of spaghetti sauce on top (sometimes it's just tomato sauce or tomato juice). Yes, an egg once in a while. He just turned 5, so trying to keep his weight what it should be, I give him plain Rice Cakes (like Quaker Oats) for a treat instead of dog bones/treats. Sometimes with a little bit of spread cheese or peanut butter (like when he needs an allergy pill).

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  33. Oh! My daughter puts canned pumpkin on her beagle's dog food. :)

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  34. my zeke never was picky unless he wasn't feeling well.
    i think we'll never know what they've gone through and survived in coming to us... it could change their stomachs and inner workings forever.
    i'm glad you've found something. i'm like one of your commenters... find what works and stay with it til something else has to work!
    maybe there's doggy vitamins she could take in addition. :)
    also... hope you're all feeling better from being ill.
    especially you dear heart. REST! if you can at all. xoxo

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  35. Just me, dropping off some woofs & huggies! Hope you're all doing well! :)

    ~Bailey (Yep, I'm a girl!)

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  36. That's such a difficult situation, do you go with "fast" dog food, knowing she will eat it, or do you go with nutritious knowing she most likely won't. I think if you can get her to eat at all, that's good.

    She's a lovely dog.

    Jen

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  37. Your trying so hard to find something she wants to eat. We would feel like you-- something to eat is better than nothing.
    I know one thing-- we would love that meal you fixed!
    love
    tweedles

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  38. I always wonder what's going through their heads or what is ailing them when my Goldies won't eat. Anytime it's a problem, tripe canned food mixed with other healthy things always did the trick. It smells disgusting to me, but it worked.

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  39. A dog that's bot eating is a big worry . Eating pasta and salmon, nutritionally balanced or not, is a 100% good thing.

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  40. We got our latest rescue, Miss Foxie, in December and have been unsuccessfully trying to find a food that she likes. One of the problems we have is our other dog - Miss Rose- will eat everything, so we have to keep an eye on them at meal times. Try baby food on her dog food. Try a different bowl or a paper plate...we had a dog that didn't like her tags dinging against the bowl. Maybe she is used to eating at a different time. And twice I have come across dogs that like to be hand fed.{One of those was when I worked in a private boarding kennel and we couldn't get a dog to eat. We contacted the owner who said that she was embarrassed to admit that we might have to try hand feeding the dog...*sigh*.)

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