Chewie lost distrusts food

[JennaPenny]

That flagyl is disgusting. I went with the vets advice for the first two days, but I couldn't STAND seeing her fling around and almost hurt herself twice. I now put it in bananas. She eats that, but since last night, she will NOT eat her kibble. Not with parmesan, not with anything. She wouldn't even take her favorite apples out of my hand UNTIL I had calmed her down. She took a kix that was under my daughters desk and ran like the wind to behind the couch.

I get what this means, and yeah, I'm tearing up. I just got her her favorite soft food whole farms, and I know that I can re-add her kibble slowly over a few days. It's the loss of trust that has me upset. WHAT do I do with this situation? I was told about IAMS gravy and my husband was sent back out after I spoke to the trainer to get that and carrot juice. I'll try both for her last 3 doses, but, like I said, if treats are supposed to create good feelings, what do I do when those cause anxiety? She DID calm down a bit for a potato chip and her apple/bacon special treat. Last night during training she had to have her treats mashed up before she'd eat them. If I didn't know any better, based on the fact that she's eating softer foods with no issues, I'd say her mouth was sore. She ate half of the apple from my hand after it had softened up. She won't let me look. THAT isn't abnormal, though. Mouth and ears- no. Ears for me, only. Mouth we are still working on.

I know she's hungry. She was already iffy about eating, and still shows signs of shying away from hubby during the one time a day he feeds her.

I'll stop babbling, she was just a great eater, and now THIS happens. I have great vets. I do. They know their stuff, and they are fantastic about looking after my girl. However, they think that 'babying' will make things worse. I tried their way, and it made it worse. Pill form if it doesn't clear up, but it won't change this.

[mybellababy]

Is flagyl just Metronidazole if so I have it in pill form I cut the pill in 6 put it in a piece of food and Bobs your Uncle pill taken.

[JennaPenny]

Originally Posted by mybellababy

Is flagyl just Metronidazole if so I have it in pill form I cut the pill in 6 put it in a piece of food and Bobs your Uncle pill taken.

They gave her the liquid. They apologized right away about how nasty smelling and tasting it was. It turns my stomach to smell it as well. It's definitely Metronidazole, but unfortunately, liquid.

She drank the carrot juice. She smiled at me, too. Then curled up by my feet. Just 45 minutes ago when I tried to get her to drink water she ran under the bed, but I made her come out, as she's using that to get out of doing anything she doesn't want to do, so I need to stop it.

She saw the canned food and perked RIGHT up, but, the #$#$#$#$@#$@ thing's tab fell off!!! THEN the can opener wouldn't work. I started laughing. I mean, what are ya gonna do?! Thankfully petco is 5 blocks from here, so he's off to get another can, while she chills on my heating pad she's absconded from my favorite chair and claimed as her's. If she doesn't eat this, I'm calling the vet. I did give her a bit of karo syrup just in case, as I'm afraid of hypo.

[JennaPenny]

It's mostly her mouth. Call to vet and waiting for a call back. No doubt in my mind her mouth is sore. She ate the wet food with zero issues, and is licking her favorite bully stick. I'm sure some trust is gone, but no way is she just licking her bone for kicks. She's a biter. She also stopped her tricking with her toys for tug of war and fetch (in that order) and ended up licking my hand. I also am refusing her meds right now, until around 1pm. I don't want to give her that right after her food. It will mean 10 hours instead of 12, but I understand that's alright to do. Question will be asked when they call, though.

[yavenay]

Wow....reading your posts reminds of my little one. Getting up to take medicine in any form pill or liquid takes 10 full grown adults. I had to give her a pill one time and I couldn't even pry her mouth open. She wouldn't take it in treats...nothing work. I tried all of the suggestions on her...zip, nada zilch. She would just spit the pill back out.

Finally I had to pry her mouth open, they keep it close will stroking her throat. This is supposed to force her to swallow. It worked but imagine having to do that every time I have to give her medicine.

One of the things I learned from that is never put her meds in food that she eats everyday. So now, I use treats that she likes but only gets when she has to take medicine.

[Jellymint]

Oh no! How awful for you. I completely empathize! They gave Monty 2 liquid meds ... in separate syringes. "It's easy" they assured. "Crack the cheek a wee bit and squirt toward the back of the throat" they stated. "He'll swallow and all is done" they declared. "Easy" they guaranteed.

Ummmm.... hmmmm.... frown.

Both my partner and I are grownups. He is a big biker type dude. I am a biker type dude's capable girlfriend.

Monty is 7.5 lbs.

MUCH trial and error and trauma (for all parties involved).

Monty doesn't really like food all that much.

It distilled down to wrapping him tightly in a towel and two hand death gripping the papoose while boyfriend hovered expectantly gently poking the side of his mouth till he opened in protest. GACK!!

So traumatizing. We would have to begin the process at 04:30 as boyfriend leaves at 05:00 and needed to have cuddle-ish time after.

It was so funny though because he LOVES freeze dried liver treats. Figures he would love something I can't get the meds into huh? lol. After both syringes of meds finally got into him, I would continue the death hold and boyfriend would feed him the liver treats so Monty would have that as his last memory of boyfriend's hands at his face.

Got to the point that the syringe would be pulled away and we are all gaga with "good boy" "what a goooood boy!!!" and Monty would, almost bored, just lay there and open his mouth expectantly before he even saw the treat. It was funny ... sort of. Insane comic relief I suppose.

Day 10 and success!! We made it!

Test results ... Positive for Giardia. *Cringe whimper*

Then we discovered how he adores wet dog food and were able to bury the meds in a tablespoon of that and he ate it. I also smooched it into some peanut butter once. My concern always was that he would get all the meds and thankfully he didn't give up on eating half way through the tablespoon.

I also totally agree not to put the meds in food that she already likes. Make it a new food. Then the med taste is just part of that new food. Worked for Monty. Had to do 2 rounds of 7 days each of that before we slayed the wee f*ckers.

Will be so happy when you are out the other side. Feeling for you.... nod nod