Go Back   Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca > Discussion Groups - mainly cats and dogs > Dog health - Ask members * If your pet is vomiting-bleeding-diarrhea etc. Vet time!

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old January 27th, 2008, 09:11 AM
Helene4 Helene4 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Senneterre, Québec
Posts: 161
How long can a dog go without food?

Hi everyone,

My 12 year old dog Mickey's last meal was Thursday evening. Today is Sunday. Thursday past midnight he vomitted several times as well as Friday.He couldn't keep water down. I talked to a technician at the vet's office Friday night and Saturday morning and followed their advice: no food or water for 24 hours and then start giving bland food in very small amounts.

Mickey's last vomit was Saturday morning; it was yellow bile. He can now drink water OK but doesn't want to eat at all. We even tried cheese and peanut butter but he wants nothing. He spends most of his time sleeping and doesn't have his usual energy. If he doesn't eat today I will call the vet tomorrow morning and hope they can find time for Mickey. On the phone, the tech told me he could have eaten something bad or maybe he caught some kind of flu bug in the air. We have no emergency vet services here. He hasn't eaten for 2½ days. Should I force him to eat something? How long can he fast before it become something to really worry about? At least he is drinking and urinating Ok.

Thanks for your replies.
__________________
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" Mahatma Gandhi
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old January 27th, 2008, 09:24 AM
Kristin7's Avatar
Kristin7 Kristin7 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: US
Posts: 857
I am not sure but I believe they can go for awhile without eating (unlike cats). Your dogs symptoms sound a lot like pancreatitis, though, which can be deadly (which I unfortunately know about first hand). Your dog needs to see a vet. I would not force-feed the dog. When my dog had pancreatitis she could not eat or drink and had to have IV fluids. I read up on it and I do recall that dogs with this probably should not be fed, their digestive system needs a 'break' and they can go without eating for days, sorry I do not remember exactly how many. I'm not saying this is what your dog has, but really he needs to be seen by a vet and asap. Hope your dog feels better soon!
__________________
http://www.catster.com/cats/702907
http://www.catster.com/cats/703259
http://www.catster.com/cats/703269
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/669963
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old January 27th, 2008, 09:37 AM
Kristin7's Avatar
Kristin7 Kristin7 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: US
Posts: 857
Here are a few links for you with pancreatitis info:

http://www.judithstock.com/Speaking_...s_in_dogs.html
http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/dpancrea.html
http://www.sniksnak.com/doghealth/pancreatitis.html
http://www.pets.ca/encyclopedia/pancreatitis_dog.htm
__________________
http://www.catster.com/cats/702907
http://www.catster.com/cats/703259
http://www.catster.com/cats/703269
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/669963
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old January 27th, 2008, 10:40 AM
jessi76's Avatar
jessi76 jessi76 is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: U.S.
Posts: 2,510
Quote:
Originally Posted by Helene4 View Post
I talked to a technician at the vet's office Friday night and Saturday morning and followed their advice: no food or water for 24 hours and then start giving bland food in very small amounts.

Mickey's last vomit was Saturday morning; it was yellow bile. He can now drink water OK but doesn't want to eat at all. We even tried cheese and peanut butter but he wants nothing.
cheese and peanut butter do not qualify as BLAND foods. bland means boiled chicken & white rice. try very small amounts of those, boiled chicken & white rice. not cheese & pb... the point is to get the dog to eat something that won't further irritate the stomach or digestive tract.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Helene4 View Post
He spends most of his time sleeping and doesn't have his usual energy. If he doesn't eat today I will call the vet tomorrow morning and hope they can find time for Mickey. On the phone, the tech told me he could have eaten something bad or maybe he caught some kind of flu bug in the air. We have no emergency vet services here. He hasn't eaten for 2½ days. Should I force him to eat something? How long can he fast before it become something to really worry about? At least he is drinking and urinating Ok.
a lethargic dog who won't eat is cause for concern. I wouldn't wait much longer than 24 hrs before seeing a vet if this were my own dog. My general rule w/ stomach upset is wait 24 hrs to see if it resolves itself w/ rest, however, if the dog worsens or doesn't seem to be on the mend in 24 hrs, a trip to the vet is a MUST.

don't force the dog to do anything. a dog WILL eat when ready. just make small amounts of food available incase he does want it. in the meantime, I'd make arrangements to get to a vet first thing in the morning.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old January 27th, 2008, 03:44 PM
Helene4 Helene4 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Senneterre, Québec
Posts: 161
I did try bland food: boiled rice and small pieces of boiled beef. He didn't want it. I tried only a very small amount of peanut butter and a very small piece of cheese just to see if he would at least take it. I wasn't going to give him more than that; I do know it's not bland food. I am still giving him the bland diet today, but he does't want to eat.

This morning, I talked to a vet in another town who is on call this weekend in our region. I explained all of Mickey's symptoms. He told me it could be a number of things but that his situation seems better because he can drink water without vomitting and that I should take him to my regular vet tomorrow even if he starts eating. In his opinion, I can wait till tomorrow. But if things get worse, I can make the 2 hour trip to see the emergency vet. That clinic is open until 8 o'clock tonight.

At least he is drinking and peeing. Tomorrow morning I will call my vet and insist they take time to see Mickey.
__________________
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" Mahatma Gandhi
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old January 27th, 2008, 04:13 PM
Hogansma Hogansma is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 173
I'm sorry to hear your dog is sick. I'm no vet but if he's drinking, could you try some diluted chicken broth?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old January 27th, 2008, 06:18 PM
Helene4 Helene4 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Senneterre, Québec
Posts: 161
Good news! Mickey ate some cooked rice/beef late his afternoon. I mixed a few tbsp with warm water and gave him the plate. I was sure he would turn away but he ate everything. So far so good, there is no vomit and the sparkle is back in his eyes. After 3 days, he seems to be getting better.
__________________
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" Mahatma Gandhi
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old January 27th, 2008, 07:02 PM
BusterBoo's Avatar
BusterBoo BusterBoo is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Quebec
Posts: 1,208
Glad to hear that Mickey is feeling better. Don't let him over-do it for a day or so, and IMO I would still take him to the Vet tomorrow to make sure that whatever the problem is, has been solved!
__________________
RIP Harley Sept 7/02 - Aug 11/07
Buster (6 yr old Tzu/Bichon)

**************************************

Don't let someone become a priority in your life when you are just an option in their life.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old April 28th, 2014, 07:49 PM
boxerdogrosie boxerdogrosie is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 2
TrooperRat

What happened with your dog. I'm going through the same as you. Did he survive?
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old April 29th, 2014, 02:22 PM
MaxaLisa MaxaLisa is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: California, usa
Posts: 1,046
Dogs can go a long time without food, but not fluids. They need supportive care, and the cause of the issue also needs to be found and treated.

I have found homemade chicken bone broth to be a lifesaver for a non-eating dog.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old April 29th, 2014, 02:37 PM
Barkingdog Barkingdog is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 4,371
Quote:
Originally Posted by boxerdogrosie View Post
What happened with your dog. I'm going through the same as you. Did he survive?
How old is your dog , I would be concern with why my dog was not eating.
Have you checked inside his mouth to see if there anything wrong , is he pooping OK ? I would call the vet as they know your dog medical history and could tell if you should bring your dog in for a check up. I always like to be on the safe side .
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old May 4th, 2014, 06:11 PM
boxerdogrosie boxerdogrosie is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 2
My dog is 6. Her first trip to vet she was treated for hook worm and given Sucralfate for the vomiting. Second trip she was prescribed an antiobotic Clavamax and given a Vitamin K injection. I will call Monday to make another appointment. However after a lot of time on the internet today I think I have just diagnosed her myself. She has every symptom of Boxer Histiocytic Ulcerative Colitis: Mucus in stools, blood in stools, soft unformed stools, vomiting, anorexia, weight loss and lethargy.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old May 6th, 2014, 10:26 PM
MaxaLisa MaxaLisa is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: California, usa
Posts: 1,046
She would need care for this, probably from an internal medicine specialist, also to verify the diagnosis.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Forum Terms of Use

  • All Bulletin Board Posts are for personal/non-commercial use only.
  • Self-promotion and/or promotion in general is prohibited.
  • Debate is healthy but profane and deliberately rude posts will be deleted.
  • Posters not following the rules will be banned at the Admins' discretion.
  • Read the Full Forum Rules

Forum Details

  • Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
    Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
    vBulletin Optimisation by vB Optimise (Reduced on this page: MySQL 0%).
  • All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:21 AM.