Wondering if I should try mixing canned food for Shiraz

[caroline]

I'm starting to wonder if I should start mixing some canned food with Shiraz's dry food (Fromm-chicken a la veg)  Here is why I'm wondering, actually a couple of reasons.

1.  Shiraz's sense of smell is definately way diminished, she is not as excited as she always was to eat, will a canned food have a lot more smell?

2.  Shiraz has had a sick stomach this week, took her stool sample in, nothing was wrong.  Is it possible I should be switching her to some sort of senior food?  I'm not even sure what the differences are.

3.  What would be a good quality food?  I don't care what it costs and I would definitely mix it with her kibble.  She is making it look like a chore eating now, she has never been like that before.

I don't understand why she is losing all of her senses...

Any opinions would be appreciated.

[Kathy]

Poor Shiraz!  I would definitely be doing anything I could to make her life as comfortable as possible. And, yes, I think canned food would smell MUCH better to her. And yes, I'd look into senior food. I think the big difference is usually lower protien and lower calories, but I'm not sure.

As for a high quality food, I think people have posted the lists from the Whole Dog Journal which rates dog foods. You could do a search to find them, or just Google the WDJ.  I know I've seen the list recently. Or check with your local pet food store.  They will carry higher quality food than a grocery store.

Hugs to Shiraz!  We all wish we knew what was going on and we feel for you.

[101eskies]

My Monkey is 13, as well. While she is doing pretty good (knock on wood) she isn't always the best eater. This isn't an age thing, she has always done this and her daughter does, as well. But she is getting a little skinny right now for my liking. I give all my guys a spoonful of wet food for dinner but she is now getting maybe 1/3 of a can, just to get her to eat a little more. I don't mix it, she doesn't like that, just throw it right on top. But even when she walks away from her dry food at least I know she got a good amount of food in the wet food. So i would definately give it a shot, maybe even try some yogurt or cottage cheese.

[Steve]

...But even when she walks away from her dry food at least I know she got a good amount of food in the wet food. So i would definately give it a shot, maybe even try some yogurt or cottage cheese.

I agree - I would give her whatever she likes - from a humans point of view Merrick's canned food was some of the best looking and smelling dog food I've ever found.  No kidding, it looked better than Dinty Moore Beef Stew!

What does she think of chicken and rice?  That might be easier on her system.

[caroline]

She ate chicken and rice last week just fine.   I ran out at lunch today and got some Maverick's canned food, going to try some tonight with her dry food.  She stands over by her dish all the time looking for food, but when I started her back on her kibble after 3 days of chicken/rice she wasn't too thrilled.

[Steve]

  yep, I can imagine kibble would be a let down after getting chick & rice.... I bet she'll like the Merricks mixed with the kibble

[caroline]

I will give it to her tonight and report back later!!!   

[caroline]

Tonight I fed Shiraz half of her Kibble topped off with Merrick's Grammy's Pot Pie.  She really seemed to like it, she seemed more interested and she is still standing over at her bowl checking for more and continuing to lick it clean!  I'll see how this goes and hope her tummy gets better too!

[blessed woman]

That's great news!

[Steve]

  deffinately!

[Yukon]

My guys love cottage cheese or yogurt mixed in with their food.  Kiska is very picky, but she LOVES yogurt -- she likes the sweet tasted, while Yukon prefers the salty taste of the cottage cheese.

I'll bet that Shiraz would love the addition of the canned food! My guys like the chicken-based Merrick canned foods.  Just watch for the whole bones in them (chicken wing) -- I don't like giving them the cooked bone, so I just scrape the meat off it with a fork.

[Paula N.]

Maybe this would help:  slightly warm it up in the microwave before you put it down.  Warming releases extra smells I think.

When I first got Angel I gave her kibble with Mighty Dog mixed in, and warmed up in the microwave.  Then I got on this Board and realized I wasn't giving her good food, so I eliminated the Mighty Dog and got better kibble.  At first she turned her nose up at it, and I said, "O.K. - that's all there's going to be" and walked away.  When I came back she had eaten it all.

But I do think warming it might help. 

Hope Shiraz goes for it.  Hugs to her.  Hope she improves and her appetite picks up.

[caroline]

When I opened the can up this morning her snout was in the air, searching for the smell!  I know her smell is diminished because if I set her kibble down she doesn't even know it's there.  It must be hard losing your senses.  She enjoyed breakfast today.

[Steve]

That's good to hear

[RedLocks]

A little garlic (not garlic salt) sprinkled on top or tuna water will give some "smell" to any food.

[Yukon]

I'm so glad she enjoyed her breakfast!

A little garlic (not garlic salt) sprinkled on top or tuna water will give some "smell" to any food.

I use these too on occasion, for variety. 

[Rileysmom]

I always add a tablespoon of sweet potato and a couple of teaspoons of canned food (Merrick is great--the dogs LOVE the gravy--but I have also used Solid Gold, Wellness and EVO canned) to Riley and Kody's kibble.  But if you start, just be prepared to possibly continue doing it forever!    We brought kibble only for the dogs' meals while we were travelling last weekend and while Riley had no problem with it, Kody turned up his nose and refused to eat until I added a little water to make "gravy". 

[snowballsmom]

basically any of the high quality dry kibbles, make high quality canned foods.
canidae, merrick, innova, etc.

[blessed woman]

I'm so glad to hear that she's enjoying her meals!

[caroline]

I plan to continue to give kibble and canned.  I just found Merrick on sale on petfooddirect.com  it's 20% off with free shipping, bringing it to $1.55/13 oz can vs like $2.89 here at our pet store.  I ordered 36 cans.

[blessed woman]

That's a great buy!

[101eskies]

Apparently Monkey has been sneaking on my computer again and saw where I mentioned cottage cheese and yogurt and is now wondering why she is only getting canned dog food. She has eaten very poorly over the last few days. I was a little concerned but she is acting absolutely fine. So last night after she turned her nose up at her food again I heated up some dinner left overs - mashes potatos and gravy with chciken and vegetables - and she ate it right up with an eskie grin on her face. As a matter of fact while I was heating some up for my lunch today she was looking for her own portion. Guess I have to go shopping for her. 

[caroline]

I think Monkey knows exactly what she wants to eat.  This week Shiraz's stomach still seems sensitive so we are back to chicken/rice with a spoonful of canned food.  Shiraz loves it.  I just hope her tummy gets better for her road trip this weekend.