New dog

[Rianne]

I think I need a new vet. He says to put him in a crate for the next week so that the sutures heal and eventually he'll eat. I don't think it's fair to put him in jail. It's not his fault.

I don't like crates, only used them, in 50+ years of dog ownership, for medical necessity. The crate in this case prevents him from rupturing those sutures. He'll be much worse off if those stitches break. Sometimes dogs think of their crates as safe places. It's really the dogs personality that counts. Just train him with love and soft spoken words, repetitive reinforcement only positive. He will be your BFF for a very long time.

 

[gayl]

Maybe different if he was used to it but he was only crated when cargo on Delta (Boston - SFO 3 weeks ago)

Stupid Delta, should've gone United

 

[Teacher Terry]

If you keep the cone on he doesn’t need a crate

 

[gayl]

Thanks. Monitoring stitches (22 yrs as Ombudsman in acute care facility AKA: Hospital) and they're fine. Actually exterior liquid ones clean / almost healed, no internal stitch issues.

 

[Scratchy]

Hope the little guy bounces back quickly. How about a picture for us?

 

[gayl]

Hope the little guy bounces back quickly. How about a picture for us?

He looks like a skinny rag doll

 

[Scratchy]

OMG how adorable!!! And he looks lively, I'm sure he is going to be fine!!

 

[dtbach]

I agree with others. He is in a new place, had surgery (so probably in some pain) and probably just doesn't have much of an appetite right now. Give him a few days and he will probably start eating again. If more than 3 days though, I'd take him to the vet or at least call the vet.

 

[Scrapr]

the cone of shame...aaahhh

we just discovered flexible cones. Much much better than the hard plastic ones. This is the one we borrowed from a friend

https://www.chewy.com/comfy-cone-e-...MI2ankwraq4AIVCMpkCh0XSQGjEAQYASABEgK84vD_BwE

 

[KM]

He’s adorable!

And yeah, I’d find a new vet. No reason to make this poor dog stay in a crate for a week, especially if he isn’t crate-trained. My pup is crate-trained and LOVES her crate.....but she didn’t spend a week in it after being spayed. [emoji15]. That’s ridiculous.....

If you are going to “people food” route, you might think about giving him chicken, rice, mashed carrots vs meatballs. I believe it’s a lot healthier for him and easier on their stomach. Pretty easy to cook up a batch of rice, carrots, and a few chicken breasts to shred once a week.

 

[HadEnuff]

crates aren't punishment unless you scold the dog and shove him in there. Crates are a den, or a nest. If you cover the crate with blankets, it becomes a place of safety and security for a dog.

Dogs are not "people too"...dogs are dogs and have different emotional needs than people. The typical mistake most people make with dogs, especially small dogs, is giving them too much of what small children need (overt love and affection) and not enough of what dogs need, which is a pack leader who takes care of things like security, safety, food, and generally being in charge so they don't have to.

Dogs are like children in one important way: they are always learning. for example, if your dog climbs on the furniture and barks hysterically at the mailman, and you try to dissuade the dog from this behavior by cuddling him, cooing softly, giving him a treat, you are not dissuading him at all, in fact you are rewarding him for behavior you do not want. You are essentially teaching him that he'll get treats and affection for behaving this way.

If you want your dog to be a picky eater and eat only what you hand make him from the people food, then when he doesn't eat his food, by all means, make him a special meal.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Our small dogs are crated at night and do sleep in there sometimes during the day. I had a small dog not eat breakfast and when I got home from work she was in a coma from not eating. I rushed her to the vets and she barely survived. If I have one that won’t eat I do whatever is necessary. That vet visit cost 1k. Also they usually will eat without any added incentive. If our big dog misses a meal it’s no big deal.

 

[gayl]

Update: took cone off this morning. External suture line healed (yes I know how to check on humans assuming dogs are similar) and eating 1c kibble + 1" meatball a day. Hoping his up to 1.25c by end of weekend. Still not letting him play ball no matter how many times he drops it in my lap or go to dog park until Monday. Resuming light walks

 

[fasteddie911]

Glad to hear the pup is doing better, he looks like my dog. My dog got accidentally scratched by another dog last week, relatively minor, but he had to wear a cone too. But his behavior change was much more dramatic than I anticipated, either from the cone, injury or both. I'm not surprised yours acted the same too.

 

[Music Lover]

dogs are not "people too"...dogs are dogs and have different emotional needs than people. The typical mistake most people make with dogs, especially small dogs, is giving them too much of what small children need (overt love and affection) and not enough of what dogs need, which is a pack leader who takes care of things like security, safety, food, and generally being in charge so they don't have to

+1

if you want your dog to be a picky eater and eat only what you hand make him from the people food, then when he doesn't eat his food, by all means, make him a special meal.

+2

 

[KenZ71]

Can you feel his ribs? If they can be felt with a bit of effort weight is fine, missing a meal or two no biggie.

If ribs are visible find a new vet. Should have been caught at neuter and reviewed

If you cant find his ribs then overweight and exercise needed after sutures heal.

Having said all that use tasty training treats like carrot chips or cut green beans or pepperoni slices & teach some basics. This is a three for one 1) he eats
2) learns sit, stay, etc
3) most important - you bond & he sees you as the best person ever

Works with my rescue pups

Carrots & green beans don't digest much but make great motivational treats

Pepperoni works great but in excess cause weight gain & mushy poop

 

[gayl]

Can you feel his ribs? If they can be felt with a bit of effort weight is fine, missing a meal or two no biggie.

If ribs are visible find a new vet. Should have been caught at neuter and reviewed

If you cant find his ribs then overweight and exercise needed after sutures heal.

Having said all that use tasty training treats like carrot chips or cut green beans or pepperoni slices & teach some basics. This is a three for one 1) he eats
2) learns sit, stay, etc
3) most important - you bond & he sees you as the best person ever

Works with my rescue pups

Carrots & green beans don't digest much but make great motivational treats

Pepperoni works great but in excess cause weight gain & mushy poop

I can feel his ribs so I was worried. Can't see them bc he's so fluffy.

Apparently he's at home now bc he dug a hole under the fence so he could go into neighbors yard / found neighbors dogs in my yard / putting up a board today.