I got an old dog that is losing weight pretty fast. She is 16 and for the last 15 years she has been about 25-28 pounds, and she is currently sitting at like 12 pounds.

I have been alternating between hot dogs and bologna as she likes to eat them and doesn’t fuss about it. Most wet dog foods will work for about a week, then she turns her nose up at it.

I’ve soaked her dry food to get the volume up for her, which worked for a bit but now she pretty much refuses to eat dry food for about two days then nibbles.

I get that older dogs tend to lose their appetite as they get close to the end, but I’d prefer she not pass away from starvation over old age. I do still tend to hold off from straight up sugar/carbs, but a random peanut butter sandwich scrap or three has been passed over to her more than once.

So I am looking for ideas for high calorie food which can be purchased easily and preferably on the cheap.

  • BCsven@lemmy.ca
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    2 days ago

    When our dog started like this (drastic weight loss, and appetite issues) the vet said it was a musculo skeletal disorder that hits some dogs. Have a vet check them out. Also probably better to avoid preserved meats. Could also be pancreatitis flaring up reducing their appetite

    • Th3D3k0y@lemmy.worldOP
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      2 days ago

      Vet has looked at her a number of times, they gave her an appetite booster even which got her eating for about a day. So far as they can tell she is healthy, but old.