What is Inappetance?
This can be a decrease in appetite, or it can be that your dog or cat completely stops eating. If this has persisted, then your pet may be lethargic, weak – although you should not wait this long for clinical signs to appear.
The causes are varied. They can include a sore tooth, to an abscess, to cancer. The important thing here is to get your dog or cat eating again before a 24 hour period of anorexia causes further illness. This is especially important for cats who can develop a condition called ‘Fatty Liver’ if they go for 48 hours or more without eating.
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What to do
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SEE YOUR VETERINARIAN. If your pet is very lethargic, not eating or drinking, and becoming dehydrated then see your veterinarian immediately. Ideally you are treating your dog or cat for anorexia before they completely stop eating or drinking. Your veterinarian will perform additional diagnostic tests, and this may lead to force feeding your pet, or even placing in some type of feeding tube.
WARM IT UP, AND ADD FLAVOR. Dogs and sick cats often have a poorer sense of smell. I have had good luck getting them to eat by warming up the canned food, then making it a little more tasty by adding garlic powder, or beef or chicken oxo cubes.
CATNIP. Appetite stimulant. In these cases you are just trying to get your dog or cat to start eating, regardless of the underlying cause. For cats, I have had luck using a the catnip herb – I have given it as a tincture to anorexic cats and had them eating soon.
CHAMOMILE OR PEPPERMINT. There are anti-vomiting herbs which can be given as a tea – at the very least this can re-hydrate your dog or cat. You can make a herbal tea of either herb – give 1 tablespoon per 10 lbs every 4-6 hours.
ALFALFA. For general anorexia not linked to any underlying cause, look at homeopathic alfalfa – you can give one 30C tab per 20 lbs 4 times daily.
ARSENICUM. This is a homeopathic that works well for gastroenteritis ( garbage gut). I give it at 1 30C tab per 10lbs every 2-4 hours
PEPCID. This is an antacid, and the drug name is famotidine. It works well in dogs and cats, being especially helpful for decreasing acid production, making your pet feel better. Often used for cats with chronic renal failure, when they become ill from elevated urea/creatinine. The pepcid dose is .5mg/kg every 12 hours. So a 10lb dog or cat could get 2.5mg (1/4 of a 10mg tab) every 12 hours.
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This is new- it is used in people
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Dronabinole
Dronabinole, sold as Marinole, is the synthetic version of cannabis, the main substance found in marijuana. Donabinole, like cannabis, can increase appetite and also decreases nausea and vomiting, which makes it helpful for use in cancer patients. In one study of patients undergoing chemotherapy reported by the University of New Mexico, Marinole improved appetite by 38 percent, compared to 8 percent of patients given placebos. Unlike marijuana, Marinole is approved for use in cancer treatment by the Food and Drug Administration.
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What is Cannabidiol (CBD)?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of over 80 cannabinoid extracts from the cannabis plant.
It is non-psychoactive and does not produce a “high.”
It is a natural, plant-based compound and is non-toxic.
Here is one product I would be comfortable advising you consider:
Vet CBD
Veterinarian-formulated for pets.
No “high”. Non-psychoactive.
All natural product, sourced from the full flower. We use the same high-quality cannabis grown for human consumption.
Olive oil based, PET SAFE, nothing added (like sugar, alcohol, or solvents) that isn’t necessary, all ingredients are human/medical grade.
Suggested Uses:
Pain (ex. arthritis)
Anxiety (ex. separation, loud noise, travel, crowds, etc.)
Inflammation
Nausea
Loss of Appetite
Seizures
May take up to 24 – 48 hours to see results. Start dosing on the low side of dosing chart and adjust accordingly.
Apply VETCBD oil directly into mouth via syringe provided or apply to food
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