Boxer not eating

Question
Hi, I have  a 10 yr old boxer who recently (about 2-3 months ago) started
eating less and at a later time. I would usually feed her around 3-4 pm, now
she may or may not eat, she usually eats around 7-9 pm and most of the
times she eats very little. There have been days were she has not eaten at all
but usually eats the following day, but hen she eats there are a couple of
times she vomits the food. Another concern is that I can see her ribs and she
has definitely gotten skinnier. Is this caused by old age, or because she is
depressed, or maybe because she has a decease? My father took her to the
vet and they gave her this pill to eat but she has vomited her food as well as
the pill.

Answer
Without knowing exactly "what" the vet said and diagnosed, and what the "pill" was.... I can not get the entire picture on this...

She is 10 years old. Boxer's average life span is 10 years. 11-13 years is considered a long-life for a Boxer.

She is old... very old. With that, comes serious health issues.

First, considering her age, you need to allow her to eat any and all time that she chooses.

I am always in favor of the "self-feed" method with any dog at any age. Reasoning is, no two dogs are alike, no two eat at scheduled times, and one amount might not be the right amount for another.

As they age, their needs change.

She needs to be able to eat little bits all day to maintain her energy and blood sugar levels.

She might not eat in the mornings, and then nibble midday, and eat a full-fledged meal at night... then again, she might eat breakfast and skip midday, the neat again at night-- she will probably change up and have no known pattern.

Self-feeding method and fresh, clean water at all times is important. Her kidney health is at issue here. Fresh water- fresh all day, so change it frequently.


If she is in renal failure, which explains vomiting and being skinny- the vet should have told you and prescribed the K/D diet. Or, if it's a sensitive stomach due to her age, a "sensitive stomach" dog food.

Change her food to a 1) (preferably) a vet only food- a kidney diet. Usually known as a "K/D" and a little more expensive, but the blend is gentle on her digestive system, thus her urinary and it's filtering. Or the "sensitive stomach" blend.

Or, if not one of the issues above: 2) change it to an all natural (no corn, corn by-products and meals, no meat by-products) dog food. I recommend a chicken and rice and lamb and rice. These use brown rice, not white.

I would suggest offering her the canned version of the all natural and/or the K/D, sensitive stomach, with a little dry all natural kibble once a day.

It might be an issue with teeth- as well as other health issues.

She might not be eating because of her teeth and gums, then vomits due to the "empty stomach syndrome." Boxers are prone to it.

When she eats and vomits food, it can be one of two things. She didn't eat for such a long period, that when she did, she over ate, thus vomited the excess.

Or, including the above, she might have kidney issues, stomach issues, or something else.

The vet needed to know she vomited the "pill." She should have had an injection to ensure the application of the medicine. But what was the pill? I need to know to access the problem.

This girl has earned her right to being spoiled and pampered in her 10 years and at her end-stage of life...

She will not be with you much longer, so give her a quality life.

The senior, easy digestible, special sensitive stomach dog food, or K/D food for her kidneys, and the canned version, fresh water, vitamin supplements for healthy bone and joint (dog's get arthritis too) and a very comfortable bed and/or bedding arrangement-- i.e. special arthritic dog bed. If she sleeps in your bed, you need to consider the "doggie steps" to set at your bed. These allow the dog to go up the steps in ease, to get into/onto your bed. They are cheap and help older dogs with arthritis and bone and joint tenderness.

Let me know what that vet said and what the pill was.

I would love to help extend this further.