11yr old Chin wants food, but isn't eating

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seinarsson

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Joined
Apr 5, 2017
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3
It started several weeks ago. We've been syringe feeding him for awhile now, but he fights it and is slowly losing weight.

He's been sedated twice in the past ~2 weeks for teeth filing. The first time his teeth were a mess and the Dr fixed a lot, and took xrays. He still didn't start eating on his own. Re-examined after ~1.5 weeks, saw some blood in his mouth (might have just been the device?) so sedated him a second time to give him another close check.

This second time, didn't really see anything that would be poking him or causing any problems. The cuts on his tongue were all healed up. Took some xrays, roots look fine with a few teeth having some minor elongation. Also looked for hairballs? Everything looks fine.

Also took blood to get checked up, still waiting on results.

He acts like he wants to eat. Anytime you go to the cage he runs up like he wants a treat. He's nibbled on a dried mango for a few minutes, but didn't really eat much of it. Anything else (soaked pellets, hay, whatever, he accepts, sniffs, then drops).

He still has energy. Still runs around and explores when let out. Runs on his wheel sometimes, just not for long. Sleeps a lot more than normal right now. Poops a lot. Drinks just fine.

He was on pain meds for awhile after the first tooth filing, but it didn't seem to make any difference. He's currently not on them.

Any ideas what could be causing this?

Also, how much winter squash baby food is ok to feed him in a day? We syringe feed him Critical Care, but it's often a fight to get enough in him. He'll accept a CC or two of the baby food with some CC mixed in on his own, I just don't want to give him too much, but at the same time he needs food in him.
 
And not every day is a struggle. This morning was much easier. I still had to hold him, but he reached out and ate from the syringe on his own for most of it. Compared to yesterday morning where we had to fully burrito him and fight with him to eat.
 
did they check for any kind of blockage or gi issue?

You can try Essentials For Life feed. Your chin might like that better. Iv had a couple chins that hated Critical care with a passion but loved EFL.
http://www.fuzzieskingdom.com/herbs/remedies/syringe-feeding.html

Root elongation doesnt get better either. And there is really nothing that can be done about it. If it really is there then it probably is only a matter of time :(
 
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