I am not a new chi mommy...I actually have four of them! I just adopted my newest...the breeder contacted me asking me to take him. He was just 6 weeks old but had a LARGE inguinal hernia that distended into his scrotum. I had his surgery last Thursday. He was born on Dec. 2, 2012 and only weighs in at 2lbs. As my vets suggested, I keep him separate from the others, only letting them play together for small periods of time until they get used to him, as they are so much larger! Friday, he had a SEVERE episode of hypoglycemia! It didn't even register on their glucometer! I tried giving him Nutrical but that didn't even help so the vets took him home for the evening. After 30cc of Nutrical and an hour, it came up and they got him to eat. They let him come home Saturday. Once home, he ate a little two times then scarfed down the third time on the special food due to his hernia repair. But he refused to eat after that. I had to once again give him Nutrical and begin syringe feeding him. It was the same thing on Sunday. And the same thing today. He simply REFUSES to eat anything! I did call the vet today and they said continue the same thing I have been doing. He has to stay on this food (EN) due to the hernia repairs that had to be done and the severity of it. I heat it up and have tried different bowls, on the floor, on the bed...I've tried to getting him to eat out of my hand...NOTHING! Once I syringe feed him, he nods off for a few minutes, gets up and potties. Then he runs around full of energy for 10-20 minutes, then it is time to sleep for a few hours...I give him his pain meds (2 more days of it) and he zonks out for several hours. I've just run out of ideas on how to get him to eat. The vet said after he gets his stitches removed, they will examine him & he should be ok to try other foods. I am desperate to get him to eat on his own. I know it is best to syringe feed him but I feel like I am torturing him!

PLEASE HELP!

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I would do what you're doing,as your vet says he has to have food .It must be very hard for you to do but it's for his own good.Good luck and keep us updated

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If he were mine I would give him any food he will eat in order to avoid the hypoglycemia. I am not a fan of prescription diets generally, and it seems that neither is your puppy! I would offer him something yummy instead, some chicken, tripe or scrambled egg.
If you wish to stick to the prescription diet, then you will have to continue syringe feeding him. His life is at risk from the hypoglycemia, feeding him has to take priority. Good luck with him, poor little soul.

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Bless him I understand your worry, my Zeta also had a huge inguinal hernia . She had surgery at 6 months old ( so not as scary as your little chap who is very young) she weighed 3lbs , it was a long and hard recovery, a good 6 weeks till she was her normal self ( her op was 5 years ago so I'm sure things are more advanced now)

I personally would syringe feed him like you are doing as it is getting food into him . Yes he hates it but it seems the safest option .. I understand why the vet wants him on EN as the last thing you want is for him to have upset tummy when just had surgery close to his bowel and if he strains etc it could cause problems..

Hope he will eat on his own soon ..

I would do as the vet said , he will eat in time, but you have go slow with this one, try something he might like, keep trying to offer him some food make sure it is soft, but also keep him on the food the vet has suggested. He is a beautiufl little guy, keep us up to date on how he is doing.

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Ike born Aug 15 2012

I have to think that once the hernia repair is done he wil start to feel better about eating. I would push that Nutra Cal evey couple of hours....once there is a better health outlook it will get easier. so rough for you right now. Hang in there.... Is he merle ?

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Rubia -y mi perrito que Rico

try supplementing with some raw goats milk. You can even soak the kibble in it and it might make it more appealing. She is such a young pup she would probably prefer to have some milk still and raw unpasteurized goats milk is great for their health.

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**Thank you ALULA for the siggy!**

Agreed 100% I am not a fan of prescription diets at all! No need for it. Also the pain meds could be causing the not wanting to eat, upsetting his stomach. If he is playing hard then he is not feeling any pain and doesn't need the meds. Also not feeling any pain can cause more damage as they don't know their activity limits. You might need to find a medium with the meds or stop them.

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Thank you Jan896