I am starting a new thread from Connies suggestion to do so which I think is a probably a good idea to hopefully get some things cleared up. I have a 1.5yr old female Sharpei Gracie (along with 2 german shepherds). They all are fed raw. The problem is gracie has never really enjoyed raw, I dont know if its getting worse or it's just starting to make me feel bad that she hates eating or maybe something wrong with her? I feed her 2 x a day - morning before I go to work and at night between 6-8pm. Most of the time she will cover her bowl with the towel i feed her on, then we go thru with me taking it off and trying to hand feed it to her, sometimes she takes it sometimes not. There are times where I just have to put it in the fridge and try for next feeding. Maybe she is just not hungry? She is thin so I dont think I'm feeding her too much. She is very active which makes me believe shes not sick, as far as I know her poops are good, when i go out to pick up int he backyard hers are formed properly. She loves treats, human food and she actually likes organ meat (its partially cooked maybe thats why) but raw not so much, when i put it down she just acts like its gross. Suggestions? Try Kibble?

Oh she has been on raw since I got her when she was 3 months old. I tried kibble when she was younger and she actually wasnt hip on that either now that I think about it.

And one last thing a couple weeks ago she was eating a thigh I cut off a chicken quarter and she started crying when she swallowed it, like it was hurting her throat.

When was her last vet check?

When did she last have a fecal check?

What kind of chicken quarter (last paragraph)? Front end or back end?


How thin? Got a side view picture from ground level with her standing, and a picture from above, with her standing? Can you link us?


This is what I'm hearing:

She has never been a good eater, raw or kibble

She has always been thin

Her poops look normal and formed



All correct?

Hi Connie,

last vet check was probably almost a year ago when she was spayed and had her eye surgery.

She has not had a fecal check

i take the full chicken quarter and cut the leg off, then i usually cut the back quarter in half since I figure the whole thigh is too much for her.

I will take pics tonight and put them on photobucket- she is not sick thin, can see her last couple ribs - she is just very lean.

correct on she has never been a good eater raw or kibble, shes thin and poops are ok.

She actually ate last night and this morning without too much fuss which usually doesnt happen. I did put some of a cooked hamburger patty in her food this morning that maybe why she ate ok. And alittle yogurt in food last night. Maybe she is just a really picky eater...very frustrating though

Well, a fecal is cheap and simple. I'd probably start with that. You're not describing a lot of symptoms of worms, but enough for me to want to just check that off as being ruled out. JMO.

And yeah, pictures.

So when I take the "sample" in it needs to be fresh? and do I just tell them I want to check for worms or is there anything else they should check for?

Fresher the better, yes. An hour is a good top end for age. Parasites, yes.

I'll get you some material, save some typing.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Fresher the better, yes. An hour is a good top end for age. Parasites, yes.

I'll get you some material, save some typing.

http://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2009/march/whats-your-pets-fecal-test-anyway#.UTd4Pxxa4zA