Senior Shih Tzu Won't Eat Kibble, Chewing Funny: Tooth Problem?

Hi Taylor, Thank you so much for writing in. What you're describing does sound like it could be to do with Charlie's mouth. The sudden onset of the signs, the fact that he was initially having difficult while eating, and is now avoiding his normal food all points to an issue in or around his mouth. If he was feeling sick, I would expect that he would avoid the food bowl altogether rather than just avoiding certain types of food. Given Charlie's age and the fact that he has had dental treatment previously, a broken or infected tooth is very much at the top of my list, but there are other possibilities as well, such as an injury in the mouth, painful jaw, or even something growing inside the mouth. There are a few other reasons that he might be avoiding his food (I'll pop a link to an article at the end) but I agree with you that his mouth is the most likely culprit. The first thing I would recommend is to see if you are able to examine his mouth yourself. This is usually much easier with two people, so that one can hold onto Charlie for you while you have a look and a feel around his mouth. You might spot something obvious that you can either address right away, or at least get a better idea of what's going on. However, I think it's pretty likely that you're going to need to get Charlie in to see the vet, as he might need another dental treatment unfortunately. In the meantime, you can try offering him small chunks of meat (eg. plain cooked chicken, depending on his diet restrictions or any allergies) that he can pick up and swallow without chewing. Canned food might seem like an obivous choice for a painful mouth, but wet food is harder to direct and avoid touching sore spots, so small pieces that can be easily swallowed are best. This is also a good option for dogs that have had teeth extracted. If you want to discuss this further before booking Charlie in to see your vet, you can book a one-on-one consultation with a vet at Pangovet.com, but if Charlies still isn't eating, I suggest that you take him for a physical appointment ASAP. I hope this helps and that Charlie is feeling better soon! Dr Karyn https://www.dogster.com/dog-health-care/why-is-my-dog-not-eating