Nursing a Starved Dog

It takes only 24 hours for the effects of malnutrition to begin wearing on the body's organs, but it requires days and often weeks to reverse the harm and regain health. The amount and type of food a starved dog is fed during the recovery period means the difference between survival and further complications, even death. Monitoring how much and how fast he eats gives his traumatized body time to slowly get used to having food once again.

  1. Visit the Vet

    • Have your vet give the apparently starving dog a thorough once-over to determine if there is another reason why he is so malnourished other than not having access to food. Fractured teeth, an injured tongue, infections, worms, parasites and intestinal blockage are just some of the potential problems that can encourage starvation. The vet's exam should include checking for gum color (which might indicate poison), abdomen distention or pain, and the level of dehydration. A rudimentary dehydration test involves pinching the skin and watching how fast the skin springs back.

    Resist the Urge to Overfeed

    • Malnourished dogs don't realize the dangers involved with eating too much too soon; all they are concerned with is consuming whatever is in front of them. Bodies that have struggled to function without food are able to tolerate only small rations until the organs and digestive system have recovered from the shock of starvation. Letting a starved dog eat as much as he wants overloads his system with nutrients that cannot be processed, according to PetMD.com, because his metabolism rate has become very slow during survival mode.

    Keep a Chart

    • Feeding several meals per day is a regimen to closely monitor so the dog isn't given too much, or not enough. Track changes in the quantity and type of food, as well as how the dog responds after each meal. Even the most minute weight and temperature changes are critical to nursing a starved dog back to health, so keep a thermometer and a baby scale nearby as part of each post-meal check. Give your vet a daily progress report.

    Refeeding Syndrome

    • Even when all the right steps are taken, the dog may still have a difficult time with the food reintroduction process. Muscle weakness or cramps, heart rhythm irregularities, seizures and respiratory distress are symptoms of Refeeding Syndrome, and they must be immediately addressed by your vet. Following a standard "Recovery Diet" gives you better control over all the vitamins, minerals, fats, calories and limited carbohydrates the dog needs during this precarious time. The Koret Shelter Medicine Program notes that shelter dogs have a better chance for survival if they can be moved to a temporary foster home where they are constantly monitored.