If anybody's still interested, I thought I would update you on the gastronomic delights and culinary adventures here at Chez Spencer. The little scamp feels sooo much better (for which I am very grateful), but he is still only interested in yummy food balls, of a kind deemed acceptable to his newly refined palate. And he still wants them on a plate, not in a bowl, which I'm OK with. I elevate it, and that seems to make him happier. I'm feeding him smaller portions four times a day, and he usually eats most of it. Unless it's chicken. Or has softened kibble mixed in. He's wise to that.
I realize that it's probably time for a little tough love, since my dog has healed and is now training me. But he's only gained back six ounces in two weeks, and he lost six pounds. That's a lot less a lot slower than we had hoped, so I fix whatever I think he'll eat and continue to shape it into little balls. I have developed two kinds: a casserole ball (with meat, rice and pasta or rice) and a sandwich ball (with meat, bread and cheese). Sometimes, there's gravy; sometimes not. So far, he hasn't requested a china plate or his water in a goblet.
This is just so odd. My vet, who recommended the food ball trick when Spencer's mouth was sore, has never heard of a dog refusing to accept food any other way once the mouth healed. Do I just have a prima dogga?