My New Yorkie

[Aicha]

On Saturday I travelled a very long way to pick up a miniature Yorkie. The seller had informed me he was 8 weeks old and had had his first lot of injections It wasn't until I arrived there that I was informed he was actually just over 6 weeks. The seller also informed me that (Benji-my chosen name) had also started dry food mixed with water...Only consolation was the fact the mum and dad looked clean, healthy etc.
This "seller" didn't even give me a passport to show Benji having had his first lot of injections.
I took him home and after a couple of days took him to the vet to get him checked over and explained to the vet that since I took him home he wasn't eating or drinking hardly anything and yet he appeared fine in himself, tail constantly wagging and playful. The vet advised me to start using wet food and gave me some milk for him..Since I started giving this milk he started to get some diarrheal which has settled down...I stopped the milk and am still trying to get him to take water (bottled). The only thing he will eat is scrambled egg but obviously I don't want him to have scrambled egg all the time!! He is a beautiful pup but currently im having a nightmare with his eating/drinking habits...Some say to put the dog food down for 15 mins if he doesn't take it remove it-if he is hungry enough he will eat! But I need to remember he is only just past 6 weeks. Ironically when I was little my Mum took me to the doctors because I wasn't eating. The doctor simply said "If she is hungry enough-she will eat".
He is quite good on the newspaper (was informed he was using newspaper) Im trying to get him to use the pads so slowly trying to convert although also putting newspaper down still until he gets used to the pads.
My daughter and 2 grandchildren came over this afternoon to see him. Was shocked when he started drinking water for the first time! So clearly he can when he wants to....Not sure if he is playing me lol even if he is so young!Part of me feels like just leaving down the fresh bowl of water daily-but I didn't want him to dehydrate..Id rather he got used to dry puppy food!
ANy suggestions?

[Wylie's Mom]

Hi and welcome to YT - really glad you found us ! I feel bad for you, bc you do have a really young one here, and that puts you in a tough position bc they're just so vulnerable at this age. Just keep doing what you're doing in terms of being vigilant about eating and drinking, keeping a close eye on things, and taking him to the vet if anything goes downhill.

For food, I'd discontinue the milk as cow's milk isn't really great for puppies (as you've seen), and I'd instead try sprinkling some Parmesan cheese (the powdered kind) on his dry or wet food to entice him to eat...Parm is nice and pungent to dogs.

I hope your little one continues to do great!

[yavenay]

Dutch is a very pick eater. She really only eats if I sprinkle Parmesan cheese. Is it safe to add parmesan to her meals everyday?

[SirTeddykins]

I think they are normally weaned with goats milk and boiled chicken. You could try that instead of dried food and cows milk which is not good for any animal because it produces phlegm as well as upset stomach. It's actually really high in acidity.

[LisaMcG]

Hi,


My situation was a little similar to yours in that we were told Poppy was 8 weeks when in fact she was probably closer to six weeks.


She also hardly ate at all. And stopped eating for a few days.


I tried the free-feeding and it didn't work for us.


I give her 3 meals a day:


Breakfast - kibble with a bit of warm water to soften - she NEVER touches her breakfast. She isn't really a morning dog in general.


Lunch - She begins to properly waken around 12 noon - again wet kibble - sometimes she eats the lot but normally just a couple of mouthfuls.


Dinner - Wet kibble with some wet food (about a spoonful) mixed in, mixed really well, and she scoffs the lot!!


She gets her Kong twice a day filled with wet dog food too.


She is gaining weight and the vet said what she is eating is absolutely fine.


She only eats the dinner because of the wet food. Only reason I don't give her it with every meal is I don't want her becoming dependant on the wet food, I don't mind for one meal.


I leave the food for 30 mins and then lift it if not eaten.


Good Luck!!!

[navillusc]

Wow...he is such a little baby, and I would want him to eat, too. I am not a Yorkie puppy expert, by any means, but I would worry less about the egg and skip cows milk. Egg protein is doggone near perfect so much so that all other proteins are measured by egg protein, and I think as he grows up, he will expand his food choices. I think goat milk might work for such a young baby...maybe even mix raw egg and goat milk with a little kibble blended to make a porridge for him. I would probably put some organic virgin coconut oil in it too and serve it to him warm and in small amounts...often.

I wish you the best. I bet he is much better off with you, since she was so apparently eager to send him on his way. If you can, post some pictures of your new tiny prince!

[Opium88]

And put a small amount of pumpkin in with whatever you feed and it helps to keep him from getting stopped up or diarrhea .

[Lovetodream88]

He is far to young to be given the he will eat when he is hungry thing. In fact he needs to be eating every couple hours at that age. 6 weeks would have been to young to start puppies shots anyway they are useless until 8 weeks. Poor pup should be with his mom until 12 wees, he is going to miss out on so much learning. I would try wet puppy food and soaking dry food in hot water then draining it. You also need to know the symptoms and everything for hypoglycemia. If he is eating wet food he will get some water from that.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by LisaMcG

Hi,


My situation was a little similar to yours in that we were told Poppy was 8 weeks when in fact she was probably closer to six weeks.


She also hardly ate at all. And stopped eating for a few days.


I tried the free-feeding and it didn't work for us.


I give her 3 meals a day:


Breakfast - kibble with a bit of warm water to soften - she NEVER touches her breakfast. She isn't really a morning dog in general.


Lunch - She begins to properly waken around 12 noon - again wet kibble - sometimes she eats the lot but normally just a couple of mouthfuls.


Dinner - Wet kibble with some wet food (about a spoonful) mixed in, mixed really well, and she scoffs the lot!!


She gets her Kong twice a day filled with wet dog food too.


She is gaining weight and the vet said what she is eating is absolutely fine.


She only eats the dinner because of the wet food. Only reason I don't give her it with every meal is I don't want her becoming dependant on the wet food, I don't mind for one meal.


I leave the food for 30 mins and then lift it if not eaten.


Good Luck!!!

You are very lucky you did not lose your pup. The risk of hypoglycemia in a very young small pup is very high and add not eating to that and you are just waiting for disaster to strike. After even one day of not eating your vet should have been force feeding.