Puppy Not Eating

[mblab]

Originally Posted by kalina82

i haven't read all of this but i just wanted to let you know what can happen if you put her on home cooked chicken and rice diet.

i rescued a 3 month old malnurished poodle puppy with two broken elbows, a curved (possibly broken earlier) tibia and a horrible luxating patella in her left hind. She basically had mushy bones because her previous owners were only giving her beef and rice, with a few pieces of kibble. I'm not saying this could happen to all puppies but it did with mine. THe lack of a good puppy food resulted in really soft breakable bones. Since i've had her she has been on a premium puppy kibble and has filled out nicely.

If your puppy doesn't like the food your giving her i would try another premium puppy food like innova, wellness, canidae, nature's variety, california natural, solid gold. i prefer wellness and solid gold for puppies.

Good to know! As far as I know she was weaned from milk and ever since then she's eaten this brand of dry food. She's eaten it as is, nothing added, nothing altered to it. So this mini food adventures, trying to get her to eat, should have been the first times she's had any people food.

I'm not trying to homecook her, I'm just trying to get her to eat! If I can entice her to eat her kibble with dog friendly human food than that's what I'll do. Unfortunately, nothing seems to be a magical cure. I tried some milk, in some ground up kibble of hers. That didn't go over amazingly, but she did eat a little bit. I also got some food/treat at the store that's been nicknamed "puppy crack" well she certainly liked it, for a little, but even that she snubbed after a while. So she ate between 1/4-1/2 of one meal's worth of a serving tonight. This is what's scaring me, because she wouldn't really eat breakfast and wouldn't eat lunch. So this is the most she's eaten ALL day and it's almost nothing!

I'd love to get her on "good" dog food but I can't imagine being able to transition her to any other food! If she isn't really eating her own "old" food how can I transition her to new food!?

I'm getting a bit desperate here, I don't want my dog to starve! I don't want her to be malnourished. I don't want her to get hypoglycemic! And I certainly don't want my dog to struggle anymore or get sick!

[mom2reds]

I'm getting a bit desperate here, I don't want my dog to starve! I don't want her to be malnourished. I don't want her to get hypoglycemic! And I certainly don't want my dog to struggle anymore or get sick![/quote]

I am sure you are doing everything you can for your puppy, I know that it is ,fustrating. I bet she will settle in before long and with as good of care as you are giving her she will be just great.
I will keep you in my thoughts and send good luck wishes to you.

[alishasmom]

The moving trauma should be gone by now. Trixie didn't eat for two days after I brought her home. She eventually came around, and went from 11oz, to two pounds, in a month. First, time, she ate was from the floor, not from the bowl. that continue for a little while, then, She will only eat when noone was around!!!! I realized by reading a lot of posts, that they are very weird eaters. Also, remember, They are very small, and their little stomachs, cant hold much.

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by mblab

Good to know! As far as I know she was weaned from milk and ever since then she's eaten this brand of dry food. She's eaten it as is, nothing added, nothing altered to it. So this mini food adventures, trying to get her to eat, should have been the first times she's had any people food.

I'm not trying to homecook her, I'm just trying to get her to eat! If I can entice her to eat her kibble with dog friendly human food than that's what I'll do. Unfortunately, nothing seems to be a magical cure. I tried some milk, in some ground up kibble of hers. That didn't go over amazingly, but she did eat a little bit. I also got some food/treat at the store that's been nicknamed "puppy crack" well she certainly liked it, for a little, but even that she snubbed after a while. So she ate between 1/4-1/2 of one meal's worth of a serving tonight. This is what's scaring me, because she wouldn't really eat breakfast and wouldn't eat lunch. So this is the most she's eaten ALL day and it's almost nothing!

I'd love to get her on "good" dog food but I can't imagine being able to transition her to any other food! If she isn't really eating her own "old" food how can I transition her to new food!?

I'm getting a bit desperate here, I don't want my dog to starve! I don't want her to be malnourished. I don't want her to get hypoglycemic! And I certainly don't want my dog to struggle anymore or get sick!

just went back to your original thread and see she is 12 weeks and 2.5 lbs. that's a good weight for a 12 week old. Has she ever had a hypoglycemic episode before with you or the breeder? if no then i wouldn't be overly concerned with hypoglycemia. If i were in this situation with a puppy who wouldn't eat the food that was given then i would just flat out switch her to a new food. she needs to eat something. I would go to a smaller pet store(not petco or petsmart) and ask if they have any samples of the foods mentioned above. Then i would just see which one she liked best. When she gets a few weeks older and shes still a picky eater i would then give her the food on hand and just leave it down. she'll eat when she's hungry enough. don't give in and give her a bunch of things to get her to eat because that's just encouraging the pickiness.

[yellowmellie]

I know what you are going through. Kaba is not a huge eater and its so annoying!!! She gets bored with her food after a few days even with homemade and good canned food. I have to be constantly switching up her food just so she will eat something!!! I would definitely keep an eye on her but you just might have a picky eater is all. My suggestion would be to find a couple good dry foods and switch them up regularly. At least thats all I can do with Kaba.

Good luck!!

[mblab]

Well today Zoe slept in (for the first time, it was great I got some sleep!) and has played and is now napping. But as of yet no interest in food. Listening to what everyone is saying this is my new approach: stick to one thing and stick to it!

She's being picky, possibly because she's a picky eater and possibly because I'm encouraging it with all the food options I've offered her. I need to be stubborn myself, stick to one thing and just wait until she caves.

I'm thinking I'll do plain kibble, maybe mix some water (maybe warm) and try to have her eat that. If she does eat it, then great! Otherwise I'll try to get some chicken in her system for some food. And nutrical at night to get some calories in her. It's not necessarily a worry of hypoglycemia, but more that she isn't taking in enough calories (let alone enough nutrients). (My fear is that by being stubborn and waiting for her to get hungry enough she will take in such a small amount of food she'll get sick. I'm worried about dehydration, though she does drink water, and starvation, though I know it's not full fledged that's still what it'd be...)

I don't really have a small pet store in town. There's two that I know of, but one has NONE of the good foods (I looked) and the other had no samples and was rather seedy. Not sure how else to get sample sizes of the good foods....

[mblab]

Good news everyone, after talking with Zoe's breeder we've decided that she isn't eating as drastically little (compared to what she's supposed to be eating) as I originally thought. We've determined that she should eat about 2 tablespoons of food per meal (3 meals a day). On a good day/meal she'll eat 1/2 - 3/4 of her serving (which was 3 tablespoons, 1/4 cup). As long as she eats one "good" meal a day, and we keep a tiny bit of nutrical in her system, she'll be getting enough to sustain her and keep her from getting sick (at least for now).

So I'm hoping within the next few days she'll get out of this "phase" of hers where food isn't fun or that appealing and she'll be back to eating like a little puppy should! So while she isn't eating as she should, she's eating better than I was fearing she was! I wanted to share that good news with all of you! You've given tons of advice and if anyone is still reading or interested at least now I have a tiny bit of good news to share.

-Vicky

[yellowmellie]

Originally Posted by mblab

Good news everyone, after talking with Zoe's breeder we've decided that she isn't eating as drastically little (compared to what she's supposed to be eating) as I originally thought. We've determined that she should eat about 2 tablespoons of food per meal (3 meals a day). On a good day/meal she'll eat 1/2 - 3/4 of her serving (which was 3 tablespoons, 1/4 cup). As long as she eats one "good" meal a day, and we keep a tiny bit of nutrical in her system, she'll be getting enough to sustain her and keep her from getting sick (at least for now).

So I'm hoping within the next few days she'll get out of this "phase" of hers where food isn't fun or that appealing and she'll be back to eating like a little puppy should! So while she isn't eating as she should, she's eating better than I was fearing she was! I wanted to share that good news with all of you! You've given tons of advice and if anyone is still reading or interested at least now I have a tiny bit of good news to share.

-Vicky

Good to see!! Its sometime I worried about a lot with Kaba...she just has never been that interested in food...but she is super healthy and what more can you ask for!!!

Glad to see everything is okay! This site is great for advice from so many people.

[bellasmomok]

Originally Posted by mblab

Good news everyone, after talking with Zoe's breeder we've decided that she isn't eating as drastically little (compared to what she's supposed to be eating) as I originally thought. We've determined that she should eat about 2 tablespoons of food per meal (3 meals a day). On a good day/meal she'll eat 1/2 - 3/4 of her serving (which was 3 tablespoons, 1/4 cup). As long as she eats one "good" meal a day, and we keep a tiny bit of nutrical in her system, she'll be getting enough to sustain her and keep her from getting sick (at least for now).

So I'm hoping within the next few days she'll get out of this "phase" of hers where food isn't fun or that appealing and she'll be back to eating like a little puppy should! So while she isn't eating as she should, she's eating better than I was fearing she was! I wanted to share that good news with all of you! You've given tons of advice and if anyone is still reading or interested at least now I have a tiny bit of good news to share.

-Vicky

My Bella is just a week or 2 over 4 mo. old (3 lbs.) and she only eats about 1/4 c. of food over a whole day still. There are some days she eats less (like barely anything at all) and some days she eats more--closer to 1/3 c. But, she has never been a big eater either. As long as she has the energy to play and poops and pees, then I figure she's getting enough. Also, when I brought Bella home at 9 wks. old, she slept a LOT too. In fact, she slept so much that she'd cry into the night after I'd go to bed (because she wanted in bed with me or wanted me to be up with her), so I started trying to limit her to one really good, really long nap per day--3-4 hours long in the middle of the day. Even then, she'd want another nap, but she's gradually gotten to where she naps less and I don't have to regulate naps anymore (she doesn't cry at night anymore either). She always has energy to play when it's not her nap time, though, and even a few "crazy dog" bursts of energy where she does laps around the couch just before bedtime. Does your baby have the energy to play after a good nap?

[mblab]

Originally Posted by bellasmomok

My Bella is just a week or 2 over 4 mo. old (3 lbs.) and she only eats about 1/4 c. of food over a whole day still. There are some days she eats less (like barely anything at all) and some days she eats more--closer to 1/3 c. But, she has never been a big eater either. As long as she has the energy to play and poops and pees, then I figure she's getting enough. Also, when I brought Bella home at 9 wks. old, she slept a LOT too. In fact, she slept so much that she'd cry into the night after I'd go to bed (because she wanted in bed with me or wanted me to be up with her), so I started trying to limit her to one really good, really long nap per day--3-4 hours long in the middle of the day. Even then, she'd want another nap, but she's gradually gotten to where she naps less and I don't have to regulate naps anymore (she doesn't cry at night anymore either). She always has energy to play when it's not her nap time, though, and even a few "crazy dog" bursts of energy where she does laps around the couch just before bedtime. Does your baby have the energy to play after a good nap?

Zoe will ALWAYS take a nap during the middle of the day. Usually from around noon to 2 or 3. She'll take an hour nap here or there sometimes, but mostly she takes those naps because we aren't playing with her and she refuses to play with herself. When she wakes up it may take her a bit to be awake but usually she's revving to go. And she'll go and play with toys, maybe chew and "kill" her stuffed animals. There's definitely times crazy puppy comes and she'll run like crazy around the house, either following us, or in to other rooms and then running back out again.

But like you said, Zoe will make several times a day and play with us every chance she gets (when she's awake at least) so clearly something's go to be working right. I'm hoping that she's just not a big eater and all of these things point to her being fine after all. (I may wind up switching her food eventually, as I fear her Eukenuba puppy food might not give her as good of nutrients in the small amount of food she eats as another food would...)

[bellasmomok]

Yay! I'm glad to hear she plays, "kills", and zooms! I'd say as long as you have output (poop/pee) and energy to play, she's just fine! Think of a human baby or toddler.....they have to nap too!! All part of growing! I think she's probably a sweet, healthy little girl who just isn't a big eater! Check out the sticky at the top of this forum (Yorkie Health & Diet) for a list of great foods. Bella eats Wellness, but there are a lot of really good ones out there. I Googled "__________ (food name) recall" to make sure Wellness wasn't among the foods recalled last year because they contained a contaminated ingredient. You may want to do the same when choosing what she will eat. Good luck!