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04-08-2013, 10:11 AM | #1 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Illinois
Posts: 42
| 8 week food transition Hey guys, I'm new here and this is my first post. I just got my yorkie Friday night, so 3 days ago. Today is her 8 week birthday! Her name is Gabriella, Gabby for short. I had a yorkie when I was younger, but this is my first puppy on my own, actually raising her by myself. ALL MINE!!! So, I just have a couple of questions that may seem like pretty basic questions to all you experts! Thanks in advance!!... The breeder I got her from was feeding her Purina Healthy Morsels puppy food. He was also giving her soft food, but only 1 tsp a day. I know I'm not supposed to feed this for a long period of time, so she doesn't get addicted to it and stop eating her hard food. Well, the first night I had her home, she didn't eat much…I expected that. But since then, she's been eating pretty good, going potty afterwards, etc. SO YAY!! But anyways, my question is this…. He gave me a little baggie of her food to keep feeding her, so when do I switch her food? or is the food I'm feeding her now a good quality puppy food? I want the best for her and want her to grow up nice and healthy! She had her first vet visit (while in my care) on Saturday morning, and she was 1.5 lbs and my vet said she's very healthy So, should I stay with Purina Healthy Morsel puppy food, or start mixing two different hard food to start the transition? What is the best type of food out there? I've heard really good things about Eukanuba, Halo, Science diet, Blue Buffalo, and my vet suggested all of those brands, along with Iams. Any suggestions??? Thanks! |
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04-08-2013, 10:23 AM | #2 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Tennessee
Posts: 646
| For now, buy what she's eating! This baby was sent home with you entirely too small and too young! You don't want to do anything that will make her stop eating. These pups are at risk for hypoglycemia, and at just 1.5 lbs, your little one would be in big trouble if her sugar were to suddenly drop. Make sure you have either Karo syrup or NutriCal on hand just in case. Oh, btw, welcome to YT. Please stick around and learn as much as you can. You are going to be reading a LOT of posts about why it isn't a good idea for a puppy to go to a new home before at least 12 weeks and a weight of 2 pounds. Please don't feel like anyone is blaming you. It's your breeder who should have known better! Everyone here is very passionate about these fur babies and wants what is best for them.
__________________ All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. - JRR Tolkien |
04-08-2013, 10:35 AM | #3 |
YT 2000 Club Member | [QUOTE=gabby7;4182125]Hey guys, I'm new here and this is my first post. I just got my yorkie Friday night, so 3 days ago. Today is her 8 week birthday! Her name is Gabriella, Gabby for short. I had a yorkie when I was younger, but this is my first puppy on my own, actually raising her by myself. ALL MINE!!! So, I just have a couple of questions that may seem like pretty basic questions to all you experts! Thanks in advance!!... The breeder I got her from was feeding her Purina Healthy Morsels puppy food. He was also giving her soft food, but only 1 tsp a day. I know I'm not supposed to feed this for a long period of time, so she doesn't get addicted to it and stop eating her hard food. Well, the first night I had her home, she didn't eat much…I expected that. But since then, she's been eating pretty good, going potty afterwards, etc. SO YAY!! But anyways, my question is this…. He gave me a little baggie of her food to keep feeding her, so when do I switch her food? or is the food I'm feeding her now a good quality puppy food? I want the best for her and want her to grow up nice and healthy! She had her first vet visit (while in my care) on Saturday morning, and she was 1.5 lbs and my vet said she's very healthy So, should I stay with Purina Healthy Morsel puppy food, or start mixing two different hard food to start the transition? What is the best type of food out there? I've heard really good things about Eukanuba, Halo, Science diet, Blue Buffalo, and my vet suggested all of those brands, along with Iams. Any suggestions??? Thanks! HI there! Congrats on your new puppy. . In my honest opioion I would keep her on the purina puppy food for a few weeks until she is adjusted to living in her new surroundings. I got a puppy a few weeks ago and she came to me also on puppy chow and when we tried switching her, she had really bad runs for almost a week to the point where we took her to the vets because we thought it was parvo. She is 5 months old now and is still happily eating puppy chow. She is active, coat is shiney, poops are good and her eyes are nice and bright. When she gets closer to a year I will start switching her over to a better quality food. My vet told me that Nahla (the pup) is doing just fine on the puppy chow and many dogs have lived happy heathy lives on Purina products. A few months down the road and you want to switch than do it slowly over 2 weeks.
__________________ Love all 9 of my furrbutts! |
04-08-2013, 10:35 AM | #4 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Illinois
Posts: 42
| Oh no!!! That makes me super nervous! My vet told me about her sugar dropping and he gave me a syringe if I were to need it. Thanks for the welcome! I'm used to forums (about sugar gliders) and know not to take advice and tips personally or like someone is attacking me! I take it all as GOOD, SOUND advice and will put it to good use! Any other helpful advice and tips are GREATLY appreciated!!! |
04-08-2013, 10:38 AM | #5 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Illinois
Posts: 42
| Oh that's so awesome to know I can keep her on what I'm feeding her for a WHILE! I didn't want to buy another big bag of the food and her only eat it for a few days and then I have to switch her. Yay! Now it won't go to waste! Also, I have had food available AT ALL TIMES since I've had her, along with the 1tsp of soft food a day. Should I continue to have it available at all times? Should I be monitoring how much she eats, or is there a certain amount she SHOULD be eating right now? |
04-08-2013, 10:48 AM | #6 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Tennessee
Posts: 646
| As fast as she is growing at this stage, you really don't have to worry about overfeeding her. In fact, it's pretty impossible to over feed a puppy! As long as she is peeing, pooping, and playing/energetic, stick with it. If you are home with her, you might try splitting up her meals. Give her the wet food at a certain time of day, either morning or evening, and leave dry out all the time. Wet or moistened food can spoil rather quickly. My Sam was 2.25 pounds when I brought him home at 12 weeks, and he's super finicky (my fault for trying to switch his food too soon!). He just turned 5 months and is around 3.75 pounds. I'm lucky if he eats 1/3 cup of food all day.
__________________ All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. - JRR Tolkien |
04-08-2013, 10:56 AM | #7 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Illinois
Posts: 42
| I give the wet food at night. She's been peeing and pooping very well and man oh man, is she playful! LOL! Now, I know the breeder told me it's hard to find the food he feeds her, so what if I'm unable to find that exact same food? |
04-08-2013, 11:44 AM | #8 |
YT 2000 Club Member | Contact your breeder and find out where she gets it or you could always get it online.
__________________ Love all 9 of my furrbutts! |
04-15-2013, 07:26 AM | #9 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Illinois
Posts: 42
| Oh I don't think I got one question answered here. When should I stop feeding her the soft food? |
04-15-2013, 07:48 AM | #10 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Tennessee
Posts: 646
| You don't have to stop giving her the soft food. Many continue mixing food for the life of their pups. Feeding a picky little one falls under the category of If it's working, don't mess with it!
__________________ All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. - JRR Tolkien |
04-15-2013, 07:48 AM | #11 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Central california
Posts: 799
| I gave my boy wet food 3x a day until he was 16 weeks old and left dry food to free feed during day. I was afraid of hypoglycemia since I got him at 9 weeks and he weighed 1 lb 2 oz. at 16 weeks I transitioned him to feeding 3x a day ( my fat cat began to eat the food). I mixed wet food in with his dry then slowly added less wet food until he only has dry now. If you can get the sAme food use that until he is about 12 weekend so he can adjust to his new environment. Buy a small bag, then the bag gets low transition him to a better quality food. I personally do not like purina which my puppy was on purina pro plan small breed puppy. At twelve weeks I transitioned him over to blue buffalo freedom puppy ( grain free). His coat and skin improved dramatically when I switched. |
04-15-2013, 08:35 AM | #12 |
Don't Litter Spay&Neuter Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal
Posts: 9,874
| Contrary to popular belief, soft/wet food is superior to kibble. http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosi...-dry-dog-food/
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