How to entice my pup to eat. - YorkieTalk.com Forums

daimbert · 08-03-2006, 02:37 PM

Hello everyone.

I just acquired my little nemo just this week from my dad. My father had him on Purina puppy for the past 2 weeks. This he would eat but he never was too enthused when it came to eating time. Well I immediatly tried to correct this because he's still a little pup (3 months). I went to my local pet store which had alot of different brands to try. I decided to try merrick but with no luck. He looks at it and kinda sniffs eats a few bites and leaves. What should I do to fix this?? I needs to eat. Should I switch brands until I find something he looks forward too. Should I switch to canned etc. Thanks for all the help?

Btw I don't think he's sick because he's always playing and always has alot of energy and has regular bowel movement. Although he does take him about 5 hours to have one on most occassions.

Thanks.

JeanieK · 08-03-2006, 02:42 PM

I would try mixing the dry food with canned foodf. I used Cesars, but I believe Merriks has canned also. The rule in my house is I don't care what you eat, but eat something. Even puppy chow is better than no food at all.

I had a picky eater also, I finally got her to eat science diet, and when I go my second one he was on Royal Canine, so now they both prefer that one.

Lola Calhoun · 08-03-2006, 02:46 PM

because he is so young & needs as much weight gain as possible, you may want to try nutrical while you are searching for a food your pup will eat, just to keep his blood sugar up....

Oscar's Mummy · 08-03-2006, 02:52 PM

I'm having the same problem with my new little one Ruthie (also 3mths)... the Breeder gave me two bags of Royal Canin puppy so I thought - awesome, she'll eat the same food as Oscar. She won't even touch the stuff. In fact, she won't eat ANY dog food except for these liver treats that I have which she certainly can't live off of! So for the time being, it's boiled chicken for her with missing link vitamin supplement mixed on it. I've tried it with rice but she just picks through it and spits out the rice. I've tried mixing it with CANNED food (even Cesars even though I know it's not good for them) and she picks through THAT and eats just the chicken. She gets at least 3 meals a day of chicken and little treats and lots of nutrical in between. I'd rather she ate SOMETHING than nothing at all as I don't want to have to deal with a hypoglycemic episode (I haven't had to yet with either of my pups). I just pray that this is just a phase and I won't be cooking chicken for her for the rest of her life!

Good luck with your little one - and I agree with JeanieK - I worry more about whether or not they are eating...

judyeve · 08-03-2006, 03:30 PM

I'm not sure if its the heat wave we're having in NY or if he's just super finicky. I feed him his dry food by hand (he eats one at a time and stands there chewing it!) to make sure he gets some at least and then give him at least one serving of Mitchell's Puppy Pallette (sp?) wet food. I'm also giving him a lot of Nutrical, carrots and apple slices. He's going to be 4 months old and I sure hope he begins to eat better. He has gained weight though.

Good luck with your new baby.

Judy

chachi · 08-03-2006, 03:32 PM

You could try mixing the food with some cottage cheese.

Henry's mom · 08-03-2006, 04:18 PM

Mine wouldn't eat either. He just turned 6 mo. old and is finally eating enough food (most days). I do a variety of things: some raw--little amounts of Nature's Variety "Prairie" medallions; this brand also makes a good canned food. Innova EVO canned is very good (they have some for puppies). I have added tripe (comes canned) to his food and that really helps. Dogs love the smell and taste of it. Let's see...the tubed food by Natural Balance is good (he likes it!) and is easy to cut up into tiny cubes for training. I keep dry food out and he occasionally eats it--Innova and Puppy Precise. Hope this gives you some ideas!

judyeve · 08-04-2006, 11:45 AM

Thanks - I tried low sodium chicken broth and he ate his whole breakfast. I'm going to try the cottage cheese next since he really likes cream cheese stuffed in his Kong. I'll try everything you guys suggest until I get him on a regular eating schedule!

Judy

08-03-2006, 02:37 PM	#1
daimbert Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bronx, NY Posts: 37	How to entice my pup to eat. Hello everyone. I just acquired my little nemo just this week from my dad. My father had him on Purina puppy for the past 2 weeks. This he would eat but he never was too enthused when it came to eating time. Well I immediatly tried to correct this because he's still a little pup (3 months). I went to my local pet store which had alot of different brands to try. I decided to try merrick but with no luck. He looks at it and kinda sniffs eats a few bites and leaves. What should I do to fix this?? I needs to eat. Should I switch brands until I find something he looks forward too. Should I switch to canned etc. Thanks for all the help? Btw I don't think he's sick because he's always playing and always has alot of energy and has regular bowel movement. Although he does take him about 5 hours to have one on most occassions. Thanks.

08-03-2006, 02:42 PM	#2
JeanieK Donating YT 6000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Council Bluffs Iowa Posts: 7,529	I would try mixing the dry food with canned foodf. I used Cesars, but I believe Merriks has canned also. The rule in my house is I don't care what you eat, but eat something. Even puppy chow is better than no food at all. I had a picky eater also, I finally got her to eat science diet, and when I go my second one he was on Royal Canine, so now they both prefer that one. __________________ Ollie Chachi Hallie Harlie & Me CircleKRanchYorkies.com]

08-03-2006, 02:52 PM	#4
Oscar's Mummy Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,275	I'm having the same problem with my new little one Ruthie (also 3mths)... the Breeder gave me two bags of Royal Canin puppy so I thought - awesome, she'll eat the same food as Oscar. She won't even touch the stuff. In fact, she won't eat ANY dog food except for these liver treats that I have which she certainly can't live off of! So for the time being, it's boiled chicken for her with missing link vitamin supplement mixed on it. I've tried it with rice but she just picks through it and spits out the rice. I've tried mixing it with CANNED food (even Cesars even though I know it's not good for them) and she picks through THAT and eats just the chicken. She gets at least 3 meals a day of chicken and little treats and lots of nutrical in between. I'd rather she ate SOMETHING than nothing at all as I don't want to have to deal with a hypoglycemic episode (I haven't had to yet with either of my pups). I just pray that this is just a phase and I won't be cooking chicken for her for the rest of her life! Good luck with your little one - and I agree with JeanieK - I worry more about whether or not they are eating... __________________ Janice, Oscar and Baby Ruth "The more people I meet, the more I love my dog."

08-03-2006, 03:30 PM	#5
judyeve Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 1,710	Max is not eating either I'm not sure if its the heat wave we're having in NY or if he's just super finicky. I feed him his dry food by hand (he eats one at a time and stands there chewing it!) to make sure he gets some at least and then give him at least one serving of Mitchell's Puppy Pallette (sp?) wet food. I'm also giving him a lot of Nutrical, carrots and apple slices. He's going to be 4 months old and I sure hope he begins to eat better. He has gained weight though. Good luck with your new baby. Judy

08-03-2006, 03:32 PM	#6
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 22,229	You could try mixing the food with some cottage cheese. __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

08-03-2006, 02:46 PM	#3
Lola Calhoun Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Posts: 153	because he is so young & needs as much weight gain as possible, you may want to try nutrical while you are searching for a food your pup will eat, just to keep his blood sugar up....

08-03-2006, 04:18 PM	#7
Henry's mom Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2006 Location: minnesota Posts: 44	Henry is finally eating! Mine wouldn't eat either. He just turned 6 mo. old and is finally eating enough food (most days). I do a variety of things: some raw--little amounts of Nature's Variety "Prairie" medallions; this brand also makes a good canned food. Innova EVO canned is very good (they have some for puppies). I have added tripe (comes canned) to his food and that really helps. Dogs love the smell and taste of it. Let's see...the tubed food by Natural Balance is good (he likes it!) and is easy to cut up into tiny cubes for training. I keep dry food out and he occasionally eats it--Innova and Puppy Precise. Hope this gives you some ideas!

08-04-2006, 11:45 AM	#8
judyeve Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 1,710	Thanks - I tried low sodium chicken broth and he ate his whole breakfast. I'm going to try the cottage cheese next since he really likes cream cheese stuffed in his Kong. I'll try everything you guys suggest until I get him on a regular eating schedule! Judy