Feeding Quandry with Emmy and Oscar--help

[iloveemmy]

I have had Oscar (12 weeks) since Friday afternoon. I put him in the playpen to eat several times Friday and Saturday. He scarfed the food right down--he is a hearty eater! Starting Sunday, he refused to eat in the playpen or even in the kitchen unless Emmy (1 year) was in the same room. She does not want to eat either unless they are together. The problem is they are on different foods--he puppy and she adult. They each try to get into the other's bowl. Yesterday, since I was worried about them getting enough to eat, I started feeding them out of my hand--one a bite, the other a bite of the correct food. They ate fine for a bit. Today Emmy does not want any of her kibble...I know she snagged a few bites of his and likes it more!

How do you, with multiple yorkies at different ages, manage to feed them? Also what will I do when I start back to work? I have always left Emmy's food out for her to nibble on during the day. I won't be able to do this when I go back to work.

I don't want to have to separate them during the day...Emmy is already acting like a little moma to him. If she leaves a room and he doesn't follow her, she will come back to get him. They are napping right up under each other, too.

[RLC12345678]

Ok, here are some viable options for you:

1. Get an "all life stages" food like Canidae and feed both of them the same food out of the same bowl and free feed.
2. Feed both of them "adult" food and let them eat out of the same bowl and free feed.
3. Feed both of them "puppy" food and let them eat out of the same bowl and free feed.
4. Mix the puppy and adult foods together and let them eat out of the same bowl and free feed.

Ideally I personally would go with an "all life stages food," but since you probably don't want to waste the food you've bought, I would mix the 2 foods together.

It's really not that big of a deal with tiny dogs to keep them on puppy food and it's perfectly fine for an adult small dog to eat puppy food.

[iloveemmy]

Originally Posted by RLC12345678

Ok, here are some viable options for you:

1. Get an "all life stages" food like Canidae and feed both of them the same food out of the same bowl and free feed.
2. Feed both of them "adult" food and let them eat out of the same bowl and free feed.
3. Feed both of them "puppy" food and let them eat out of the same bowl and free feed.
4. Mix the puppy and adult foods together and let them eat out of the same bowl and free feed.

Ideally I personally would go with an "all life stages food," but since you probably don't want to waste the food you've bought, I would mix the 2 foods together.

It's really not that big of a deal with tiny dogs to keep them on puppy food and it's perfectly fine for an adult small dog to eat puppy food.

I thought it was like "written in stone" that babies ate puppy food and adults ate adult food. I really did not know they could eat the same. Why do they even make different ones?

[iloveemmy]

I was free feeding Emmy before we got little Oscar. She normally would only snag a bit kibble every now and then. Sometimes when she walked by she would stop and get a morsel--usually only one. I counted pieces one day before I left for work and then again when I got home. She had eaten about 5 pieces. Guess she was watching that girlish figure. She really did like to eat when we sat down to breakfast and dinner. She would eat everythink I gave her...Now she just worries about where Oscar is...

[Erin]

Originally Posted by iloveemmy

I thought it was like "written in stone" that babies ate puppy food and adults ate adult food. I really did not know they could eat the same. Why do they even make different ones?

$$$$$

When I got Sammy she didn't like Loki's food, so we switched to a food they both like. We don't free feed, but they do like to sample each other's food (and Kongs... and sticks..) to make sure the other one didn't get anything better. It's easier to feed the same food.

Canidae is great, I would suggest that as a good place to start.

[Erin]

Originally Posted by iloveemmy

I was free feeding Emmy before we got little Oscar. She normally would only snag a bit kibble every now and then. Sometimes when she walked by she would stop and get a morsel--usually only one. I counted pieces one day before I left for work and then again when I got home. She had eaten about 5 pieces. Guess she was watching that girlish figure. She really did like to eat when we sat down to breakfast and dinner. She would eat everythink I gave her...Now she just worries about where Oscar is...

Unless mine are STARVING (which is never) they only eat if I'm in the room. I used to put food in Loki's bowl and then go do laundry and he'd follow me and try to get me to come back to the kitchen. It's normal for them to want company when they eat. Why don't you try switching to meal-feeding them. I give mine breakfast and dinner.

[RLC12345678]

$$$$$$$$$$ is exactly right. If you are on a high quality dog food, then it should say on the bag that "this food is formulated for all life stages." The main difference between puppy food and adult food is the calories as adults tend to put on weight easier than puppies. But, if you are feeding a puppy food and find that your adult is putting on weight, there is no need to change foods. Just cut back on the amount of food you're feeding during the day and supplement with canned greenbeans or something like that.

[iloveemmy]

If the 2 different foods (puppy and adult) are NOT affecting either (tummy problems, etc.) it will be okay to mix and free feed when I go back to work (August)? I just want to make sure the little one is getting plenty of food during the day...

I don't have a lot of places to shop for dog food. Someone mentioned Canadae (sp). I checked Petsmart and "Blue" came up in my search. Is this the same food you are talking about or just made by that company. Also what about the Evangers? I have read many posts on it. The company sent me an entire flat of cans to try. I gave Emmy some of the chicken thigh--it smelled and looked like something I would eat.

[RLC12345678]

Originally Posted by iloveemmy

If the 2 different foods (puppy and adult) are NOT affecting either (tummy problems, etc.) it will be okay to mix and free feed when I go back to work (August)? I just want to make sure the little one is getting plenty of food during the day...

I don't have a lot of places to shop for dog food. Someone mentioned Canadae (sp). I checked Petsmart and "Blue" came up in my search. Is this the same food you are talking about or just made by that company. Also what about the Evangers? I have read many posts on it. The company sent me an entire flat of cans to try. I gave Emmy some of the chicken thigh--it smelled and looked like something I would eat.

Why don't you start mixing the adult and puppy together NOW so that when you have to go back to work in August, you know for sure there won't be any tummy upsets. Give them this time while you're at home for their tummies to adjust to mixing the foods. I would be shocked if there were any problems mixing the 2. My parent's yorkie never ate puppy food and she's now 7 and my yorkies never ate adult food and they are now 2 and none of them ever had any problems.

The "Blue" you are referring to is "blue buffalo" that is sold at PetSmart. I would not feed that since some of their products were recalled.

Evangers is excellent. But there is no need to feed wet food unless your dogs are not eating the dry food for some reason. Dry food is best. Yorkies are known to have teeth problems and wet food does not help the situation.

[RLC12345678]

Oh yeah, you can go here and find out if Canidae is sold i your area:
http://www.canidae.com/company/storelocator.html
Canidae is an "all life stages" food and in my opinion, the best dog food on the market.

[iloveemmy]

I tried mixing a little puppy food with the adult food and feeding it to the little ones...Emmy lapped it up (acted like she had never had food)...shortly after that, she had diarrehea (sp). Oscar would not eat it at all. Do I keep trying it???

[diggy4]

Yes, I would she may have to get used to it....what I do is keep it in the same family or like someone else said do the life stages. Diggy is hypo glycemic so I have to constantly give hime anything he will eat...right now we have Innova Evo in one bowl and Chicken Soup for the puppy lovers soul. I am feeding the evo til it runs out as it is a great food but i dont like the amount of protein in it. AT the top pf this forum is a place to request sample....with these many sample I recieved I actually use them as treats. They love it. A puppy is okay on adult food and vice versa for adult on puppy. The adult may gain weight but if it starts happening you'll know why

Like if you decide on chicken soup brand get the puppy and adult that way its basically the same formula and you most likely wont upset their bellies.....let me know how this helps you and if you have anymore questions just pm me! Take care!

[iloveemmy]

Emmy still has diarrehea. She had it a few months ago and vet gave us some med. I started her on some of the med this morning. Maybe it is the amount she tried to consume yesterday. Oh and her little bum is having to be cleaned every time she poops. I am afraid it is going to be sore! Any suggestions???

Oscar seems to be doing fine--not eating as much as he was when we first got him. Maybe he is not going to be as BIG as I thought based on the little piggy he was! He still has loads of energy. I am also giving him a tad of nutrical in the morn. and evening.

[diggy4]

I try not to rub the bum with a rag or anything. I usually hold their little butts under running warm water and use my hands to wash a bit and pat just a few times and let her/him air dry....Does sound gross but I do imagine thier lil butts get raw as ours do. My poor son uses vaseline...Hey maybe do that....I doubt that would be harmful if he licks it....maybe look that up if vaseline is toxic in any way I dont think so though...Lots of peeps use it as lip balm. hmmmm maybe that would soothe his lil bootie!

[iloveemmy]

I took away the puppy food today--no mixing or leaving out both bowls. I had to be gone all day and I did not want Emmy indulging and getting the "rea" again. My hubby came home at lunch to check on pups. He gave little Oscar a bit of soft food. I just left out the regular adult kibble. This is what Emmy is used to anyway. Oscar seems to be okay with it too. I think I am going to mix a 2 or 3 to 1 ratio of adult to puppy food to finish out the bags (we have a LOT--just opened new bags on Friday). I will see how they are doing after that...

Thanks for all your suggestions and help.