[MandiesMom]

Originally Posted by ZekeAbraham

Just a quick look at wherewe've been keeping Max since we got him. (While we aren’t playing with him)

I’m feeding him Dick VanPatten's Natural Balance® L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets® Lamb Meal &Brown Rice Small Breed Bites™ Dry Formula. About three teaspoon’s at a time andthe food and water tray stay in his pen at all times.

He barely eats though if heeats one of the three teaspoons we are lucky. Is that normal? I worry.

If I put a piece of the dryfood in my hand or fingers I can get him to eat one at a time but that’s alittle tedious.

We also have Natural Balance®Ultra Premium Beef /or Lamb or Liver Canned Formula and I mix in a teaspoon ofthat and he seems to like it better but we worry about diarrhea.

We try to give him vitaminpaste 2-3 times daily too.

How do we get him to eatmore?

Does the pen look right?

Are these foods just "small breeds" foods or are they "Puppy" formulas?
At his age, he needs the extra nutrients of puppy food. If these are "all stages", then that is fine. It's good that you are giving him extra vitamins (not sure you need to give him that much daily..did the vet recommend that?)

Puppies need to eat as much as they can. If feeding him by hand for a while will help, then do it (you and the members of your family can take turns). I wouldn't worry too much about diarrhea unless it happens. If he'll eat with the wet food mixed, by all means do that.

I'd still suggest an xpen for him..it just has more room and you can get a bed, water, food, potty pad all in there and still give him room to move around (this and safe from little feet..win/win).

Do you have puppy Nutrical? I can't find it in stores where I live so I have to order Nutrical online. I highly recommend you have that on hand. Any sign of hypoglycemia and this can be a life saver. Other than that, my girl always liked it as a little treat