7 month yorkie that won't eat

[kathychang]

My 5 lb yorkie has been on Nutro Natural Choice since we brought him back from the breeders. He's now eating twice a day about 1/4 cup each time. Lately he doesn't seem to want to eat. He otherwise appears healthy (he wants to play or go out on walks). Reading the messages posted on the forum here, it appears that many owners say that Yorkies are very finicky eaters. However when I spoke to the vet, their response was that if the dog likes the food he's been eating, there's no reason why he would stop. The vet indicated that I should take the dog in for a check up. I'm a little confused. Does anyone have any thoughts that you can share? I'm just worry since I feel that his lack of nutrient may affect his growth. Thanks.

Kathy

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by kathychang

My 5 lb yorkie has been on Nutro Natural Choice since we brought him back from the breeders. He's now eating twice a day about 1/4 cup each time. Lately he doesn't seem to want to eat. He otherwise appears healthy (he wants to play or go out on walks). Reading the messages posted on the forum here, it appears that many owners say that Yorkies are very finicky eaters. However when I spoke to the vet, their response was that if the dog likes the food he's been eating, there's no reason why he would stop. The vet indicated that I should take the dog in for a check up. I'm a little confused. Does anyone have any thoughts that you can share? I'm just worry since I feel that his lack of nutrient may affect his growth. Thanks.

Kathy

it may be the heat. some dogs don't eat as much when it get hotter, just like people. if he's fine otherwise i wouldn't worry too too much about it. have you tried spicing up his food alittle? maybe adding some chicken broth to flavor it ?

[LuvMySissy]

Sissy had been eating Royal Canin Puppy from 13 weeks till 9 months old when she got sick with Giardia. She completely stopped eating her kibble (which was the only food she was on). I tried several different brands of dry kibble and several canned foods also. She has just recently started eating a few pieces of kibble again, but not nearly enough to make a meal (Chicken Soup and Solid Gold Wee Bits).

She now mostly eats food, such as yogurt & oatmeal for breakfast and chicken/brown rice/spinach for dinner. Occasionally she will eat the Natural Balance meat rolls as her dinner, but lately that isn't working either!!

Although I believe that the medication Sissy was on for the Giardia caused her taste buds to go crazy, it didn't stop when her meds ended. So if I find something healthy for her that she will eat, she gets it.

[Lacy's Mom]

Have you maybe been feeding two many treats or table food? He may be holding out for the "good stuff". If his stools are fine, I would do like Kalina suggested stay with the same food and add a little chicken broth over the top. Giving nutristat also helps stimulate the appetite.

[SnowWa]

Yes - it can be a lot of things.

The heat certainly is one.

Also - does your dog get treats between meals (a few of these go a long way for our tiny little pups).

And - I can't tell you how finicky my dogs are (a Bichon and a Yorkie). They drive me nuts. I literally try to starve them to get them to eat dog food -- and sometimes it works.

But - even in spite of my trying to get them hungry so they'll eat their dog food, they somehow manage to stay fat and sassy (and happy, healthy, and affectionate) --- so somewhere they're getting enough to stay fat and healthy. (Must be all my neighbors who feed them.)

Even though sometimes I think my dogs are eating very much - I judge their health on their weight and the way they behave.

Good luck!

Carol Jean

[yougetthesmiles]

is he drinking water? if you offer him a treat or a scram egg will he eat it? I would say if he is eating other things and drinking water he should be fine, maybe he is just not wanting his hard food, it could be the heat like someone else suggested. do you have air?
have you tried to free hand feed him?

[kathychang]

Thanks for the information. In response to the comments...I'm pretty tight on the stuff he eats, meaning I don't give him human food (because I don't want him to learn that it's ok to not eat his food) and his treats are very minimal. And he always have access to water. I just didn't think that the heat would affect him that much. But yes, he is otherwise healthy (stool looks fine and he has the energy to play).

Kellie and "Lacy's mom" mentioned the chicken broth. Can you elaborate on the details some more? I'm assuming that I'm making my own broth (instead of store bought since they're too salty). Do I need to add anything else to it or is it simply just boiling chicken in water and then pouring it over his food?

Also for my own reference if I needed in the near future...can you get Nutristat at any retail store? And is this the equivalent of vitamin supplement to be given daily or is it more to add on to his diet only if he's not eating enough.

Thanks again.

Kathy

[kalina82]

I bought nurtical at petco and its the same thing you get from the vet. i don't give it to morgan though anymore because she doesn't really need it.

As for the chicken broth, you can get the lower sodium ones from teh stores and use that. I would pour like a teaspoon or enough to mix in with her kibble so that it flavors all the pieces. You can also try something like Iams savory sauce or whatever its called. its something you put on their food to flavor it up. other brands make it too so you don't have to buy iams if you don't want.

With morgan, i don't give her a choice. She gets her breakfast kibble in the morning for about 15-20 minutes while i'm in the shower and whatnot, then i take it away. I don't give her lunch anymore because she really wasn't eating it. Then i give her dinner around 5ish for 15-20 minutes. Whatever she doesn't eat gets taken away until next feeding. I give her cheerios during the day as treats but she doesn't get any more kibble until feeding time. so if she doesn't eat then she goes hungry until next feeding time. i haven't had any problems with this so far and she eats what she wants when i give it to her

[bevpeter]

My almost 7 month yorkie (in less then 2 weeks) is going through the same thing, at first i started mixing her dry food with wet that helped a bit but she still isisn't eating as much as usual. so this past Friday she had a vet appointment and i told the vet that for the past few weeks she hasn't been eating as much. i told him that she has no problem eating treats, drinks plenty of water and is always very playful and otherwise always her normal puppy self.
Well the vets response witch makes total sense if you think about it.......
When she was younger she eat more because she was growing so quickly now that her growing is slowing down and is kind of gonna be done growing soon her eating has slowed down also and therefore does not need to eat as much as she did when she was still a puppy (under 6 months).

The vet said that my girl is perfectly healthy has a good weight on her and does not looked under feed, he told me that she was fine and not to worry as long as she is eating she's ok. Rylie as well only eats about 1/2 a cup a day.

Not sure if this helps but it defently eased my mind, specially since it came from the vet.

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by bevpeter

My almost 7 month yorkie (in less then 2 weeks) is going through the same thing, at first i started mixing her dry food with wet that helped a bit but she still isisn't eating as much as usual. so this past Friday she had a vet appointment and i told the vet that for the past few weeks she hasn't been eating as much. i told him that she has no problem eating treats, drinks plenty of water and is always very playful and otherwise always her normal puppy self.
Well the vets response witch makes total sense if you think about it.......
When she was younger she eat more because she was growing so quickly now that her growing is slowing down and is kind of gonna be done growing soon her eating has slowed down also and therefore does not need to eat as much as she did when she was still a puppy (under 6 months).

The vet said that my girl is perfectly healthy has a good weight on her and does not looked under feed, he told me that she was fine and not to worry as long as she is eating she's ok. Rylie as well only eats about 1/2 a cup a day.

Not sure if this helps but it defently eased my mind, specially since it came from the vet.

what your vet said is true. as they grow older they don't need as much food. Dogs aren't stupid, they're not going to starve themselves so if they don't eat a meal, don't worry about it. they will eat the next one or the one after that. if they are healthy otherwise don't worry about it

[kathychang]

Thanks Beverly and Kellie, your comments definitely ease my mind. I'm overprotective a lot of times, so I get worry at every little thing that seems out of the norm. It's nice to be reassure by other owners who may have gone through similar things.

kathy