Experienced breeders question about distended abdomen on pup

[Maineyorkiemom]

Originally Posted by Marilize

Great advice! I agree. This sounds like a doggie that didn't get all he wanted to eat for a while. I'm not criticizing the breeder, but not all puppies get enough. But it really sounds like this puppy is desperate for food and as a result, he overeats and bloats.

Small meals, some Benebac (or other probiotic), exercise and treats between meals should get this puppy sorted out. Exercise does wonders for the digestion!

Those sound like good advice to me. Vet check and blood panel and xray may still reveal something...

[JeanieK]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

I have seen this problem a few times with pups who have to fight for food with littermates.
A neighbor and her sister bought puppies from a breeder I knew..went to her kennel, marked her off my list as reputable. Her puppies fought for the food when it was put down..they were fed 2 times a day..no free feeding and when the food was gone, it was gone..and some pups did not get enough.

I have had a few rescues and they ate until they vomited for the first few weeks..I had to limit the amount..and feed 4 small meals a day instead of two normal size...this may not be your puppies problem..just offering my experince.

That is what I was thinking also, that it is a learned behavior.

I would try feeding more often in smaller amounts. My sister got a Shi Tzu that did the same thing, she started feeding him smaller amounts more often and eventually he learned to slow down.

[Maineyorkiemom]

Originally Posted by JeanieK

That is what I was thinking also, that it is a learned behavior.

I would try feeding more often in smaller amounts. My sister got a Shi Tzu that did the same thing, she started feeding him smaller amounts more often and eventually he learned to slow down.

That seems to be the general opinion---to feed smaller meals more often until he learns to slow down.

[bjh]

You might want to try one of those Kong balls that you put food in so the puppy can get exercise while trying to get the food out and also it would make the pup eat at a slower pace.

[Maineyorkiemom]

Originally Posted by bjh

You might want to try one of those Kong balls that you put food in so the puppy can get exercise while trying to get the food out and also it would make the pup eat at a slower pace.

I just heard from my friend who brought the pup to the Vet for me. At this point it is learned behavior. He is fine otherwise, but aggressive eater. Its from competing for food. Problem is that you can't leave him in a home with multiple dogs or pups who free feed. You also cant keep him in a kennel where the dogs free feed. He would need several months to try to untrain his behavior, keeping him away from other dogs, feeding softened food 3-4 times a day (per the vet) until he learns he does not have to compete. She also said that once an aggressive eater, some of these pups never unlearn the behavior making it dangerous for any other dogs trying to eat too. Im sure my friend will post here too. Now, how do you handle this if you have spent alot for the dog, and the shipping and the dog is meant to enhance your breeding kennel? Anyone?

[bjh]

Originally Posted by Maineyorkiemom

I just heard from my friend who brought the pup to the Vet for me. At this point it is learned behavior. He is fine otherwise, but aggressive eater. Its from competing for food. Problem is that you can't leave him in a home with multiple dogs or pups who free feed. You also cant keep him in a kennel where the dogs free feed. He would need several months to try to untrain his behavior, keeping him away from other dogs, feeding softened food 3-4 times a day (per the vet) until he learns he does not have to compete. She also said that once an aggressive eater, some of these pups never unlearn the behavior making it dangerous for any other dogs trying to eat too. Im sure my friend will post here too. Now, how do you handle this if you have spent alot for the dog, and the shipping and the dog is meant to enhance your breeding kennel? Anyone?

Puppies have all different kinds of personalities and I am not sure you should expect a breeder to have guarantees against personality traits. The puppy is still very young and can very well outgrow the behavior. It is possible the mom had that type of behavior and the pup could have picked it up from the mom. I do recommend that the puppy's owner talk to the breeder and ask exactly how the pup was raised, when was it separated from it's mother, how long was the puppy with it's siblings, how was the puppy socialized, etc. I have been raising yorkies for nearly 14 years and I have never had a puppy act like that but all my yorkies have been free fed from the time they are around 4 weeks old. All my adults eat well together, no food aggression.

[Maineyorkiemom]

Originally Posted by bjh

Puppies have all different kinds of personalities and I am not sure you should expect a breeder to have guarantees against personality traits. The puppy is still very young and can very well outgrow the behavior. It is possible the mom had that type of behavior and the pup could have picked it up from the mom. I do recommend that the puppy's owner talk to the breeder and ask exactly how the pup was raised, when was it separated from it's mother, how long was the puppy with it's siblings, how was the puppy socialized, etc. I have been raising yorkies for nearly 14 years and I have never had a puppy act like that but all my yorkies have been free fed from the time they are around 4 weeks old. All my adults eat well together, no food aggression.

Exactly. Ive been doing this a long time. My dogs in the kennel free feed. The moms in the house free feed. My pups start to free feed at 4 weeks. And, there is always food in the bowls. No issues. No aggressiveness. I have never seen this. This particular pup was fed along with a dozen more, twice per day, and not sure there was enough for all. I know they were fed every 12 hours. He seems very well socialized otherwise, a cuddle-bug.

[YorkieRose]

I was a groomer and boarded for many years..so you know I have seen just about everything to do with a Yorkie..
I would do as suggested..feed alone and often..no competition helps.

I would talk with the breeder..who may or may not agree, BUT IMO the breeder needs to correct a serious problem in her kennel. If this dog is to become a part of your breeding program I would follow though with breeding plan if you observe no other examples of maladjustment..BUT if I saw one ounce of aggression in pups, I would neuter...this could be a two fold problem he has..but far too early to know for sure...just be aware.

[YorkieRose]

Originally Posted by Maineyorkiemom

Exactly. Ive been doing this a long time. My dogs in the kennel free feed. The moms in the house free feed. My pups start to free feed at 4 weeks. And, there is always food in the bowls. No issues. No aggressiveness. I have never seen this. This particular pup was fed along with a dozen more, twice per day, and not sure there was enough for all. I know they were fed every 12 hours. He seems very well socialized otherwise, a cuddle-bug.

Theres your problem...12 dogs eating at once..and a 13 wks old only being fed every 12 hrs with 12 hungry dogs..this is not acceptable. 13 wk olds should have a minium of 3 meals during waking hrs...not 3 meals in 24 hrs. Plus a few good treats and yummies for bonding with owner..

If this was a bitch puppy I would return it...improper diet from weaning time has a great effect on the bitches future as a brood..not quite as serious for a stud..but NOT ideal.
If a bitch pup misses vital elements of her diet while in the developing stages it can have long term effects..males as I said are not as effected..but I would not want one for show..bone structure can be compromised, that effects gait, organ function over a life time and so much else.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by Maineyorkiemom

Exactly. Ive been doing this a long time. My dogs in the kennel free feed. The moms in the house free feed. My pups start to free feed at 4 weeks. And, there is always food in the bowls. No issues. No aggressiveness. I have never seen this. This particular pup was fed along with a dozen more, twice per day, and not sure there was enough for all. I know they were fed every 12 hours. He seems very well socialized otherwise, a cuddle-bug.

Feeding just every 12 hours is wrong. Find out from the breeder when he was separated from his mother. If he was competing against 12 other pups then I can see why he would be fighting for food. I can see how if he was separated from his mom too young he could have missed out on some good lessons from his mom when it comes to eating. My moms are allowed access to their pups as long as they want and some will let pups nurse until they are well over 8 weeks old. Is he looking less bloated since you are doing smaller, more frequent meals? We would love to see pictures of the little fella. How much does he weigh? Also, I know Fromm is a good food but he might like it too much. What flavor are you feeding him? Are all your dogs on Fromm?

[YorkieRose]

Shoot..I wish I had not read this thread...can you please do something to make sure this breeder feeds their puppies and adults more often, although I know you can not force it..but I would report her to animal control..this puppy is a perfect example of abuse...I will think about these hungry dogs for days....

[Woogie Man]

I've had litters where one dog may be a little piggy and another may eat slowly. I've dealt with it by pulling the fast eater so the others get their share or, in the case of a slow eater, pulling that one so it gets a chance to eat at its own pace.

Now I realize that's not your present situation but it's a behavior acquired in the litter environment, for whatever reason. I don't think you can say it's hard-wired behavior at 13 weeks. This pup just hasn't learned to regulate itself yet.

I don't like the idea of putting a young pup on a 'diet', but here's nothing wrong with feeding him an appropriate amount for his size. He needs to eat alone at this time and not with other dogs. Also, feeding him soaked food only makes it easier to eat more and eat faster, which feeds the behavior. The kong idea suggested might be good to try or just some chew toys. He's teething at this time and really needs to work his jaws.

He is a very young dog and I think this is something that can be overcome. Of course, any continued bad behaviors would make him questionable as breeding stock. Just remember that he is a pup, and pups are like blank sheets of paper waiting to be written on. Hopefully this is just a bump in the road and things will work out well very soon with this.

[Maineyorkiemom]

Originally Posted by bjh

Feeding just every 12 hours is wrong. Find out from the breeder when he was separated from his mother. If he was competing against 12 other pups then I can see why he would be fighting for food. I can see how if he was separated from his mom too young he could have missed out on some good lessons from his mom when it comes to eating. My moms are allowed access to their pups as long as they want and some will let pups nurse until they are well over 8 weeks old. Is he looking less bloated since you are doing smaller, more frequent meals? We would love to see pictures of the little fella. How much does he weigh? Also, I know Fromm is a good food but he might like it too much. What flavor are you feeding him? Are all your dogs on Fromm?

He is alittle less bloated since feeding smaller meals but as soon as he gets a meal-BAM! He is hard as a drum again. He is 13 weeks and weighs 2 lbs 15 ounces. I am feeding Fromm Puppy. I feed Fromm adult (Purple/silver bag) for all the other dogs i have. moms coming into the house prior to having any pups get the Fromm Puppy food. Plus they get cottage cheese, and egg and whatever else they want during the day. I wonder if a nastier food would discourage wolfing down food--but i like that the fromm doesnt have corn or wheat....

[Maineyorkiemom]

Originally Posted by Woogie Man

I've had litters where one dog may be a little piggy and another may eat slowly. I've dealt with it by pulling the fast eater so the others get their share or, in the case of a slow eater, pulling that one so it gets a chance to eat at its own pace.

Now I realize that's not your present situation but it's a behavior acquired in the litter environment, for whatever reason. I don't think you can say it's hard-wired behavior at 13 weeks. This pup just hasn't learned to regulate itself yet.

I don't like the idea of putting a young pup on a 'diet', but here's nothing wrong with feeding him an appropriate amount for his size. He needs to eat alone at this time and not with other dogs. Also, feeding him soaked food only makes it easier to eat more and eat faster, which feeds the behavior. The kong idea suggested might be good to try or just some chew toys. He's teething at this time and really needs to work his jaws.

He is a very young dog and I think this is something that can be overcome. Of course, any continued bad behaviors would make him questionable as breeding stock. Just remember that he is a pup, and pups are like blank sheets of paper waiting to be written on. Hopefully this is just a bump in the road and things will work out well very soon with this.

This pup was eating the food dry at first. But grabbing a mouthful of dry food and not chewing and just swallowing it--was not the answer. We thought sure he would choke. He has a bully stick, he has a couple of nylabones, and some toys. A kong is a good idea. Make him work and keep him occupied. He is just so sweet.

[Mitzis Mom]

I know this may be a bit far fetched but I had horses that eat to fast and got colics and bloated. To make them eat slower we put big rounded rocks (about the size of a fist) into their cribs so they had to pick the food from between the rocks....
Oh... I just remembered that their is a sort of feeding device out there that only releases some kibbles at a time...