Should I entice him to eat??
 

For those of you who don't know......I got Jett yesterday. He was flown in to me. He had a 7 hour flight including a layover. He had diarrhea during his flight, we think it was due to his breeder giving him some canned food mixed with his dry food (which he had never had before) to entice him to eat during the flight.

Today he has been very quiet and sleepy. He has been drinking quite a bit of water, and picked at a few pieces of dog food. He does not seem interested in eating HIS dog food at all. I had some toast this morning, and he really wanted some, I gave him a piece of the crust with no butter or jelly on it. Which he gobbled up. Then my grandson was eating froot loops which several pieces dropped on the floor, and Jett happily and excitedly ate those too. I tried to hand feed him his dog food, but nope, not interested. (This is the same dog food that was fed by the breeder.) I had a chicken breast in the freezer that I boiled up for him, but he didn't want that either. I made pizza for dinner and Jett all but did back flips to try to eat the food we were eating. I gave him a bit of the crust with no sauce, and he ate that. I REALIZE that I am starting bad habits, but I just feel like this little guy NEEDS to eat.

He has no diarrhea, has gone pee a few times. (ON HIS POTTY PAD, WOHOOO) He did poop once today, which was soft but not runny. Is there anything I should do to TRY to push him to eat?? Or do you think maybe with the flight and everything he is just not interested yet?? Is there anything these little ones can't resisit??? Is it better to get him to eat SOMETHING, (people food) or would it be better for him to get hungry enough to eat his dog food?

Shipping, for him was really rough. I got Bella here in AZ and she ok within 3 hours of getting home. Jett is adjusting a little bit slower. He is almost 14 weeks and is 1 pound 8 ozs. He has played a few times, and ran around checking thingsd out, but mostly just wants to rest. I am sure he was traumatized greatly by the flight. Just wondering when I should worry I guess.

You know the bits of table food is not going to work...healthy table food mixed with kibble is what I use...but mine eat the dry very well...no picking out the chicken or veggies.
It is very hard to get them to eat dog food once the get used to tasty table food.

I got him to eat some chicken breast and then had a major spurt of energy. Playing and running and even barking. I think I may put some 'chicken water' from the boiled chicken in his dry food and see if he will start eating it.

I think he is starting to feel much more at home now!! :D

I have to say, I totally agree with YorkieRose....those not good for him tasty....really tasty morsel will only make him not eat his food.

Believe me, Zhoie is 2 yrs, but I do recall how hard it is when they look at you with those begging eyes.

From day 1, when we ate Zhoie had to go to her house (cage) while we ate, because I was determined I was going to do what was right with this little one. It really did payoff, she is 2 and when we sit down at the table, she hopes in her bed and takes a little snooze while we eat. If she is on the couch on my lap, I'm snacking, she doesn't even pay any attention. So, it's all good in the end, if you can hold to it.

I was so scared of making her sick with the serious things I have read on here from foods, like ham, lunch meats etc.


I do mix her dry with 1 tsp of wet food and she gobbles it up.
Good luck!

I personally feel that it is very important that these little ones eat, so I would do what ever it takes, even if it is mixing in some human food.

This is good, finely diced boiled chicken breast and you can moisten the kibble with some of the broth. I'm sure you know how important it is for the tiny ones to eat so they don't get hypoglycemia.

The other people snack foods won't give him the nutrients he needs so avoid that.

While I am not one to say do not entice him with human food (I give mine treats-:rolleyes:) it is probably best not to start him on it so early on.

Do you have nutrical handy...this would be much better than giving into the snacky kinds of things to keep his energy up. But haviing said that, I would too would give him something if I had to make sure he was okay.

The chicken broth certainly would not hurt. Just make sure that you do not give too much too soon as it may upset his little tummy. Glad to hear that he seems to be settling in. I would just leave food out for him and make sure that he is drinking and eating but not forcing him. He's had a lot going on and once he feels safe and settled, he'll eat. Congats! :)

What about a little Parmesan cheese sprinkled on his food. Is he too young for that? You do know that these little ones can be picky eaters.

I am not sure about parmesan cheese. If others too suggest it I may try it. I just want to avoid any tummy issues that may come about. I got him to eat chicken again this morning, and put some broth in his food, which he licked up, but wouldn't eat the actual dog food. Little stinker...:)

I don't have nutri cal on hand. Can you buy it at petsmart or petco?? I got my last nutri cal from my vet.

For new puppies, I mix a little bit of plain yogurt (regular plain, not fat free, or sugar free) in with their kibble. About a half teaspoon. In no time, I have them eating their kibble just fine.

I just looked online.... petco has it.

Good luck

lol, he is a little stinker....but your avatar of him, sure is adorable! :)

On days when Poppy wont eat much I find sprinkling a little bit of cheese or heating her food up in the microwave works, I think the smell is stronger when warm.

The Froot Loops won't bother him (maybe some colorful poop! LOL!).... I give my pups Honey Nut Cheerios as snacks. I've never had a pup with hypoglycemia and I have had some tiny ones.

Your little one is real tiny so just keep him eating. He is a doll! Best of luck with him! :)

He thought froot loops were awesome. LOL. I will try a bit of the parm cheese this afternoon. I will go get some plain yogurt too!!! Thanks for the tips!!

I will be going there in the next day or so. Thanks for looking for me that was so sweet! Gotta show off the baby...LOL I will pick some up then. And yes he has had his shots, so we are all ok there!! Has not had his rabies yet, but all others are on board.

A little parmesan cheese mixed in his kibble won't hurt him...a few of the breeders here on YT put it on there pups food to get them to eat...the parmesan cheese is stinky and pups like stinky food :rolleyes:. I keep food down for Harley 18 weeks now 24/7 and he picks at it all day...just remember there little tummies can't hold much so it don't take much to fill them up and don't take long for them to burn it off either. Good luck and Jett is adorable :p

Sue, I've been thinking of you and little Jett. Do you have an appointment with your vet for a wellness check up being you just got him? Also, what dog food is he on? He surely is a cutie! Dyan

I am taking him into the vet tomorrow for his checkup. He had a check up 2 days before flying out to me too! I am still feeding him the food that the breeder sent along with, that he was on with her. I am not sure what it is. (I believe it is Iams puppy, not what I will use, but will transition him a bit later, to the food we use for Bella.)

Jett, ate about 10 pieces of his kibble!!!!!!!!! Making progress!!!

Yay!! that is good, he is probably full now :D

I know what you mean about table food. My yorkie Zach and my baby Oliver had a bout of diarrhea and I've been giving them boilded chikcen and rice with a bit of pumpkin. Now even Oliver who loved his puppy food won't eat it he only wants the chicken and rice.

Your baby is pretty small and definately needs to eat and eat often to fuel his little body. I can't belive your breeder flew him to you with him only weighing 1 lb 8 oz - he needs to put on a little weight. I would be sure to start him on some Nutrical as soon as possible. Not only will it prevent hypoglycemia it will actually boost his appetite. (when puppies feel "run down" or tired they often don't feel like eating). I would give him a small amount - maybe dime sized - 3 or 4 times a day for a couple of days and see if that makes a difference. I know you don't want to upset his tummy but if he isn't eating his kibble you may want to switch him to another brand of quality dog food. Sometimes a new kibble will spark their interest and appetite. You are going to want to be careful with the chicken broth as well - sometimes broth has lots of salt in it which can cause diarrhea as well as the puppy drinking lots because he is thirsty. If their tummy is full of water he won't be hungry for food. Good luck
Teresa

I am sorry, haven't been on and yes as Lil Sis was great enough to look it up, Petco and Petsmart carries the Nutrical.

Sounds like he's getting settled in and into a routine. Yay! :)

Yes, he is. He ate again, dry kibble this morning, this time with no chicken broth. The chicken broth I was talking about is the water that I boiled his chicken breast in, so no salt added. :D. I think Bella is going to be a very important part of this. She would go grab a piece of the kibble, and Jett would watch her and go grab one too. LOL They did this for about 15 minutes.

Awww, enjoy the puppy antics. This is a precious the when they bond. :)

Jett is pretty much settled now. He is eating without any coaxing, playing, and today completely solid poop and pee, which he did both on his potty pad!!!!!!!! He went to the vet yesterday and although very tiny, he is as healthy as a little horse the vet said. He wants him to have one more set of shots next week, he didn't want to do them yesterday, because of all the stress he is under, with his new home etc. I am thrilled he got a clean bill of health!!!!

When they are that tiny and especially had the stress of being shipped I think it is most important they eat. If he develops some picky habits you can deal with that later. Hypoglycemia from not eating can get serious. When Chachi was tiny he wouldnt eat the hard food and I had to give him moist. When My Jewels was 12 ounces when I brought her home my least concern were picky eating habits. They both went on to eat dog food just fine