Help!! Should I persevere? or give up?

[Kenzies Grandma]

I'm hoping someone can help me decide what to do. Gypsy really needs to gain some weight, she is just over 4 lbs. and you can feel all the little bumps down her spine. She had puppies and then was spayed and the vet says she just needs to be built up again. He suggested putting her on puppy food (she was on Innova regular). Well, when I went to the pet food store they showed me the Innova Evo and said that it would be excellent for a skinny yorkie. She absolutely loves it! She'll crunch it down 2x a day no problem (before she was very picky, couldn't get her to eat enough). Unfortunately it's giving her the runs. yuck!! I tried mixing it with her regular food to get her used to it slowly but she just picks out the Evo and leaves the rest. Will her tummy eventually adjust to it or should I take her off it? Maybe it's just too rich for her?

Any advice or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Kathy, Tango and Gypsy

p.s. she's been eating pretty much only Evo for about 3 days now.

[yorkieusa]

Hi!

I wasn't certain by reading your post. Did you just start giving her the EVO without slowly mixing it in with her regular food? If that is what happened, then that would account for the problem.

[Kenzies Grandma]

Thanks for your reply. I did try mixing it in with her regular food and I still am but she just picks out all the Evo. Even if I try feeding her by hand and mixing up the pieces she just turns up her nose and won't open her mouth for the regular food. I can't find a way to get her to eat both kinds. That's why I was wondering if I just keep giving her the Evo if she will get used to it and get over the runs.

Thanks again for your reply
Kathy, Tango and Gypsy

[yorkieusa]

Oh, boy! The reason I asked was because I thought you had just given her the EVO by itself and without slowly mixing it.

I don't really know what to tell you. I can tell you what I'd probably try if it was me. I'd probably try giving her a little bit of pepto-bismol for a couple of days and then see if it disappears after that. Perhaps if you put a little cheese on top to help clog her up a bit? It could be too rich for her. You know, as well as I do, that they are all so different and react differently. Hoping that goes away, since she likes it so well. Otherwise, I don't see any other option to changing her food.

Perhaps someone else would have an idea?

[sabrinasmom]

I don't know, but that doesn't sound right. I'd call your vet and ask him, but I'd take it away and try another high calorie food like Natural Balance or go back to other food and only give her the Evo as a treat until you hit the right mix? These little darlings have the funniest digestive system - and they are so picky!

[cheryl000]

are you giving her a little bit of canned wet food along with the dry? They usually love the wet food alot. My vet said to give the dogs mostly dry food and a little wet. But to start them out slow. Definately call your vet and ask if you should be giving her wet food as well!

[Erin]

Feed her plain rice. If the diahrea is food related this will help big time. You can mix the rice with the Evo if you want!

[FirstYorkie]

Exactly what I was going to say - mix the dogfood with some plain cooked rice. If she won't eat it that way, try cooking the rice in chicken broth.

[ttreatsyorkies]

Put egg yolk on her food and see how that works. You can mix rice in as well and that might help settle her tummy.

[Kenzies Grandma]

Originally Posted by ttreatsyorkies

Put egg yolk on her food and see how that works. You can mix rice in as well and that might help settle her tummy.

Do you mean raw egg yolk? Is this to help settle her tummy or just to mix the foods together so she might eat them both? Sorry If I'm being dumb but I've never given my dogs egg yolks before so I was just wondering.

Thank you all for the suggestions, I think I'll keep trying for a couple of days before I change her food, she really does need the extra calories. I think the vet said she should gain at least 1/2 lb.

Kathy, Tango and Gypsy

[Kenzies Grandma]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

Oh, boy! The reason I asked was because I thought you had just given her the EVO by itself and without slowly mixing it.

I don't really know what to tell you. I can tell you what I'd probably try if it was me. I'd probably try giving her a little bit of pepto-bismol for a couple of days and then see if it disappears after that. Perhaps if you put a little cheese on top to help clog her up a bit? It could be too rich for her. You know, as well as I do, that they are all so different and react differently. Hoping that goes away, since she likes it so well. Otherwise, I don't see any other option to changing her food.

Perhaps someone else would have an idea?

How much pepto bismol would you give a little 4 pounder?

Kathy

[RowdysMom]

My vet recommends 1 teaspoon of kaopectate for diarrhea in my 4 lb guy.

[yorkieusa]

Kathy,

Save this site on your computer. It has dosing instructions that will always help you.

http://www.geocities.com/angeljulie2/firstaid.html

[Kenzies Grandma]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

Kathy,

Save this site on your computer. It has dosing instructions that will always help you.

http://www.geocities.com/angeljulie2/firstaid.html

Thank you very much for the link Karen. I saved it in my favourites list, I'm sure it will come in handy.
The diarhea seems to have stopped, last bowel movement yesterday was still very runny but she hasn't gone again since. Now I'm just waiting to see if it's firmed up the next time she goes.
I really want to thank everyone for their support, I don't know anyone who has yorkies except for you all on this site so it's really great to be able to come here for help.

Thanks again
Kathy, Tango and Gypsy

[yorkieusa]

Let us know how she does, Kathy. She's a pretty girl.