so happy to hear about this little sweetie.

i was scared to check back. but i'm glad i did!

My goodness that is the best news!!! So glad that you have another Vet and that they are looking into things more. How amazing that she would eat hard kibble. Isn't she just full of surprises! Wonderful to hear that your little one is doing better and hope to hear that she continues to get healthier and stonger every day.

Hi Guys! Just a quick update on miss Bella Dolce. She loves her new Vet!! Dr. Morris at Morningside Animal Care Center in Lawrenceville and her Vet Tech, Teresa were amazing with Bella!! It was weird though- because Bella gave them so many kisses and lots of energy and then looks at me, her poor mommy and is all unenthused!!! Needless to say I was a bit jealous. LOL!!

Anyway, I told the Doc the entire story about Bella and while we were chatting she took out some bits of Royal Canin dental therapy hard food and offered it to Bella. She ate it!! And even whined for seconds. This is the same puppy who would not eat the soft food on her own!! The Vet also took Bella home with her for a sleepover to see how she'd do during the night. She was fine! Ate her food on her own and drank water on her own, the vet said. They did give her Nutrical right before bed though and she slept through the night.

Ok= flashforward to today- we bring Bella home around noon and she has not eaten a single kibble of the same food she ate with the vet!! Not a bit!
So I am perplexed. She has been acting normal, playing, exploring, sleeping and finally her poop is completely back to normal! But again- I just don't know why she won't eat for us here at home. I've given her nutrical thru the day though. No more force feedings according to the vet.

I'm gonna stop back by to see the vet tomorrow to tell her that Bella hasn't eaten the food. I'm perplexed, but not as worried because her behavior and energy levels are 100% better. I am just being mindful of her blood sugar since she did have the hypoglycemia this past saturday.

Thanks again to everyone who prayed and offered advice and love.

I'd love to share pics of Baby Bella!! But how do I post them here?>??

Wow, that's really weird. I wonder if she's sensing the worry and stuff there at your place and maybe that's why she won't eat?? That's got me puzzled. My goodness, I'm glad I'm not you, I'd be freaking out right now with her not eating. Keeping her in my prayers that she eats soon and everything works out fine. Thanks for the update.

If you give her too much Nutrical, or too frequently, she may not eat. Try giving her less Nutrical, then offer her some kibble along with it. Also, feed her away from the area where she poos.

Glad to hear Bella is doing Better, too much nutrical, also, I think she is picking up on the stress you feel from her not eating, just try to relax, i know is easier said than done but beleive me this dogs pick up in things people don't realize.
hugs,

I'm glad she's doing better!

Some other things to try: Different food bowls, no food bowl at all, play with her with the food...like roll a piece towards her, let her bat it around, feed her off a paper plate, or a paper towel...

Don't use any kind of plastic bowls for food or water, and store the food in the bag it comes in.

I'm so happy to hear the good news that Bella is much better. I hope she will eat for you and continue to get healthy. We are blessed to have Carmen here to help out and so many others who share their knowledge. You gotta love YorkieTalk! Also I'm glad to hear that the new vet is working out so well.

Great ideas- I will try each one. Yes- I am worried sick!! I'm sure the little one picks up on it but I'm so paranoid that she will slip into a coma during the night from not eating. Lordy! The Vet suggested the same thing- that I just calm down and remain positive as she may sense my anxiety. Feeling hopeful finally...especially after getting my first full night's sleep last night while Bella was with the vet. It was the best thing ever. Tonight I'm not so sure I'll sleep well- I'm sure I'll keep checking on her.....:)

btw- her poop is solid and back to normal!! Her little bottom is still sore and messy though. poor baby.

I'm glad things are getting better. I hope you can relax some now. Please let us no what the vet says.

Try hand feeding her! Whenever my dogs won't eat, if I hand feed it they will! :rolleyes:

Also...see if your vet has some oil (Nordic, Virbac, etc.)...you put a small amount on the food and mix it up to coat it evenly. My dogs LOVE it.

Glad to hear that at least the new vet found something Bella will eat...now to figure out how to get her to eat it at home. I agree with the others....try and relax a little and hand feed her or play with her food with her.

Hoping to hear that little Bella is eating for you soon.....you are doing a great job!

Carmen....you have been amazing with this pup and her mamma!! Thank God you were here for them.

SO glad to hear that Bella is on the mend! If she won't be hand fed, maybe you could put some kibble in a small kong toy that she can play with and try to get the kibble inside, making it fun for her to eat at home. Good luck and please do keep us posted - can't wait to see pics of this little girl! :p

Wonderful news for little Miss. Bella!! Can't wait to see pictures. Just attach them by pressing the little paper clip. Some pictures may be too big, so you may need to re-size them.

But I agree with the other posters, try hand feeding her. She may be a little hesitant with food right now because of the nutrical and just all the new found energy.

i had a very picky pup as well.

something that worked really well was to heat up the kibbles for 5-6 seconds in the micro with just enough water to coat it.

it makes the smell come out more...and he seemed to really take to the warmer food.

hope you can find something that works for you.

happy to hear your babe is back home again.

My Lu went on a hunger strike when we first brought her home, scared me to death. Lu was 18 months old at that time and nearly 3.5 lbs, I can only imagine the stress you have been feeling with such a tiny and young puppy.

As others have already mentioned sometimes feeding out of your hand works. Something else that worked with Lu was playing with her food. We would take one piece and put it on the floor and kind of bat it so it would skitter on the floor near her. She seemed to enjoy the game and it kept her interested in her food and she did tend to eat some when we were playing, even though she wasn't eating anything if we weren't involved in either playing or holding it in our hand.

It's strange that Bella would eat for the Vet but hasn't eaten for you at home. Maybe when you talk to the Vet they will be able to tell you anything that they may have done differently. It is likely though that Bella is just feeling your stress. I know Lu is very sesitive to how I am feeling and when we travel she takes a little bit to settle into eating.

I wish you well as you get the kinks worked out of Bella's eating issues. It sure is nice to read that she is doing so much better. I'm sure things will continue to improve and as she improves you will feel less stressed as well. Hope to hear more good news soon.

Very nice to hear that she is doing better. Hopefully you will figure out her food situation soon. I was worried there for a bit. But you did an Amazing job with her!!

Cant wait to see pics!

Just go advances mode and go to attachments (paperclip) browse your photos and upload them.

Hello! Bella still won't eat on her own although she seems stronger. I took her to the vet a couple of days this week just to let them play with her and keep her. She still wouldn't eat for them. So she's back on the A/D critical care food by syringe with nutrical. She does drink water on her own occasionally. I keep her with me most of the time or where I can see her. She still sleeps alot but I guess like babies, that's what puppies do. I hope this is ok but after so many weeks of this, I bought a bag of treats for Bella that I discovered at Marshall's. They are organic sweet potatoes covered in chicken. Bella devours them!! It's the only thing she loves. Just tried the first one today. She got excited to find it and very possessive with the treat. She even tried to bury the treat! I pray that you guys will tell me that this is an ok treat for Bella once a day or so. I do monitor her as she chews it- they are shaped like fat little sticks and is all natural. I take it from her when it gets too small so she won't choke. What do u guys think? Mama Carmen? ;)

Well at least it makes her happy. It's quit complexing the way she will eat one day and then not the next !!

I wondering if she has a food allergy and if there is even a way to test for that. Have you consider trying an all natural food and vegie diet? (I cant remember what it is called) Where you cook chicken and vegetables. It might be something to consider, see how she does with it.

Start by just offering her a peice of chicken.

we are completely lost with her, but like the poster above said, would you like to try a homecook diet for a while, start with chicken and liver bits and see if she eats..
hugs,

My thoughts and prayers for Baby Bella. I am just now seeing this thread, you have gotten some wonderful advice. I pray she will start to eat for you and gain some strength and much needed weight.

continuing prayers for Bella's recovery

Maybe you could try her on commercially prepared raw food, like Nature's Variety or Primal? I had a Maltese that was an extremely picky eater, she started out with problems like yours (went into convulsions from hypoglycemia), and I had trouble getting her to eat until she was 14 years old. Then I tried Nature's Variety raw medallions, and, not once, did she ever turn her nose up at it. She readily devoured it at every feeding.

Have you tried the food her breeder was originally feeding her? Even if it's not the best, it would be good if she could eat something on her own and then gradually switch her over to a better food.

Hi!

I wonder if our Bella could have a food allergy?? I am going out to buy the Natures variety today and try it. What are the raw medallions like? Is it actually raw meat. ? I went other website to compare- trying to decide between the Prairie and the Instinct ? What would u suggest? Thanks so much for the product suggestion!

Bella Dolce update: this morning I offered Bella some boiled warm chicken breast and she ate it all on her own!!!! It seemed like a wonderful miracle and we are so thrilled!! I'd offered it to her a few dys ago and she turned it own so she is making progress. Today she has been active abc playful and even barked while playing with my daughters toes this morning. We caught it on video!!

Please keep the prayers coming! They are working! Bella sends her love. Xoxo!

OMGoodness such a little baby, sending prayers for continued improvement

I'm so glad things are looking up for you guys. :)