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10-02-2013, 10:01 AM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: California, MD, USA
Posts: 7
| Is my Yorkie eating too little? New Yorkie Mom needs some advice!!!! My Yorkie, Bacon is 4 months old and currently weights 2.9lbs. I feed him Hills Science Diet Small Bites. Every morning I put a ½ cup of food in his bowl. He isn’t interested until we literally feed him out of our hands. He usually eats about 10 pieces of kibble. After he eats a little, I take him outside to potty and then put him in his crate at 8:00am. I come home at 11:00am take him out to potty and then walk him into the kitchen by his bowl. He doesn’t eat, even if I try to feed him from my hand or heat it up with a little water sprinkled on it. He goes out one last time for a potty break and back in the crate he goes. My high school daughter gets home at 2:15pm… takes him out and walks him in the kitchen by his bowl. He eats another 10 pieces of kibble…maybe… I get home at 4:00pm, take Bacon out and take him to the kitchen by his bowl… nothing! Bacon is doing very well with potty training so we let him run free in the house (our eyes are always on him) while we are there and we always leave his food bowl down so he can get to it. Normally around 9:00pm, he will go to his bowl and eat a little more. My concern is… There is ALWAYS food left in his bowl and I don’t know if he doesn’t like the food and I should try something else or if everything is fine and I’m freaking out for no reason. In addition…. Bacon has an ear infection and is always biting at his paws. I’m hoping that it isn’t allergies. If it is…. Well it is what it is and we will take care of it ) Does this sound like it could be a food allergy or environmental? When having allergies, does it suppress the appetite? Thanks in advance! |
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10-03-2013, 08:02 AM | #2 |
♥Momma's Bambino♥ Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ca
Posts: 10,026
| Well being 2 pounds, I could imagine his stomach is pretty small. I wouldn't be too worried with the amount he is eating, as long as he is eating. I remember when Peanut was a puppy ( he was Bacon’s size) it seemed he hardly ate. What you can do so you don’t worry is check his gums, make sure they are a nice pink color. The little ones can go into hypoglycemia shock pretty quick. You want to make sure he does have food in his tummy at all times, even if it’s a small amount. Dog Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar): Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention Peanut is 6 years old at 4 pounds, before I go to work I always make sure he has something in that belly. He usually isn’t a morning eater so I will always add something as a topper. I have these freeze dried veggies, and I will add a couple of those on there. The licking of his paw could mean seasonal allergies. Hills does have a lot of ingredients that most dogs can’t handle. Corn, wheat, flaxseed.. most dog’s can’t handle these ingredients and will have allergy type symptoms. Those ingredients are also fillers- they aren't giving Bacon any real nutritional value. He will tend to eat more of it as his meals aren't keeping his tummy full, less protein meat sources, more filler ingredients. I would personally look for a higher quality puppy food. One that doesn't have corn/wheat, one with more protein.
__________________ "People with nothing to hide don't usually feel the need to say so." |
10-03-2013, 08:56 AM | #3 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: California, MD, USA
Posts: 7
| NB? Thank you for getting back to me and NOT making me feel like a bad mom! I made grilled chicken salads last night for my family and decided to give Bacon a little bit of chicken after I boiled it. He loved it!!!! After eating it he was a new puppy. Very energetic! It made me think about the food again. I really don’t think he likes the Hill’s. I’m ready to make a change. I’m just nervous of the transition to a new food since he doesn’t eat much as it is. What would you suggest for a higher quality puppy food? What do you think about the Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Small Bites Potato & Duck Formula Dog Food? Today on my lunch break I stopped at Petco and bought Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Duck & Potato Formula Canned Dog Food and mixed some of it with his Hills kibble. He pretty much just ate the NB and left the Hills. Of course! |
10-03-2013, 10:14 AM | #4 |
♥Momma's Bambino♥ Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ca
Posts: 10,026
| Aw you’re not a bad Mom!! Boiled chicken is great! Peanut gets it every once in a while!! That is also a great topper to put, you can add a little and they think it is the best thing in the world! I wouldn't put too much, a little goes a long way with them. Only you can tell if he isn't interested in the food. I know with Peanut he doesn't really lick chicken based kibble, he loves duck, and lamb, venison. The higher quality proteins. Food transition is a very simple thing to do, usually in my experience they always eat out the new and leave the old!! As long as he isn't experiencing any sore tummies or anything, he should be fine. Natural Balance is ok, they have too many potatoes in their food for my liking. I would try to find a grain free kibble. Did you want to be able to buy the food at a store (Petsmart/Petco) or is online ok?
__________________ "People with nothing to hide don't usually feel the need to say so." |
10-03-2013, 10:51 AM | #5 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: dearborn heights
Posts: 1,148
| I swear~it's got to be the breed. I am sure there are some good eaters out there, but it seems like everyone I talk to has "food" issues with their yorkie. These guys can be so picky. They turn their nose up at food that most other dogs would die for!! My boys are picky...but they are also chow hounds when they find something they like~especially people food!! They get bored of food very easily though so it's always a constant battle of trying to maintain a delicate balance bc too much change gives them upset stomach. |
10-03-2013, 11:13 AM | #6 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,293
| I would agree that a food change is in order. Go grain-free if you can. My guy loves Taste of the Wild and he tolerates it very well. You should see a huge difference once he starts getting the fuel he needs to power that little 2.9lb body! I might add, Petco and large chains don't carry this or several other high quality foods that area available at smaller "health" food pet stores. And once you do find a suitable store, many of them carry small sample sizes of the foods that you could try before buying. Just pick one or two though so your baby doesn't get an upset tummy from switching too much.
__________________ "The little furry buggers are just deep, deep wells you throw all your emotions into." ~ Bruce Schimmel Last edited by Roccosmommy; 10-03-2013 at 11:15 AM. |
10-03-2013, 10:53 PM | #7 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Redondo beach
Posts: 675
| I feed Gizmo royal canine yorkie puppy 29, he loves it. Every once in a great while he will eat less, and I will add just a little baby spoon of yobaby yogurt, or cottage cheese. Also his gums might hurt from teething. I would try adding a bit of warm water, let it sit for about 5 mins. So it gets soft and try that. gizmo loves this as he feels like Ed testing a hot meal :-) |
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