Very Picky Eaters

[AnnTuttobene]

I am a fairly new mom of 2 Yorkie sisters that are 18 months old. My husband and I got the pups in July 2018 while traveling in Utah. We had just lost the last of our 3 Italian Greyhound sons( 13 years old) in June so we were reeling with depression. Upon arriving at the RV resort that we frequent, we were told that the park assistant had 2 Yorkie pups that were in a kennel for over 9 hours a day and that this individual was looking for a good home for the 2 babies together. Needless to say we did immediately fall head over heels. These kids are pure breed and have the papers. Very well behaved with good potty habits. But.... their eating habits are absolutely horrible. The prior owner never fed the table scraps or human food. We also do not feed scraps and human food. They do not get in between meal snacks and rarely after they have eaten. We feed in the morning and evening. Here is the thing, I have browsed every website known to man to see what I can do to get the girls to eat dry food. Here is the list of dry foods that we have tried-Blue Buffalo Life Protection, Science Diet both chicken and beef, Merrick Lil Plate, Nutro Essentials, Rachel Ray Nutrish, Purina Pro Plan, Beyond Simply 9, and lastly Purina Beneful. After 1 - 1 1/2 days they stick their nose up and won't eat for another 2- 3 days. We put them in their own soft sided kennels for 20 minutes and they just stare us down. After 20 minutes we take the food up and they charge out running to look for food elsewhere. Not going to happen. We have tried putting small amounts of canned dog food and they lick it off and leave the food. We wet and soak the food, we give it dry, we feed it by hand..... We have a variety for fish oils...nada!! We tried giving them a few different varieties of canned food and the liked that for 2 days and the cycle of not eating began again, besides them have very loose, frequent stools. I am at my wits end. All the tricks I read about what people do to get their dogs to eat backfire. We maintain our firmness to eating schedules and process. I have gotten so frustrated that I have considered giving them up. If they don't eat their food, they will find vegetation outside to supplement their hunger. We are home with them nearly 24/7 so we keep a good eye when they are in the yard, but they still manage to munch. I don't want to have to be a hall monitor all day. They are pups and we love that, but this eating issue has got us down. The vet found absolutely not health issues.
Can anyone through us a bone??!!

[Wylie's Mom]

What were they eating at their last home? If they have issues with chronic loose stools, has a fecal test been done? Have their teeth been looked over?

You may want to try something like Fresh Pet, Honest Kitchen, or SoJos. Or, if you're not opposed to it..homecooking...?

[AnnTuttobene]

Thanks for your response and advise. The kids have been thoroughly checked out by a vet and all is well in the health department. She indicated that I needed to stick with our routine and that they would not starve themselves. I will definitely look into the foods that you mentioned.

[RV6APilot]

Our pup is eating Life's Abundance. it has never been recalled and our pup loves it.

https://www.lifesabundance.com/Categ...th=False&crt=0

[AnnTuttobene]

Thanks, I will check this out.

[Lovetodream88]

Have you tried the food they were on? Some dogs don’t do crates and it stresses them so maybe they would eat better outside of the crates. I would steer far from the beneful and blue buffalo very dangerous. Royal Canin yorkie has been formulated for picky eaters might want to try that. It’s going to take them some time to get used to their new homes.

[AnnTuttobene]

Thanks for your reply....We originally started them eating outside of crate, first sharing a bowl and then eventually 2 bowls. Candi my bigger girl forced Krissy out continually. We then decided to try feeding in separate crates side by side and keep the entrance open. They are really good girls and will not come out unless invited. We got the kids in July, so they have had plenty of time to adjust. They were on puppy chow when we got them at the age of 14 months. The vet said to transition them off which we have done. They were picky eaters with original owner who let them eat cheap larger dog food with puppy chow. We wanted to ensure their health so as of July we transitioned them off the pup chow. They like whatever we give for about 2 days...then the noses go in the air.

Other than the eating problems, they are little sweethearts who play and sleep hard, loving and loved!

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by AnnTuttobene

Thanks for your reply....We originally started them eating outside of crate, first sharing a bowl and then eventually 2 bowls. Candi my bigger girl forced Krissy out continually. We then decided to try feeding in separate crates side by side and keep the entrance open. They are really good girls and will not come out unless invited. We got the kids in July, so they have had plenty of time to adjust. They were on puppy chow when we got them at the age of 14 months. The vet said to transition them off which we have done. They were picky eaters with original owner who let them eat cheap larger dog food with puppy chow. We wanted to ensure their health so as of July we transitioned them off the pup chow. They like whatever we give for about 2 days...then the noses go in the air.

Other than the eating problems, they are little sweethearts who play and sleep hard, loving and loved!

Well I would try Royal Canin Yorkshire terrier which is for picky eaters.

[Atlas Kronos]

One of my boys is super picky when it comes to food, he would starve himself for days. Tried multiple dog foods that he either did not like or gave him loose stool. Choice pet recommended Welcome Home brand (chicken or pork- my boys will not eat the fish flavor), by Lotus I believe, but less expensive and they no longer have loose stool. But it did not completely help him being picky. He would eat more than before but still not all his food. I have to add chicken breast to his food and they eat every bite. Once every week or two I buy a package of chicken breast, steam bake (in foil packet to keep it juicy), chop it into super small pieces (could probably use food processor if you have one to save some work), portion into snack size bags and freeze. When needed heat up and add to their food (refrigerate portion not used), mix so juices and small chicken pieces get all over the dry dog food. This is the only combo that works for us but my boys LOVE it. Hope it helps.

[lilgidget]

My Gidget has been on Royal Canin for Yorkies since she was 1 y/o. No problems with upset tummy etc but she can be picky. If I give her a piece of chicken, etc occasionally, she turns from her dog food and expects more. Don't do that bc she will eventually go back to her dog food. When we had our first Yorkie, I was sure he was starving (this happened when he was 4-5 months old). He would go all day without eating and then maybe eat a piece of two of his dog food before the day was over. I just knew something was wrong and he was going to starve to death. I tried hand feeding him but he wasn't at all interested in eating. He was 14 when he died. I learned that he would eat when he was hungry, sometimes finishing everything in his dish. Quite worrying about him and he seemed to sense that I was okay with his eating habits. They can sense our tension and worry and it can really effect them.l

[sandy simpson]

My yorkies eat dry Lifes Abundance. I mix that with wet hills id rx food. I am looking yo change that wet food. They will stay of lifes abundance. Their coats look good. No problems