puppy not eating much

YorkiePud_3

Well I've never had a Yorkie or a Chihuahua that DID eat well ... !! So you might have a double whammy there!! My dog has days where he just won't eat a thing, regardless of what he is offered. I do worry about him because under all that hair he is only a slight thing but he weighs 6lbs and the vet said he's a healthy 6lbs so he's not worried.

Some people say if the doggie doesn't eat its food in 15 minutes of putting it on the floor, take it away and it will teach the dog to eat it straightaway but in my own experience I have found that a lot of rubbish!

If I did that I would end up with a starving dog! The dog I have now (in my profile pic) is just as picky an eater ... and it isn't just that he doesn't like dog food and wants human food ... nothing could be further from the truth! I could give him a cut up steak and he would refuse it ... *LOL*

The only food I have found that he will eat (although not a full bowl, so I sellotape the foil pouch and give him it in two servings, usually 10am and 9pm because he won't entertain food between then!) is the Hi Life from Morrisons ... it's particularly for smaller dogs and it's chicken and rice based, a sensitive light diet (the one we get has a little Jack Russell on the box).

Dylan chihuahua has a horribly sensitive stomach and this is the only one that doesn't set him off ... anything with gravy or beef seems to.

Basically, I wouldn't worry too much though ... when she looks like being interested in eating get her bowl filled right up to make up for the times when she picks or doesn't eat anything! It certainly sounds like she felt a lot better for having a full tummy, bless her!!

Rev

kendalls_cave wrote: »

I am the proud new owner of Clover. She is nine weeks old and is a Yorkie/chihuahua mix.

She came to me last Thursday. The breeder said she hadn't been fed on anything specific to avoid Clover getting attached to it. So I choice Iam's puppy for her.

She will eat a little of it, but not much. i put a little warm water in it for her, and have also tried it dry. Interestingly my friend bought her puppy round today (he's four weeks older and has been vaccinated) and we fed them together and Clover ate it up.. but tonight she is back to eating hardly anything and what she does eat i hand feed (not good I know)

She is my first dog and I'm worried. Thanks for any help

There's no way a 4 week old puppy is a) fully vaccinated b) should be away from it's mother.

I spotted this post at perforums too. And pretty much agreed with the advice you were given there. Have you tried the advice you were given there?

Are you sticking with Iams? If I were you I'd change to a decent food. Why not move to wet if she seems to prefer that?

gadjah543

I think the other pup is 13 weeks not 4 weeks

kendalls_cave

correct spot is 4 weeks older than clover - so is 13 weeks old. Maybe i did a typo at the other forum

To be honest I felt quite criticized on the pet forum for feeding her " a God awful food" which is Iams. Yes maybe I'm not perfect but am doing my best as a new dog owner. They might not have meant to be critical, but feeding a puppy as a new owner is a minefield.

I have received good non judgmental advice here and have followed it and puppy is now eating Thanks everyone

hethmar

You know, a lot of people who advertise and say they have bred a litter of pups are just selling them on from puppy farms. Has this "breeder" returned your calls yet?

kendalls_cave

Clover is *not* from a puppy farm - her mum and dad are the breeders family pets and this is their second litter. I saw the mum and dad when i picked clover

Yes she phoned me this morning, as they were away for the weekend

Rev

kendalls_cave wrote: »

correct spot is 4 weeks older than clover - so is 13 weeks old. Maybe i did a typo at the other forum

To be honest I felt quite criticized on the pet forum for feeding her " a God awful food" which is Iams. Yes maybe I'm not perfect but am doing my best as a new dog owner. They might not have meant to be critical, but feeding a puppy as a new owner is a minefield.

I have received good non judgmental advice here and have followed it and puppy is now eating Thanks everyone

In that case, my apologies, typos are very easily misunderstood lol.

I've gotten so much help over at pet forum, so I doubt they were meaning to be critical. You were suggested alternatives to iams, as I do have to agree, it it god awful. So I imagine they have your puppies interests at heart with actually telling you and suggesting alternatives.

I'm sure you'd rather be told your puppy's food isn't the best than go on blindly thinking you're doing he best for her. Something we've all done when we were 'new' to having pets. You don't learn if I food is good/bad/okay without reading such forums. Especially if you're not 100% sure what all the ingredients are.

Have a look at Skinners, cheaper than Iams (you feed less per day since it's better quality), no crap, hypo-allergenic and generally a great quality budget food.

If I were you I'd order some Skinners samples, mix in some wet food and do the 15 minute thing.

kendalls_cave

As I said i doubted they meant to come across critical, but they did. I *did* research food and stayed well clear of things like Bakers with all the colours etc. Been disabled and not having a car I choice what i thought was the best food I could order from Tesco online. I supposed that is why i felt criticized cos I really did do my best on the info I had. But you guys at pet forum weren't to know that.. but please just go easy on newbies.. what seems obvious to "mature'` dog owners isn't always obvious to newbies

Having done a bit more research and having talked to my vet about her bread etc ( and that they are naturally picky eaters) i am going to try her on james wellbeloved with fish. Which I can order online

Thanks for your help and sorry I got defensive

hethmar

James wellbeloved is a very good food, so is Burns - check out Royal Canin breed food though as I think they do a Chi specific food.

Good luck with your new friend

They do a yorkie and a chi specific food May be you could mix it

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/category.asp?dept_id=706


With it's small easy to eat kibble Royal Canin Chihuahua has been specially formulated with selected natural flavours to stimulate the appetite of the fussiest dog. Calcium chelators aid the reduction of tartar build-up. Overall rating




Royal Canin Yorkshire 28 is specially formulated for the needs of Yorkshire terriers. It helps terriers build a glossy coat, maintains vitality in older dogs, and satisfies a terrier's delicate appetite, while reducing dental plaque and tartar. Overall rating

kendalls_cave

I suppose it was the "god awful" food comment. Because while it wasn't meant badly it made me feel really !!!! as a new owner that I was actually feeding my pup rubbish. So it was the way it way said not what was said