Dog not eating

doelani

We have a Yorkie who is 2 years old, he has always been a picky eater and had him at vet in past about his weight. Vet sai he was a little underweight but was healthy. Tried many different foods with him including one we got from vets that was £26 for a small bag and he never ate a bit of it.

In January this year we had to get our other dog PTS and the Yorkie went through a few weeks of eating very little then he was fine again. Recently he was putting on weight and everything fine then WE GOT NEW PUP :eek:

We have had pup 3 weeks, first few weeks everything fine, but dogs eating well, then the pup started going to yorkies bowl after eating her own food. Now last week Yorkie once again hardly eating. We have tried everything, feed them separately, tried different foods for him in case he is bored with what he is eating.

He WILL eat if we hand feed him, he will eat chicken, meat etc if we cooked extra and give it to him but will not eat his dog food. While feeding him yesterday a bit fell on floor and he ate it so when I put some more on floor he would eat it but wont eat out of bowl. Thinking now that he will not eat out of bowl because pup was at it.

He is getting loads of love and attention but is jealous of the pup, we cannot keep feeding him by hand and its not he can't eat he just won't !!! Anyone else ever had this problem?

krlyr

Could you try a different bowl? It might be that pup made it go clang or bang loudly and he's a bit wary of it.
Otherwise, if he's in good health, I would try the firm approach. Food goes down, leave him for 5-10 mins (make sure pup is well away - I'd separate with a door or babygate) and bowl comes up after 10 minutes. Offer again next meal time - same 10 minute rule. A health dog won't starve itself and he'll soon realise that dinner needs to be eaten when it's put down or it'll be gone.

One thing that did help with my fussy pup (I did the 10 minute rule thing but after about 3 days I was worrying as she was a growing pup!) was Naturediet wet food. You can zap in the microwave and serve warm, it really brings out the smell in it so was very appealing. Over time I cut down the Naturediet and mixed in her regular dry food, decreasing the ratio of wet and increasing dry. Eventually I just added a tiny slither and she'd eat the food fine (she would it without any at all, but much less enthusiastically, as I used so little it cost very little to add so I just kept it up)

Alternatively you could try feeding his food in a treat dispensor? A ball, a Kong, etc. - make mealtimes fun. Mine get probably 80% of their meals fed via their Kongs.

torbrex

Sounds like your dog gets on best when he is on his own, maybe he just does not do so well in the company of other dogs.

doelani

Thanks for the tips, will have to rethink things

torbrex wrote: »

Sounds like your dog gets on best when he is on his own, maybe he just does not do so well in the company of other dogs.

He loves the company of othe dogs he realy missed ter dog when it was PTS. I just think we left it to long to get aner .

torbrex

doelani wrote: »

Thanks for the tips, will have to rethink things




He loves the company of othe dogs he realy missed ter dog when it was PTS. I just think we left it to long to get aner .

I was only going by what you said in your OP, he was starting to eat well and putting on weight but stopped eating after the new pup started to eat from his bowl, sounds like he does not like the interference in his territory.

krlyr

torbrex wrote: »

I was only going by what you said in your OP, he was starting to eat well and putting on weight but stopped eating after the new pup started to eat from his bowl, sounds like he does not like the interference in his territory.

But he also stopped eating after OP lost the other dog - you could equally infer that he does not do well without the company of another dog.

torbrex

krlyr wrote: »

But he also stopped eating after OP lost the other dog - you could equally infer that he does not do well without the company of another dog.

You read it one way and I read it another, obviously you are right so I will just take myself away and not darken your door again.

krlyr

No need for the sarcasm, I was just pointing out how else it could be read. I have just as much right as you to reply, doesn't mean I'm banning people from having a differing opinion, just expressing mine.

doelani

Please guys I am glad of any opinions. He ate a little at lunch time, had to hand feed him again. He was in kitchen alne with me but then. Left him with food but he just cried to get into other room with me and pup.

Really hope ne gets his apatite back soon , will make him some sausages later when making dinner , I kow probally the wrong thing to do bt he needs to eat something :-(. It is not that he can't eat he just won't , hubby picking up new bowl for him on way home from work as well.