my puppy is only eating a tiny bit!?

Question

the pet store i bought him from said to keep him on this food...however, i dont think he likes it..any suggestions?

Answer 1

Change his food if thats what you think he needs, you are his person, and you live with him and know him best. A word of caution though, never switch a dogs dog food all at once, introduce his new food gradually to the old food, adding a bit more new each time you feed him until the old is fazed out. Do some research on different dog foods to discover which one you think would work best for your buddy, or ask your vet to suggest a good food.

You may also want to make sure no one in your family has been feeding him table scraps - dogs will sometimes just nibble at kibble while holding out for something better.

Something else that may help - my own dog Kaydee eats kinda weird. She'll scarf her food like mad for one or two days, and then nibble for a week or better. I was told that sometimes dogs inherit this style of eating from the wilder side of their nature and that its normal. Just keep the food available if possible.

I hate to do it (it really does rankle with me) but I'll have to be one of those people who recomend the vet check up too. (It annoys me when thats the firsto or only answer people give, like your question here isn't an attempt to avoid the vet if possible) but only take him if his appetite doesn't pick back up in a few days, you know no one is feeding him something he shouldn't get, and changing his food doesn't help. At that point, you my want to seek a professionals help.

Watch him close for a week, if he has diarhea, is throwing up frequently, and completly stops eating at any point, rush him to a vet. If he seems happy and normal except for the nibbling part, just watch him and take him in if you feel he needs it.

Answer 2

After a while he may eat when he gets hungry but whatever you do, DO NOT allow him to eat any table ffod or bones or he will starve himself and exclusively want to eat the table scraps that he receives. Don't switch the diets right away but you may ask the pet store are there any alternative puppy foods based on the current one's nutritional value but offer a better taste.

Answer 3

KEEP THE FOOD THAT THEY WERE FEEDING HIM, BUT ADD A LITTLE BIT (A TEASPOON OR TWO) OF SOFT FOOD. IT SHOULD OPEN UP HIS APPETITE. ALSO IF YOU BOUGHT HIM TODAY, IT ISN'T UNCOMMON FOR THEM NOT TO EAT THE FIRST DAY,BUT IF GOES ON LONGER THAN THAT FIRST DAY, I WOULD TAKE HIM TO THE VET. MANY PUPS THAT ARE FROM PET STORES COME FROM PUPPY MILLS AND MAY HAVE ALL KINDS OF ILLNESSES DUE TO THE CROWDED NATURE OF PUPPY MILLS. BE CARE FULL WHEN BUYING A PUP FROM A STORE, AND ALWAYS TAKE THEM TO THE VET WITHIN THE FIRST 24 HOURS TO RULE OUT ANY ILLNESSES. GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN WITH YOUR NEW BABY.

Answer 4

Depending on the brand of dog food he is on you may consider changing it. Just remember to change his food gradually..10% over 10 days (day1-10%new 90% old: day2-20%new80%old:ect.) I would make sure that he is on a good quality food if you do decide to switch..a few personal recommendations that go above and beyond are Canidae, Wysong (avail. at Whole Foods) Blue Buffalo (Petsmart) Innova, or any other high quality diet..no purina puppy chow, beneful, science diet, or any other food where the main ingredients are vegetable (corn,wheat,soy,ect.)

Answer 5

He needs to see the vet, to make certain of what is causing his lack of appetite. The vet may find him to be wormy, or recommend another kibble..he may be teething and need his food softened..You can try cooking him chicken and rice....Boil a piece of chicken ( take bone out) with 2 cups of water and 1/3 cup of rice, and cook until the water is all absorbed, adding water as needed, so that the rice cooks for an hour.No salt or seasonings..Feed a small amount at a time...If he refuses this, it is certainly time for a vet visit..

Answer 6

hi same as the other person said about been home sick but i would take him to the vet to be wormed cossometimes if there really full of worms it can stop them eating but dont get wormer from the shop it doesnt work in my experience my dog was just sick with a load of worms so i allways go to the vet for wormer now

Answer 7

well maybe you're dog ins't happy for example my dog eats only half food then i don't take him for a walk every few days... or he doesn't see me for few days.... or maybe he really doesn't like the food well u could put something more delicious on his food... dunno maybe some litle not sharp bones.. litle pieces of steak..or give him some toy to play with him... i think he could be sad for something unhappy or he has some problem any way consult a vet or Dog specialist what can u give for you're dogie...

AND don't give him too much food cos then he will get fat and will get more times sad then he would be fit...

Answer 8

Dogs aren't that stupid. IF they go on hunger strike they will eat eventually. Don't let him get finicky. If you notice a change in behavior too, the vet may be a good place togo.

Answer 9

He might be sick of that food or just choosy....
If he is a Spitz (Japanese spitz, finch spitz german spitz etc)kind of dog it is normal because my spitz dog and my uncle's spitz dog seldom eats and is very choosy.

Maybe your dog has been fed by your neighbours, been escaping from home for rubbish snacks...

Worms may also be disturbing his stomach, so I suggest you bring him to a vet.

Answer 10

do not substitute nutrition for treats, there are the thank you to get him interested in his nutrition. Take his nutrition dish (with nutrition in it) and soak the nutrition in warm water for a million-2 minutes, then drain the water out and take a seat the dish down for him to consume. the nice and cozy water brings out the flavour and softens the nutrition so it is not so difficult for him to chew (exceedingly at 10 weeks old). yet, if this maintains even after soaking his nutrition and he nonetheless won't consume, you're able to desire to grant the nutrition for quarter-hour and if he would not consume, placed it away. canines won't starve themselves. He is probably not eating using fact he grew to become into used to eating from his mom each and every time he wanted or in accordance to the petstore/breeder's time table. don't be alarmed if this occurs lower back while he's teething. My Germand Shepherd domestic dog (now 5 months old) went by way of a piece comparable to this. Her ears have been up and status and he or she grew to become into eating great, then by surprise for greater or less 2 weeks, it grew to become into almost impossible to get her to consume the comparable volume that she have been eating and her ears drooped pass into opposite to while she grew to become right into a domestic dog. After approximately yet another week or 2 of teething, her ears have been back up and he or she grew to become into eating like a champ lower back. only only be sure you are not attempting to feed him too lots using fact he could be eating as much as he's meant to yet you anticipate him to be eating greater. Ask your vet what they propose and study the bag for the different guidelines. additionally, it is beneficial to work out what sort of nutrition your vet recommends - Petsmart sort is probably not the main suitable of canines ingredients. i take advantage of technology nutrition plan Lamb and Rice domestic dog nutrition for enormous breed canines and this is great. only bear in concepts that some great breed canines (German Shepherd is a robust occasion) desire meat of their nutrition plan (lamb, poultry, etc). desire that facilitates!