Lab Puppy Not Eating Properly?

Question

Hi,
I have a 10 week old lab puppy who is not eating properly as of late he was eating pedigree and all of a sudden stopped eating it so i got another flavour which he liked and now he has stopped that as well.

As a test i mixed pedigree dry food with a bit of wet food (can) and he loved it.

Can you let me know if you've come across something similer.

Btw if i take the food to my hand and offer him he will eat it very happily. But i haven't given the fellow a chance to get used to it.

Answer 1

when we first got my dog he did the same thing, so we bought that imas gravy stuff, and that didnt work he just licked off the gravy. So I just said I'll leave it out and he will eventually eat if when he gets really hungry and he did. My dog what a couple months older than yours at the time, so try canned dog food, or keep mixing it with the dry food. He might just be stubborn!

Answer 2

Most dogs have an instinct to eat if they're hungry (I wish I had that instinct!). It's possible that your puppy was just not hungry when you tried to feed him. Also, dogs can be motivated to eat when something smells really good--like canned food. Wet food (canned or water added to dry) will always have a stronger aroma then dry food, and this can encourage your pup to eat.

I think you have to be very careful in feeding this puppy, because he is "training" you at the same time they you are training him. I would suggest picking one puppy food and sticking with it. Set up a feeding schedule--at 10 weeks I would feed 3 times a day. Put the food down for 20 minutes. If he doesn't eat, then he has to wait for the next feeding. Your puppy will get used to this routine (and dogs are creatures of habit), and you will find that if he's hungry he will eat. Scheduling his feedings can also help you in predicting when he will need to have a bowel movement--which helps with house breaking.

If you're feeding a good puppy formula, there's no need to add canned food--unless you wish to. Also, do not let him get you into the habit of feeding him by hand--because he will expect that kind of service for the rest of his life!

Congratulations on adding a new member to your family!

Answer 3

Sounds like when he gets hungry he'll eat. We always add goodies to the crew's meal to keep them interested. Whether canned food ( a tablespoon is enough), bits of boiled chicken or beef, bacon fat, etc. I always put a little water( warmed in microwave) in too and give it a good stir. Don't keep food down for him at all times. Are you feeding the proper amount for his body weight? I trust the Pedigree is for puppies, right? It may be you aren't giving him a chance to get hungry.

Answer 4

Nothing wrong with mixing a bit of wet canned food along with the dry puppy chow and perhaps just a little water. Don't get him used to eating out of your hand. He should have his own dish for food and one for water right next to it.

Answer 5

When he gets hungry enough he will eat. If you indulge him now you will be doing it for the next 10 to 12 years. Make sure you are giving him the right food for a puppy of his age. Can he smell properly - he could have a blocked nose.

Answer 6

Try giving him a larger amount of wet food in place of the dry. Being only 10 weeks he will prefer the texture of the wet and as he is only young it is easier for them digest. Still feed him the biscuits but keep it mainly wet until he is of an older age around 16wks. Then slowly wheen him off the soft bit by bit but dont rid of it completley until he is around a year.

Answer 7

dry food is best it keeps its teeth clean. if someone brings u steak evey day your going to eat it. and the next day they bring u beans u might not eat the beans. but if they keep bring beans after 2 or 3 days u will eat beans. stick with the dry food its best for the dog. if you want your dog to be a picky eater then keep bringing it other food..if not give it dry food it wont die it will eat it.