Puppy poor eater
I adopted a shishtzu X puppy 8 months old in Nov I have found it very hard to get him to eat. I had his teeth checked by the vet she said they where a little crooked but he should be fine it should not cause a problem with him eating.I have to block him in a small area and the house most be very quiet in order for me to get him to eat or drink anything. He is a very scared dog and is just learning to have trust in myself and my grandaughter if and one else is around he cowards under my feet. does anyone know of a way i can get some wait put on him more quickly? I feed him dry maxiuum dog food which compres to purina one.I also have been offering him canned food for added moister and tryed some moist and meaty food but nothing seems to get him to eat better I am also putting vitamins in his food.You can feel his back and hip bones when you pick him up. He was rescuded from a puppy mill at 4mo. and was in pretty bad shape.
debra_hayes
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i also have a nutszu mix..small world huh..hes a SHIPOO lol but my poodle wasnt eating well and when i called the vet he had me come and get science diet that they feed to dogs with no appite and mix it with some dry food…this stuff is only a dollar a can and after 2 cans she loved dry food…. he told me to give her that to make sure shes got an appite then you have to do tough love.. eventualy they will get hungry enough to eat..please keep me posted on your lil one.
Doxie
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My dog doesn’t seem to care much about eating. I tried all different kinds of food for him, and finally started feeding him Iams PUPPY food. It has extra nutrition in it, so even if he eats just a small amount of food, he gets a little extra nutrition that what is in adult dog food. He also likes it if I sit with him while he eats. I used to have to pretend I was eating his food with him. Good luck, and just keep giving you pup lots of love and affection. I’m sure he will start eating soon.
yellakittee
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It takes a long, long time for a dog to start trusting again after he has been severely neglected or abused, especially if all they’ve known was abuse. You will have to be very, very patient with him. Speak a lot to him (dogs are reassured by human voice), always in a soft voice, say his name and tell him what a good dog he is over and over. Slowly rub your hands all over his body, scratch his back, caress or softly scratch his chest (dogs lick each other chests to indicate friendship), if he allows you, rub his belly but do not do it if he goes stiff on you, only if he offers it to you. Allow him to tuck his face under your chin (puppies do this to their mothers). Sometimes an open crate with a soft pad for them to lay on makes them feel more secure. It will take a long time but he will improve.
As to the feeding, it is typical behavior of animals that have been abused. There are commercial high calorie pastes sold in places like PetSmart which you can feed to him. Try to find something he likes (roasted chicken, bacon or cheddar cheese have worked wonders for me) and feed it to him by hand little by little (you have to get him used to eating larger quantities). Once he is eating it from his bowl and with gusto, start mixing it with a little dog food and gradually increase the dog and reduce the people food until all he is eating is the dog food (you might have to sthingy feed him at the beginning). Use small breed puppy food until he is up to his normal weight (it has a higher content of protein). Add Missing Link for dogs to his food, it’s the best vitamin additive for animals.
Good luck!
Bibi
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thanks for all you suggestions. I have found that mixing maxiuum puppy food from walmart thattt compares to purina one (meat is the first ingredent) and pedigree chicken and beef puppy food in about egual amonts in a bowl and warming it for him each time he has started eating quite well at his last vet visit he was up to 12lbs. the vet says he is still a little under weight but is doing well other wise and she is sure he will catch up soon. He is out of danger of being malnurited now. He has come to adore my granddaughter and takes naps with her now. He is still petrified when someone different is around but tends to hide at my feet rather then burrowing somewhere. Just this week he started playing tug of war with a rope toy with my lad and grandaughter. We are so happy to see him coming out little by little. Seems almost as exciting as those first steps in a baby.
debra_hayes
