Can anyone tell me why my 12 week old GSD puppy, who was a total glutton when I first got her, now seems to be totally uninterested in her grub? She was fed on Beta puppy and tripe from the breeder, I have kept her on it, but she just won't eat it now, I can't even get her to eat 3 meals a day, so far she doesnt look like she's losing much weight, but I feel at this rate, its only a matter of time. She eats her stools whenever she gets the chance, I wonder if this could be reducing her appetite? I have tried putting pineapple in her food to make the stools taste horrible, but she won't touch her food at all with this in it!
I don't want to start pandering to her by feeding her different things, as I know this can make a pup very fussy, my GSD boy has been reared on Beta and tripe and thats what I want to stick to. Sensible advice needed please!!

You could try putting the pineapple on the poo rather than in the food........ Just wondering also why the tripe *AND* puppy food? I believe these complete foods are just that and shouldn't need anything added - particularly a puppy food which is fairly high in protein anyway....

fran

Fran

"Complete" foods are as you say, they don't need anything adding - but quite often the dogs just won't eat it on it's own as they seem to find it quite tasteless and I think they like the different textures that adding something else brings as well.

My boys won't eat the kibble on its own but mix with just a little bit of something else that they do like and they wolf it down.

Pam n the boys

We've got this with Holly. She goes absolutey mad for Wafer Thin Ham. If we just put her kibble down she takes a few bits out at a time and after she's had about 1tsp she stops eating. If we add some ham to it, she goes mad and wolfs the whole lot down.

I was making Jonathons lunch today and Holly was going potty. She kept barking at me and sitting down very quickly then barking at me again because I wasn't rewarding her. It took me ages to work out it was because Jonathon's got ham sandwiches :D

I know that she shouldn't have anything added to her complete food but if it's a choice of adding some ham and she eats it, or not and it goes to waste I'd rather pander to her.

Fiona

Bear hope this helps: Coprophagia in the Canine. mari

HI Bear

Don't know about sensible advice....<g>...but Belgian pups tend to be picky when young and as teenagers, do you think yours may just be like this?

Mine now has a good appetite but i went through several foods before i found some taht have her an appetite and got her excited about food.

She is now fed mainly on NatureDiet, with some raw tripe and brown rice and veggies.

I realise you want to keep yours on Beta, but would you consider trying something else if the problem persists?

There is also a product on the market called "Delishus" available from Sainsbury's. It sounds yukky as the ingredients are a bit sugary, but it claims to give dogs an appetite when put on their food.

I partly agree with Fran, :), be careful with the complete food and adding stuff, as it might be upsetting the protein levels or something.

Lindsay

My lab was fussy at that age, but did and still does, eat her poo. It's foul isn't it? The only thing that stops her eating her poo is picking it up immediately, so I don't let her off the lead till she's performed. When she was fussy I mixed a tiny bit of cat food with her dinner, not so convenient if you haven't got cats.

I'm glad my Lab isn't the only one who eats his poo. He 'toilets' in a specific area of the garden and he's learnt that really well, even to the stage now where we don't have to go with him. He runs down the garden, performs and returns to the kitchen door. It was just one time I was watching from the kitchen and he popped his head out from round the tree licking his lips - I couldn't believe it, dirty dog!! Anyway, as nice as it was to briefly let him down the garden to 'toilet' by himself, we now have to follow so we can clean up any mess straight away. I'm interested in the pineapple though. Is it pineapple chunks or pineapple juice - I may give it a go.

Hiya

My youngest boy used to do this - it is so disgusting coz that's when they then want to give you a big sloppy kiss - with tongues :p He has grown out of it now though - but clearing up after was one of the keys. If there's nothing there - he can't eat it.

I was in our local pet shop the other day and they had a tablet that you could give the dog daily. I presume it has the saem effect as pineapple - but not in their food. I don't know the name of it - but it could be worth a try.

hth

Pam n the boys

I had a similar problem, only that he wouldn't eat at first, now he eats like a horse.
What I used to do was add some grated cheese to his food and mix it in well, you don't need a lot, the smell alone makes them want to eat it all up.
Give it a try, theres nothing to lose but a bit of cheese.
I still add cheese occasionally if his appetite wanes a bit.

Bear, are you sure you aren't overfeeding her? I you go by what it says on the pack, you may well be. Let us know what weight you feed her. Also, don't leave the food down if he doesn't eat it, just take it away, he won't starve. I'm not a great fan of adding things, before you know it you're cooking steak and chips everyday for them!

I forgot the obvious, is he ill? Alright in himself? Pooing OK?

I feed her only a tiny amount of tripe, barely more than a few crumbs, my vet told me it was ok to add something to the complete as long as it wasnt much, I might try the grated cheese thing , mind you, as well as adding pineapple chunks I also add a handful of bran to the food to keep the stools firm, and garlic and kelp tablets!!
I forgot to mention that she drinks tons of water, I have never seen such a thirsty pup, she will just plonk herself down in front of the water bowl and drink...
I feed her about 400 grams a day, roughly about 1 and a half cups each meal, she weighs about 13 kg at 12 weeks, she doesnt look skinny, but its hard to tell as she is so heavy coated.
Its strange, as she was the biggest girl in her litter when I got her, she had a fat belly and ate like a wee pig!!
Its not possible to always pick up her stools as I work during the day and she goes out in the kennel and fenced off area with my two dogs ( both youngsters themselves they are great with her and they all have a good wrestle! ) so obviously if they do their business in the kennel she copies them... although the boys seem to getting cleaner the older they get, either that or they are eating their stools too!

Bear, it may be worth cutting down a bit, as 400g seems a lot for 12 weeks, plus a bit of tripe, plus maybe a few goodies, then some earth, plants and a few truds, it all starts adding up. I don't know what your food bag recommends, but I bet it's about 400g, and I've never been able to feed any of my dogs anywhere near what the bag says. Don't forget, some dogs are like humans and can eat and not get fat, some don't seem to eat much at all. Pups should bolt it down, so let it eat what it wants for 5 mins then take it away, and carry on until things pick up. Don't worry, it won't starve in a day or so. I've found that trying to coax pups into eating is an uphill struggle unless they are hungry!

<<plus a bit of tripe, plus maybe a few goodies, then some earth, plants and a few truds>>

Oh, this made me laugh!! Sounds like an extract from an Organic Diet book!!!

Thanks for brightening up my morning!!!

;)

Y'know what, she has just started to have an appetite again! Blooming dogs, I can't understand them! I think I just worry too much, like an old mother hen, think I will just lighten up a bit and take things more as they come!
Thanks for all the advice though folks, its always good to know there are people I can 'cluck' to!

That's good to hear, Bear.

Isn't it amazing how we come over all paternal. Is she eating, pooing, are the nails ok, was that a limp, a lot of wax in one ear, is that a stone in her mouth, don't run with a stick. I'm sure there's plenty more that can be added!

Oh God yeah, my animals are my life ( no human kids thankfully! ) and I think I spend 90% of my time worrying about them and thinking of ways to make them happy! Unlike my boyfriend, who couldnt care less and has the easy life of a man with no cares!
But hey, I am sure you will agree that they are worth it!!

I dont think you can feed by weight, I never can. Feel the ribs, If you can feel them with a soft outline (Through a layer of flesh/fat) you are about right. If the rib outline feels hard you should up the food a bit and if you can bearly feel the ribs you are too fat.

Regards, John

It can vary by breed and individual. My elkhounds have never had more than 250 to 300g of a good quality puppy food (dry) even at peak growth (about the size you say your dog is). I have also found speaking to other owners that most dogs don't need anywhere near the amount stated on some of the packaging, though the brand I use seems to give more realistic guidelines thatn some. I usually recommend about 2/3rds to 3/4 of the amount on the pack with monitoring the feel of the pups body!

This is alos an age when pups often need a meal cut out from 4 to 3!