My 5 month old Rottie pup will not eat any brand of dry or tinned dog food. the best we can do is the frozen tripe (thawed of course). Mixers are spat out if dry and the food left if they have been soaked. Of course she loves chicken, but dog food is a big problem. We have tried just offering dog food only at meal times for several days, but all she does is turn her nose up at it and walk away. We asked our vet and he said we have to get her on a dry food and told us to put some down and she will eat it when she gets hungry enough. Our concern is that as she is a growing pup how long can we leave her to starve, the last thing we want is an under developed dog and all the problems that might come with it We did carry on with the sample our breeder gave us (tripe and soaked pedigree puppy advanced), but she just stopped eating it. we thought it might be down to a new home. Anyway other than force feeding her (only joking), does anyone know of a Paul Makenna (OK I might have spelt his name wrong) for dogs who can fool my dog into thinking that dry food is chicken.
p.s., I have been supplementing her diet (chicken and mostly tripe) with SA37 tablets, is that good or bad. I even tried the BARF diet and the bitch (play on words) walked away from that as well. Must go as I have to buy a length of rope to hang myself with.

Thanks in advance for all replys, and may the force be with you (I'm cracking up)

Jim

Jim - leave the length of rope at the shop ;)

How about liver pate (not the expensive stuff - just a value plastic roll jobby from a supermarket) - make a thick gravy with a table spoon of it and mix her complete with it - it just puts a bit of a coat on all the biscuits. I do this for mine at times and whenever I do ALL is eaten and dish licked clean ;) Or sardine mashed to make a gravy ?

My Goldie pup was about 5 months when she decided she didn't like her food soaked but wasn't keen on it just dry either. She has the above "gravy" or a few spoons of tripe mixed in for 2 of her 3 meals and I never have any trouble. I appreciate yours eats the tripe and spits out the biscuits so maybe the "gravy" idea would work ?

It is not suggested generally to feed other stuff with complete food but if it gets food down a growing pup then I'll do it and that way you are not adding too much to the diet extra :)

Why not register with the board and then you'll be able to tell us if any of the ideas you're given work :D Who knows you may have other questions to ask in time too :)

Sara :)

By the way being female she is wise and realises that if she doesn't eat for a few meals you'll then bring out the good stuff (chicken) to tempt her - lets face it - you'd do the same ;)

Hi, if this were my puppy and she was in good condition - ie has not lost much weight already - I would offer her the food you want her to eat twice or three times a day. Leave it down for 5-10 minutes and completely ignore her. She may be picking up on your worry about the matter. After 10 minutes remove it and offer again at the next mealtime. Dont leave it on the floor. Give her her normal exercise and play and dont appear to be at all worried about her. I would keep this up for 3 whole days before I started to worry!! You could try a blob of natural live yoghurt on the top of the food, mine fine this irresistable, even if she just eats the yoghurt off the top it may help her tummy anyway. It is very unlikely there is anything wrong with her, she has almost certainly just learned that you will react if she doesn't eat. Let us know how it goes.

Westie Lover,
You've put a smile on my face since this brings back memories. Been there, seen it, done it.
Who says dogs are daft? :) :) They all know how to work us, don't they? :) :) :D :D :D
Dot