Hi all,

I posted the other day about my puppy's diet and frequency of feeds and had some great responses. Many thanks.  The problem now is that she won't eat what I'm giving her.  I'm halfway through changing over from pedigree puppy tins to puppy iams.  She's definitely hungry at mealtimes as she's sniffing and looking around for food.  But, when I put it in front of her, she barks at the bowl, climbs into her bed and sulks!  I tried cutting back on the iams today and more of the pedigree puppy, in a kind of reverse switch over. But she won't eat that either.  She was weaned by the breeder onto pedigree puppy so is used to it.

What do I do?

Helen x

Hi Helen, You could try grating some cheese over her meal to tempt her to eat, or sardines without the sauce!
I would keep to it, as dogs can be stubben little things!!

I would try not to tempt her, as you'll be making a rod for your own back. If she doesn't eat it, pick it up after 20 mins and don't feed her again until the next feed. She'll be Ok for a day like that, although don't let her not eat for longer. She'll probably decide she's hungry before that though!

The only thing I would maybe do is to try soaking the Iams in a few tbsp of boiling water and allowing to cool.

Thanks, I'll try that.  Was just worried that she's not getting enough food.

Helen x

I am in the same boat! Mine is being a nightmare to eat anything! She has been tried on every thing!

She will be happy to eat the adult food ( dog) but not her own

Its now worrying me and driving me mad!

So different from the other pup!

I'm so glad I'm not the only one.  I just did what 'jackson' recommended and soaked the food for 10 mins and she wolfed it down!  Yay!!

Your doggie is so cute Emma.  My pup is a white westie.  Not figured how to upload picture of her yet though.

Hi all

Our boys used to turn their noses up at their dry food until we discovered Kronch salmon oil. We got some at crufts from the lady that used to flog us angels eyes. She suggested mixing it with water to make a "gravy".

They love it and it is good for them. Cheese etc is ok in the short term but one of our boys is already a bit of a beefcake...

Have a butchers at http://bichonhotel.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=11

Aparantly it is safer than cod liver oil as you can OD on vitamin D

>in a few tbsp of boiling water and allowing to cool.

Just remember to never pour just boiled water over dry food as it will kill or seriously deplete the vits and mins which are added after the cooling process,it will also destroy any probiotics if the food has these added.Let the water cool down to warm,or use warm tap water.

Just remember to never pour just boiled water over dry food as it will kill or seriously deplete the vits and mins which are added after the cooling process,it will also destroy any probiotics if the food has these added.Let the water cool down to warm,or use warm tap water.

Really? Two different feed manufacturers told me to pour boiling water over the kibble to soak it and prepare 'puppy mash'.

I can see why it would with pro-biotics, but vits/mins? It doesn't stay boiling for long enough, I would have thought, especially just a tbsp or two.

ktee is right it does kill vits/mins etc as im sure alot of people on here will agree, and warm water does just as good a job at soaking the food

If only it was that easy, i have tried every thing. Now sticking to the one she seems to pick at and trying to think " she will eat when she is hungry"

The pic is the older one! Just changed it to the little horror who isn't eating!

Been to the vets yesterday for second jab, they have no concerns about her weight at present

Good luck with your pup

Sorry to come in at the end but the situation you describe sounds exactly the same as our Golden (10 weeks). Every book I have read on the subject says that the breed is greedy and you should limit the treats because of the risk of overfeeding etc

Ours was reared on dry food andwe were advised to soak his breakfast overnight to soften it to reduce the risk of choking when he gulps down his breakfast. I wish he would gulp down his breafast - most mornings he doesn't seem very interested and I have had to add scrambled egg to get him interested. I am now worried that I am making him a fussy eater but its either that or worry about him not eating at all.

I think I'll try the advice about picking it up and trying at the next mealtime for a day or so to see if he is trying it on or simply not hungry!!!

Don't you just love puppies :)

Hi All,

Thanks for fab advice.  Have tried a bit of everything!  The soaking def helped, however, I've realised the Iams give her a runny tummy.  Nice!  My friend (vet nurse) recommended scrambled egg and chicken for the day and I've got to say it's cleared up the runny tummy.  She also recommended Eukanuba puppy food and she loves it (soaked to make gravy).  And pouring the brine from a tin of tuna over food to add flavour.  We'll see how it goes.

Helen x

eeek please stop the brine it will be giving her far to much salt in her diet :)

My pup's on Royal Canin.  I try to make each meal slightly different so she doesn't get bored.  Breakfast is RC with grated cheese, lunch has a bit of tuna or chicken in and tea is RC with a small amount of Naturediet Chicken and Tripe minced in!  She wolfs it down.

>I can see why it would with pro-biotics, but vits/mins? It doesn't stay boiling for long enough, I would have thought, especially just a tbsp or two.

The manufacture have to add the vit/min mix after the kibble has cooled,as high heat will destroy them. When i think of soaking kibble,i think of literally soaking it,i'm not sure 1 or 2 Tbs will do as much damage to the food.

Jackson I've had the opposite advice from manufactures,which is where i got the 'dont use boiling water' thing from in the first place.

>I try to make each meal slightly different so she doesn't get bored.

Same here :) It's also important IMO to give variety for the health benefits as well as staving off boredom.

We were advised to use boiled water, but left to cool a little, and REALLY soak it for about an hour,

Hi Guys and gals please help
My 5month old cavelier kings charles spaniel is not eating
He is on Hills diet puppy brand

Im wondering what the best food on the market is for pups?

Please help
Thanks

Firstly, are you sure your pup is well and only getting bored with food offered?  If this is sudden and pup showing no interest in other food I'd get puppy checked first :)

I should think that most if not all of the "major players" in dry completes have a puppy variety - the best food is always the one IMO that (a) the dog, regardless of age enjoys eating and (b) of equal importance but taking longer to establish, a food that your dog looks healthy on :)

Personally I like to give pups a mixture of different foods but if picking only one I'd opt for puppy Nature Diet which is a moist complete in trays, sold at PAH.  Toy breeds can often go onto junior and adult versions of diets before other breeds can so perhaps someone with CKCs will advise more appropriately though!

regards, Teri

Thanks Teri I will go buy the nature diet , ive just read up about it..

What about treats? more natural ones? any ideas?

And do you know a good webpage to tell me what fruits he can eat etc

Thanks

Hi gumi
I put my pup on naturediet a couple of days after I got him, puppy version. He's since gone off it and wont touch it at all so I have started giving him the chicken ( adult) version ( hes now 6 months ). He went off this after a week but I have started to feed it warm and he now eats it with relish and is often looking for more :). I also give him AG lamb/rice which again is adult but is a dry food that he actually looks forward to eating - tried him on the puppy/junior but he wouldn't eat it!!!! Too many chicken flavour things in his life methinks :) I also put a few cooked carrots, peas or greens ( whichever we are having) on his food too

Treats wise, he has forpaws fruit cookies, greenies, fish4dogs sea biscuits,JWB minijacks.

He loves apple, frozen carrot and banana as treats too. Occassionaly he will have a hard boiled egg with the shell - hilarious watching him try and open it, usually have to help !!

Whoops :( they are called Healthy paws fruit cookies, they do them in peanut and oat too !

both you guys are life savers!! Thanks for so much information feels great to chat to fellow dog owners and get real life answers
instead of just reading books and website info!

ill try the apple and peas with relish in his food tonight see what happens!

re the treats i thought dogs can not eat peanuts?

Thanks

Gumi,
i've just re-read my post LOL  I'm so sorry but when I said 'relish ' I meant enthusiasm, gusto, excitement, greediness...and not relish like on hamburgers...Whoops!!!

I know they cannot eat peanuts either, but I presume they are crushed or something to go in the cookies - whole ones can cause choking as can grapes so don't feed them either

Healthy Paws are 100% natural and are certified holistic as is Naturediet.

Louis has had a dodgy tum for most of the time he's been with us, so I have always looked for things that won't cause upsets - anything he doesn't like or upsets his tum, we give to my daughters akita....she's most appreciative :) ( the dog, not the daughter...although probably her as well ;) )

Regards, Colleen

Hi

Hows the pup doing with the food, Mine is now eating and eating! Thank God!

She is having Natures Menu and loves it.

Also picking at biscuits

Hope your pup is now eating

Hi

Unfortunatley gizzy was taken to hospital friday as he went totally off his food, was vomitting continuously and screaming in pain
saturday he had a xray and they found something which is 2cm big in his intestines! They said it looks like a bone but we dont have bones in our garden or bins as we are vegetarian, gizzy was the only meat eater and that was dry puppy food. So we think it was a bit of wood or plastic or a clump of a plant who knows!
Saturday he had a operation :(  they could not get into his intestines as they said they were too small, so they have moved the object towards his back passage
hoping it will pass through! baring in mind this happned saturday afternoon.  Since then he as not been toilet once! They say his stiches are healing well and he is today active but still has not passed anything even normal toilet through! he is constipated now with this object inside him......So we are all in a bad state of mind on top
of missing our puppy like mad we dont know what the hospital has in store for him now.....   

there goes the new food diet.... well atleast we know why he went of his food he was so ill poor thing...   :(

Oh  you poor things. Sending lots of love and thoughts your way and hope gizzy makes a speedy recovery. Hes in safe hands and they will sort out his constipation and any other problems that surface if needs be.

Try not to worry too much - easier said than done I know :)

Best wishes, Colleen

Oh i am so sorry. Hope he gets better soon

From me and all the dogs xxxxx

Poor little Gizzy :(
That is awfull for you all. I hope he's better soon, it's horrible having to leave him at the vets, but he is in the best place for him at the moment. Poor little might, I feel really sad for him :(

Best wishes to you all and Gizzy x x

Aw bless i hope gizzy gets well soon xx

Donnax
(and my boysxx)

Hello
Just to let you all know gizzy is recovering fine at home now :)

Although he is being fussy with food but im sure that will soon go

Thanks for the support

x