hi i have a 16 week old JRT puppy, whom i feel is very thin weighs 2.2kg
I have taken her to the vets and they say persevere with good quality puppy food.

I feed her quality expensive puppy meat 3 times a day with boiled chicken  breast and i soak some dry mix (james well loved puppy mix) into the food.I heat it up to release the  flavours i also remove food after 2o mins, has she doesn't eat it all or sometimes don't eat it at all. I've noticed she doesn't really eat anything until evening, which i am concerned about has she should be eating 3 times a day.
I put small quantities down at a time and all she does is eat the chicken, i've tried her meals without chicken but she won.t eat then.

She has gone over 24 hrs without eating her meal, as soon as chicken is added she will eat it. She doesn't like cheese, fish, eggs or raw chicken wings.
I will let her have a pigs ear or tripe stick and other puppy bones as a treat on the evenings, which she loves.

I understand some puppies take longer to grow than others but i just wished she would eat more, she is  wormed with panacur and frontline for flea's every month, she doesn't suffer from upset stomach. Her ribs stick out and she sleeps alot but the vet doesn't seem concerned.

Any ides's on what your  puppies loved, titbits, meals or anything you feel that will naturally put some weight on her a little faster would be appreciated.

> I will let her have a pigs ear or tripe stick and other puppy bones as a treat on the evenings, which she loves.

Personally, I would cut out all treats (apart from very small treats for training), it may be that she is simply holding out for the tasty treats she knows she'll be getting.

As above ;)

Also things like pig's ears can be very fatty/greasy and this could be difficult for a young pup to digest, meaning that she still wouldn't want food quite some time later.

One thought, how much food are you giving at each meal?  How big is a small meal?  If you think about it, a pup's stomach is roughly the same size as its brain, so you can use that (try to imagine ;) ) as a guide to how much a pup can eat comfortably ;)

If you are following the directions on the JWB bag then adding stuff on top, then it could be that she is having too much all at once.  I am still feeding 4 meals a day (yes FOUR meals) to my Bedlington pup at 6 months.  She is doing well on this and growing nicely.

Which variety of the puppy food are you feeding?  If it's the Lamb, the pieces may be too big for her if she's a very small pup, the Turkey variety has much smaller pieces ;)  You could also try her with a few bits dry to see if she'd prefer to crunch her food.  That way you'd be getting more calories into her but she'd feel as if she was eating less ;)

Personally, if a pup of mine was on meat and not putting weight on, I'd try the pup on dry food alone, as the pup could then eat less in volume but still get enough calories to grow ;)

Hope this helps

Hi,

Sorry you are having problems with your pup. It is so worrying when they go through a stage like this. I have never experienced fussiness in males, only in females. It's ironic that your pup is a female too.

Sometimes this can go around and around in a vicious circle. The pup may miss a meal because he/she isnt hungry, so you give something tastier as you worry about them missing a meal and soon the pup gets to realise this and will hold out for the tastier food, in your case pigs ears, tripe sticks and puppy bones and fresh boiled chicken breast.

My girl went through a fussy stage like this as a pup and it drove me mad as I was convinced something was wrong, but after she had been given a clean bill of health by the vet,not once but several times it was a matter of being really strict with her food and not giving treats and persevering. It only took a few days of her picking at her food until she realised that if she didnt eat it, there would be nothing tastier to follow and I would let her watch me throw her food in the bin after she walked away from it. Its so easy to give off worrying vibes to the dog when you don't see them eat and they can pick up on that and it is so easy to try and coax them to eat too: a combination which can lead to making the pup feel that mealtimes are stressful. I found that turning my back on my girl and pretending to potter on with stuff in the kitchen worked wonders. I would watch her discreetly and would see her glancing up at me from time to time, but I would take no notice and because there was no attention and nothing tastier coming she would start to eat her food. She will still go through phases now and again when she tries to go back to her fussy stage, moreso when she is in season or has just finished her season and I do find it extremely hard to be tough on her and I will admit I do lapse now and again especially if I know she is feeling a bit yukky with her season, but as soon as she is through it and she has been checked by a vet ( I worry about pyometra after seasons, so if she is being fussy after a season has finished, I have her checked out just in case) I will be firm with her and it does work. But as I said it is a case of persevering. I have to say I do find it unusual for a dog not to like cheese, fish or eggs. My three will have cheese, fish, eggs or fruit occasionally as a natural treat through the week instead of manufactured dog treats and they will all wolf it down. I think boiled chicken is your pups favourite food and she is just being a diva knowing how to play you. I am sure if the vet has said she is fine and you are a bit tougher on her and ignore her when you put her bowl down and are consistent on each meal doing the same thing, she will soon realise and will start eating what you put down for her. It is hard, but it will work. Let us know how you get on.

Edited to say most dogs love Natures Menu. You could try her on this. Most pet shops or Pets at Home stock it. The Puppy one is in a pink foiled package. I think they are about 72p or 78p. They only do one flavour for the Puppy and it is a complete meal that has been cooked in the packaging. I have found the people at Natures: Menu very good and when I have called them before now to discuss their range of foods they have sent me some free samples.

She won't  eat the dry mix on its own that is why i have to soak it in water.
She is on wainwright puppy meat and i measure the quantity according to packet but is less has i also have to take into consideration the mix and small amount of chicken as well.

I am very precise with the measurements, her amounts are very small at each serving, but like i said she rarely eats in the day only at night. I can't force feed her. She has treat on the evening cause i know she isn't eating enough food.

I am taking her back to the vets tomorrow, she has been lethargic today, shaking a little and not eaten anything, so i am very worried about her. I think her sugar levels must be low which is why she is shaking, sh is not vomiting and has been to the loo so i don't think she has a blockage and she doesn't have a temperture, i have surginged some replacement fluids down her until i get her to the vets.

Gosh I am sorry to hear that she hasnt been well today. When she goes to toilet what are her stools like? Have you a thermometer so you can check her temperature?

If you're still online, give  her some glucose water asap - 1 heaped TABLEspoon of glucose powder in a pint of warm water, give it by the teaspoon, little and often, until she perks up.  If you haven't got glucose, sugar will do, but could make her a bit loose.   Check her gums, if they're pale, it can be a sign of low blood sugar ;)

Hope the vet gives her the all clear

I find all of my dogs - including the pup - LOVE raw green tripe   It's great for putting weight on too, and the frozen minced tripe mixes easily with puppy biscuits (defrosted of course)   I prefer to buy that to buying ready-made sachets or tins of wet food.

If your pup likes tripe sticks then she'll love the raw stuff!   I buy it in the local petshop, but they also sell it in PAH ;) 

I second the green tripe.  Our pup, although eager to eat, was always so skinny.  Since feeding her the tripe her body has changed dramtically, her weight has increased, lots more muscle tone and just so much healthier looking.  It smells foul to us, but yummy to them so it may just kick start her interest in food.

It also helps their digestion, it has enzymes which promote digestion in it - that's why it's fed RAW!  and it stinks for days if you cook it anyway ;)

Hope pup is OK

Thanks for all your comments, she is at  the vets, putting her on a drip and doing some tests, temp was too low and she is dehydrated.
I have to phone later to see how she is, my stomach is in knots at the moment, i have got raw green tripe, i buy it from pets at home i use it to mix in with my other JRT meals, again she had it once loved it then wouldn't eat it again, but i don't feed it raw, i will feed it raw next time.

I'm not really happy with th vets because i've been taking her to and from about her weight and i'm fed up of them just telling me to perservere and now she is weak they have to do this.
If they had acted sooner my poor Lulu wouldn't be in this state. I'll keep you all informed.
Thanks Linz.

Lulu is back from the vets, she will be going back tomorrow to put her on the drip for another day.
She is eating gave her a little A/ D Hills from vets with Royal canin. Vet said she has a virus and cause she is small not able to shake it off on her own.

Still saying perservere with puppy food. Well i know she likes royal canin puppy dry mix so try her on that over next few days with Hills meat.

Lulu on antibiotics been on drip eating first 2 days, now not eating much today and sleeply.
Had blood tests they were fine and temp back to normal. I'm hoping this virus she has caught is just making her still feel unwell, i'm going to ring the vets and see what they say, i'm tempted to give her some puppystim as a boost but it is for newborn puppies, i'll ask vets.
Getting desperate with her just wished she would eat, as anyone had to suringe feed their puppies before cause the way she is going that will be  next otherwise she will be back on a drip. I'm so upset, i'm petrifed i'll loss her else.

Sorry, I've no advice to offer. I just want to wish you and puppy lots of luck. I hope she picks back up soon.
Keep us updated on her progress.
Best of luck.
x

Try some of the tinned recovery diet from the vet with a little home made chicken stock to water it down and you can sringe it down then. She will get fluid and food at the same time.
Hope she picks up soon.
Aileen.

i spoke to the vet this am, she said it will be ok to give her puppystim, can't believe it after about 3 hours was hungry and running around.
She has eaten a lot this afternoon, now having a sleep. I am going to buy some Dyne which is a high calorie dog supplement for dog recovering from illness or dogs that don't eat much, prefect in my case. Trying to find a UK supplier.

Dyne® High calorie liquid diet and dietary supplement.
150 calories per ounce in a palatable, easy-to-administer formula.
Can be fed orally with a syringe or dropper or added to drinking water.
Aids in nutrition for pregnant and lactating bitches.
Provides high quality calorie intake for animals recovering from debilitating illnesses.
Extra nutrition for runt puppies.
Increases stamina for peak performance.

Each ounce of Dyne high calorie liquid diet
Has anyone used this and if so does anyone know of a UK supplier.

i have purchased dyne, from a breeder, trainer.
He was so helpul advised me on what he felt was best to feed her, this product is fantasic it really picks up your dog if they are feeling unwell, also gave her an appetite, it gains weight on them fast as  well, which is what i need.
They sell everything site is www.premarket.co.uk

So pleased to hear she is doing well.

Thanks Alison she looks like a different puppy today, as been eating more and been playing a little with my 1 yr old dog. She was sunbathing in the garden for an hour today.
Having a lovely nap on my lap now.

Glad she is getting better. My pup is very fussy with food, a bit like yours. Some days he eats it and other days he looks at it with disgust. I add chicken to it and he wolfs it down, but I dont want to make him a fussy lap dog. He also likes me to hold his bowl for him which makes him eat it better but again I am giving into his demands because I dont want him to starve. I keep telling myself that I am going to be tough with him and stop pandering to him, but it is very difficult when they are so small and you worry about them. But I am going to try and stop him being a mummies boy lol. And for me not to worry so much.
Good luck with yours
Donna x

Our 9 week old puppy female is going through the same, she is fine in herself, but sniffs the bowl and walks away, 2 of her litter mates went to their new homes yesterday, could this be the reason? although 1 male is still here, he is eating like a horse, bless him, it is so frustrating, she was always a chunky monkey, and now looks quite skinny. arghhhh! think i'll see the vet later just get her checked out, she was wormed 2 days ago.

> she was wormed 2 days ago.

I have found that their appetite is often affected negatively when they are wormed.

Yes your right, seen the vet she cannot find anything wrong, no obstruction in the tummy, no temperature etc, put her on synulux, and Hills ID food, hopefully tomorrow she will pick up, she is usually crazy.

I know it is horrible when they won't eat much. I've had problems with Lulu eating from when i got her at 8 weeks, everyone said persevere but it wasn't working. She would only eat chicken at one point. So when she caught a virus her little body couldn't mend on its own.

Since i have been giving her extra supplements (Dyne and Nutrical) she is full of life and eating puppy meat (James Wellbeloved) and she loves Royal Canin puppy mix i still add a small amount of boiled chicken and  have to warm her meals up, she isn't keen on them cold. But at least she is eating 4 times a day, lucky if i could get het to eat 2 meals a day before. I am going to get her weighed every fortnight, she only weighs 2.6kg and she is 18weeks old Tuesday.

This Dyne is great it puts weight on them fast, gives them an appetite and ideal for dogs recovering from illness or dogs than simply don't eat enough. So until she is at her ideal weight and still eating her meals i will keep using it.

Well she is eating better now, not as much as i would like but its a start, hopefully she can get through 3 meals today and i will be happy then, although her litter brother leaves on Sunday so this could set her back? hopefully not, will have to fuss her more then.