Any tips on getting pup to eat?

[KrystynaM]

Hello.

This seems to be an ongoing issue for me, and I am not certain if I am "overreacting" or not.
Nubz is 9 weeks old on Dec.12. I've had him for just under 2wks.
We've battled a health prob (coccidia) and diarrhea which resulted in him going on a chicken and rice diet.
I feed Oven Baked Tradition puppy formula.

Never once has he eaten close to the amount suggested on the bag.

Same with anything else, never near close to the amount suggested.

I don't know what to do to make it more tempting for him.
I've tried making a gravy, and pouring it on the kibble, it works "sometimes".

I really don't want to try to change the food again (its been changed from what he was on before I got him, did that slow but ended up going to chicken and rice, then slow from that onto the food I want him on).

So any tips on making food more appealing? I do have a schedule, and am attempting 3 meals a day.

Will he eat when he needs to? Or will he do damage/starve himself?

He is so skinny, but he is growing....he gained a lb in a week..... but I can see all his ribs, his hipbones.....etc.

We saw the vet on Dec. 1 and are back on the 20th for followup and second set of shots, but will go sooner if needed. Hopefully not.

Thanks, Chris

[gmacleod]

I'd suggest feeding more often than 3 times a day for a 9 week old pup. Four times at minimum, and you might throw in a snack or two as well. Little puppies (and 9 weeks IS still little) have little tummies, and there's only so much they can eat at a sitting. In addition, like all infants, they don't regulate their blood sugar too well if they go too long between meals, so you can actually risk hypoglycaemia if the gaps between meals is too large.

By about 12-15 weeks, 3 meals a day would probably be sufficient - and that could be cut to 2 by about 5-6 months if it suits you to do so. But for the short term, he's a bit young IMO and needs more frequent feeding than that.

Having said that, the fact that he doesn't eat as much as indicated on the bag isn't that big a concern (unless its vastly less). The guideline is only a guideline, after all, and many food manufacturers seem rather "generous" with their portions for baby pups.

Even so, you might want to consider adding some good healthy real food to his diet. That's a good thing even if he were eating his full allocation of kibble. Godo things for him to have include lean meat, the occassional egg, oily fish such as sardines or mackeral (not tuna), and perhaps a little cheese or cottage cheese. No junk here; just good healthy food that would be a welcome addition to the diet.

As far as the kibble goes, as long as its not preserved with citric acid (check the packaging, it will tell you) then you might consider wetting it with a little water before feeding. Some pups aren't too thrilled by dry kibble, but find it somewhat more palatable when moistened prior to feeding.

[KrystynaM]

Thanks so much for the input.

I will try more frequent meals, though I admit I don't hold alot of faith in it. I have difficulties getting him to eat meals 4-5hrs apart, so I don't know if he will touch it. But it can't hurt to try I will try every 2.5hrs tomorrow and see how it goes.

The ONLY thing I can continuously get him to eat is the canned Wellness 95% meat meant for supplemental feeding. I mix it with water and use it as a broth for his kibble and occasionally it will work.

I do feed things such as chicken or beef ( he just came off of a chicken and rice diet for diarrhea ), it just adds up quite fast in the money department.

I didn't know about eggs or sardines, I will try those.

I have no problems with the work, in fact I just want him to fill out.....he looks emaciated to me, but the vet said he was ok. We are due back at the vet on the 20th but I may sneak in for a weight sooner.

He was born Oct.10th. His weights are as follows:
Nov.23 6.2lbs (6.5wks old)
Dec.1 8.6lbs (7.5wks)
Dec.8 9.6lbs( 8.5wks)

One thing I found out tonight:

He seems to like eating at night better..... I offered some food about 3hrs after dinner, and he ate. The only issue is I've read that I shouldn't feed him before bedtime, but that's what I have done. (this is the second time I tried it, and both times he ate).

Is there harm of feeding him at 8-9pm when he goes to bed at 9:30pm?