Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Puppy isn't eating his food

You've brought a new puppy home and he hasn't been eating his food.

First of all, make it a point to ask the person who you got your puppy from what food he ate. If you wish to switch diets, make it a point to do this slowly. Immediately changing what your puppy is used to can cause an upset stomach and even diarrhea.

I've switched his diet gently but he seems to hate his food... Maybe he hates me me too -.-. What will I do?

A trick I've used with both young and old dogs would be leaving the food with him for 5 to 10 minutes. If he isn't touching it, I'll pick it up, cover it and set it aside for an hour. There are dogs who like to eat small portions throughout the day rather than their entire meal. Others are simply spoiled and would rather wait for their masters to give up and give them what they want.


Let him wait (erm, not too long!). It may sound harsh but waiting will make him hungry or stimulate his appetite. It will also let him realize that his stubbornness or spoiled behavior will not be tolerated. Some dogs are smart enough to be able to guage their master's patience.
Note: Most puppies don't readily adjust to their new homes. It shouldn't be a surprise if he's not eating well for the first couple of days. Excitement, anxiety, and stress can be an attributed factor.

If you've decided to use dry food and he doesn't seem interested. Wet it with a little warm water to promote the smell and soften it.

There's a difference between not eating and loss of appetite. If you feel something's off about Fido, take him to the vet. Second guessing is never a good option.

No comments:

Post a Comment

We've turned of word verification of temporarily, but we've limited comments to registered users.

Huggies and Cheese, CEO Chooey