Dog Community

Need suggestions for my picky puppy!

Posted : 1/5/2007 11:22:18 PM

Hello, this is my 1st post to the forum, but I've been lurking here for a couple of months. I've learned so much from this forum. I have a small breed puppy that doesn't seem to like any of the foods I've tried to feed her. I picked up some Royal Canin Mini 33 today, and she was actually semi-eager to eat it. Then I added a bit of canned food to it and she loved it. I've read Royal Canin it good for picky eaters. I've already tried Nutro Ultra, Natural Choice Puppy the Chicken & Rice, Artemis Fresh mix Small breed puppy, Natural Balance Premium, NB venision & Brown rice, NB Sweet Potato & Duck, California Natural Chicken & Rice Puppy, Canidae chicken & Rice ALS. She actually did eat the Canidae and the NB Venision & Rice for 2 days then wouldn't eat it anymore. The rest of them she either smelled and walked away from, or

icked a couple up and carried them around and then dropped them and walked away. So, my questions are.
1) Should I just keep her on the Royal Canin and add the canned to it? or Go with a better dry food and still mix the canned in with it?
2) Which one's should I try? I was thinking about one of the NB one's but the proteins are kind of low compared to the others.

I'd love to be able to find her a food that I don't have to add canned to. Also, she's been to the vet and been given a clean bill of health. I've never had a puppy or dog this picky. Sorry so long. Thanks in advance.

Amber

jennie_c_d

Posted : 1/5/2007 11:31:07 PM

Welcome to i-dog! Since you've been lurking, I guess you know that we NEED pictures of your baby[

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How old is your puppy? How many foods have you tried? Why? All that switching around when she turns her nose up only teaches her that she might get something better next time.

If you don't want to add canned food, don't. Just give her the food, and pick it up after fifteen minutes. She will learn to eat.

Amber Henninger

Posted : 1/6/2007 12:04:05 AM

Hi, thanks for the reply. She's 12 weeks old. I've tried all the foods in my original post. I know that is alot of different foods. I started her out on the Canidae Chicken & Rice ALS. After a couple of days, she walked away from it and wouldn't eat it again. So then I tried the NB premium (my other dogs eat it) and she just smelled it and walked away. I put down the foods listed in my original post and she sniffed and walked away from all of them except the NB venison & Brown Rice. So I feed her that mixed with the Canidae for a couple days. She picked the NB and left the Canidae. But again after a couple days she turned away from the NB. I was worried that she might get sick if she didn't eat so I kept giving her different choices. I guess I shouldn't have done that.

How often should I try to feed her if she doesn't eat it the 1st time?

I've been trying to feed her every 3 to 4 hours. I feed my other dogs in the am and pm.

Thanks

jamcony

Posted : 1/6/2007 7:45:43 AM

Eventually your dog will eat the dry food out of necessity. However, since your dog "loved" the mixture of dry and canned, why are you against adding some canned to the dry food? Most dogs will eat just about anything with a little canned food added and once they have had it, it may take awhile to get them to only eat dry. There are many high quality dry foods available and only trial and error will eventually lead you to a dry food that your dog will enjoy. I always mix some canned, even a small amount into my dog's dry food (Nature's Logic). She gobbles it up and cleans her bowl.

Thalie

Posted : 1/6/2007 9:00:31 AM

Since you're feeding Natural Balance Premium to the others, you could try to give her that again and to grate a little bit of the rolls they make on top of the kibble to make it more attractive and if that works, wean her from the rolls over a couple of weeks. You could also try to soak the NB kibble with a little water before you give it to her.

As far as how often to try to get her to eat, you are doing fine with the 3 or 4 times a day. How long has the finicking been going on ? Does she absolutely not eat or picks up a little here and there ? Is she pooping OK ? Has she gained weight or not since it all started ?

I agree with what was said above about not switching foods that much. If she is in good health, chances are that she will end up eating what you give her.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 1/6/2007 11:14:42 AM

Also, how many treats are you feeding? It could be that she isn't very hungry.

Amber Henninger

Posted : 1/6/2007 4:24:21 PM

Thank you all for your help!!! When I feed her this morning she ate almost all the kibble eagerly, without any canned food in it. This afternoon she ate but just not as much. I guess I will continue to feed her the Royal Canin till she's done with the bag and then maybe switch to something like Chicken Soup for Puppy. I thinks it's alittle better then the Royal Canin and it's alot cheaper. I'd like to feed her the NB but I'm concerned about the protein % not being high enough for her.
I will add canned if I have to. I don't want to add it all the time, because I have 3 other dogs besides her and they only get canned fish every once in awhile. I feel like I am cheating them, if I spoil her.
She is gaining weight just fine and I haven't given her any treats yet. Fortunately for me she has had great poop throughout the food changes. Again thanks for the help.

Amber

Luvntzus

Posted : 1/6/2007 5:33:42 PM

Chicken Soup is a lot healthier, but I know the cat food is very bland and I'm almost positive I've heard other people say the same about the dog food kibble. Of course if you add canned to it then she'll probably eat it. That's what I would do personally. Canned is healthier than kibble anyway and she likes it. [

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What breed is your puppy? I wanna see pics! [

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Amber Henninger

Posted : 1/6/2007 6:30:38 PM

Hi, She's a Pekingese Poodle cross. Her name is Ginger. I'd post pictures, but I don't know how. Thanks you the reply and hopefully she'll like the Chicken Soup. I'm not gonna try to switch her now though.

Amber

Amber Henninger

Posted : 1/6/2007 7:12:30 PM

Here's the link to a picture of Ginger. I'm trying to learn how to post pictures directly on the message.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q218/ahenn_2007/DSC00957.jpg

bunni

Posted : 1/6/2007 7:36:56 PM

OMG she's adorable!

I've found with the little ones that as long as they are eating something they are usually eating enough. Normally I'd say that if a dog gets hungry enough they will eat but with these tiny ones that's too big a chance to take as not eating can quickly lead to hypoglycemia which can be life threatening (and cost a fortune).

We had some samples of Royal Canin that my husband brought home so I tried it. The dogs loved it but the next day the puppy yard looked as though a herd of elephants had been there. I've never seen so much poop from any food!

jenns

Posted : 1/6/2007 7:56:26 PM

ORIGINAL: bunni

The dogs loved it but the next day the puppy yard looked as though a herd of elephants had been there. I've never seen so much poop from any food!

[sm=rotfl.gif]

Luvntzus

Posted : 1/6/2007 8:46:44 PM

Awww, she's adorable!