Need some puppy feeding help, please!

elliemonster2012

Dexter is 6.5 months and had been eating his food pretty well!

He came down with a bit of a virus, was put on some GI antibiotics and a chicken/rice diet.  Now he is so anti his kibble!  I've thought about switching up what we feed, thinking maybe he just doesn't like it, but when he does eat, he gobbles it up and seemed to love it before he got sick.

I've always moistened it with some water and have started mixing a tablespoon of wet food in with it to try to make it appealing, but no go!

He will eat it out of my hand and don't get me wrong, I love bonding with him like that, but the extra 20 minutes that is taking in the morning is taking a toll on my appearance for work hahaha.

 

Any advice for me?  I was going to maybe even start trying random puppy friendly human food, but he has a pretty sensitive stomach we have found out the hard way and want to try to keep him structured with eating.

 

TIA!

doglove

What is he currently eating?

cjspencer35

I wouldn't start feeding people food for sure.  My dog is kind of finicky too, but once she got a taste for people food, sometimes I swear she is holding out for it now.  Sometimes she will go a day, maybe close to 2 without eating, but she looks healthy and she eats when she gets hungry.

If you're worried about it, if anything I would just mix a little of the rice combo he's used to with his new food until he gets used to it. Slowly take the rice away.  Another thing that helps to get my doggie to eat, is treats.  For some reason, it stimulates her appetite or just reminds her she's hungry or something.  She doesn't get them very often though.  I feed her twice a day usually, but if she goes through one of her spells there is always food in her bowl so she can eat when she decides she's ready.  Being yours is still a pup and growing, I would keep a close eye.  Going more than a day or two probably isn't good for him. 

SparrowGreen

You're not free feeding, right?  How long has he been not eating?  I might try a day or two of rigorously enforced feeding times (bowl goes down for 10 minutes twice a day and then gets taken back up whether he eats or not) to see if that gets him back on track. 

elliemonster2012

doglove:

What is he currently eating?

 

Wellness Just for Puppy Super 5 mix

elliemonster2012

cjspencer35:

I wouldn't start feeding people food for sure.  My dog is kind of finicky too, but once she got a taste for people food, sometimes I swear she is holding out for it now.  Sometimes she will go a day, maybe close to 2 without eating, but she looks healthy and she eats when she gets hungry.

If you're worried about it, if anything I would just mix a little of the rice combo he's used to with his new food until he gets used to it. Slowly take the rice away.  Another thing that helps to get my doggie to eat, is treats.  For some reason, it stimulates her appetite or just reminds her she's hungry or something.  She doesn't get them very often though.  I feed her twice a day usually, but if she goes through one of her spells there is always food in her bowl so she can eat when she decides she's ready.  Being yours is still a pup and growing, I would keep a close eye.  Going more than a day or two probably isn't good for him. 

 

I'll try the treat thing, thanks! That is a really good idea.

elliemonster2012

SparrowGreen:

You're not free feeding, right?  How long has he been not eating?  I might try a day or two of rigorously enforced feeding times (bowl goes down for 10 minutes twice a day and then gets taken back up whether he eats or not) to see if that gets him back on track. 

 

Nope...we keep him in the kitchen and feed twice a day...it usually takes him about 30 minutes of walking back and forth to finish his bowl...we've been doing a cup each feeding.

I've heard that, as well...to leave it for x amount of time and if he eats, he eats.  He will figure it out.

 

So maybe I'll go for the treat first, then 10 min food attack route.  Wish me luck!  Thanks ladies!

LuckyAngel07

Two words: Tough Love.

Dogs won't starve themselves. If they know holding out gets them something better, they'll keep holding out in the hopes you cave first and give them something nummy.

I know the concept is a little different, but Tough Love is the way of life when getting a dog to eat raw for the first time (or transitioning). Some people that I spoke with had dogs that literally held out for days. You can't coax and tempt the dog to eat something, or else you'll always have to go that extra mile. Believe me, he'll eat when he's hungry enough and he'll learn he's either got to take what he's given or go hungry.

It's a little different when the dog is sick, obviously. But if he's back in good health now, I'd think you're just seeing residual "special treatment" hopefulness. Give it a bit. If he starts losing weight or has other issues, then I'd look into things more closely.

cjspencer35

Yes, PP, basically what I was getting at too!  It is kind of tough love.  My girl has always been on the skinny end of healthy so it's hard to not throw her extra junk... but eating less dog food is better for her than eating any people food, generally.