8 Wks Puppy not eating much...help
Im new to this site, and im got my Charlie last friday. He is a very nice pup. However, he is awfully thin and he is not eating much. well, at least not eating the recommended amount Orijen recommended. Im feeding him Orijen Large Breed Puppy, and i tried put rice and chicken broth into the food to soften the kibbles. However, he still only eat a couple mouth full. He is 8 weeks and only 9.3lbs, and i can feel every bone in his body. Is there any way that i can make him eat more? Thanks in advance for any tips and advice. |
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| Congrats on your new puppy and welcome to the forum! You will find wonderful things here! I just joined in December, and I can tell you it is so helpful here! Did you get him from a breeder? Was he eating this same exact food from where he came from or have you just decided to feed him this? Are you feeding him 3 meals or more a day? A little each time? Have you brought him for a check-up at your vet yet? Make sure to bring a stool sample for worm testing when you go. Puppies always have that thin feel to them.... even my moose who was 20 lbs at 8 weeks. He is new to your family and adjusting, so there are a lot of changes going on. |
| he is from a breeder. and no, im not feeding him the same food as the breeder, since the vet prefer the idea of orijen. He did have some loose stool when he first arrived, its all normal now, but i am sending in some stool for test. hopefully it comes back all good. i am feeding him 4 meals a day, 1/2 cup each time. but he never finishes his food. |
| Well, the rule of thumb I was always told was to feed the exact same food as the puppy was getting from the breeder and then slowly mix the new food and the old food together, so you can gradually get away from the old food. I, personally, think that you made a sudden change (not only environmental with a new home, but, also food) I believe you need to make changes with puppies very slowly and I think if you are concerned he isn't eating enough, then you should get some of that original puppy food and give him a little with the new food. I am surprised that the vet just had you make a sudden switch like that and not do it gradually. I think 2.5 cups a day of food seems a bit high for a small guy at 8 weeks so maybe that is why he isn't finishing his food. |
| Definitely you should put the puppy back on whatever the breeder was feeding it. Vets rarely recommend foods for the right reasons sadly.... and even if orijen is a better food than what the pup was eating doesn't mean it's a better food for that puppy. If you insist on switching foods it should be done very slowly over a period of several weeks and not right away, maybe keep the pup on the other food for a month or so before you switch. Congrats on your pup  |
| I go with the above suggestions: 1. Your vet is an ***.....never change a pup that quickly. Go with what the pup was eating and gradually change. 2. New environment, your pup is uncertain. 1 and 2 go together. Pup remembers his food from "home" and is comforted in this strange new environment. Change over to new food takes a couple of weeks, same time as getting comfortable in the new pack. Congratulations on the new pup. Oh, a do get that stool sample to the vet, there could be some unwelcome guests in the bowel. |
| thanks a lot for all the info.. im ganna put him back on his old food, and hopefully it works. |
| Noooo, don't go back completely! You missed the point. Gradual food changes. Incorporate some of the old stuff, maybe the smell and taste will help. Unless it's been less than a week, totally changing again will further confuse him. Puppy tummies are very tender, resist change. The protein sources change, carb content, fat content, etc. It takes awhile for a total bioflora/fauna in the gut to accomodate the new stuff. Some never quite make it resulting in senstive tummy dogs. Your pup is still young, but shortly will be the teeth change when hard food may hurt. Finally, you may just have a "Paige". Paige was my Pyr who for her entire life was difficult to feed. Her breeder sent her to me with "good luck on getting her to eat." Boy, she was right! What a change from trying to take weight off dogs to trying to put it on. |
| Hi sheepieboss. i know what u menat. i wasnt going to go back 100% more like 20-80...haha but still thanks tho.. i hope hes not a paige...my friend has a shiba inu only eat ziwipeak...man, that food is expensive! |
| and I complained about Paige and her mackerel!! Hope this is just a phase......... |
| Hi I got my pup in Dec at 8 weeks old and she weighed 10 lbs and was very healthly so I don't think you should worry about his weight. Once the puppy has adjusted, you will see him grow overnight...no kidding. |
| Thanks Nancy, Charlie has been growing a lot! Have a nice weekend. |
| Sounds like Charlie is coming around. It takes time for them to adjust. There will be phases where they don't want to eat. Don't panic. Sometimes it is the teeth falling stage and they hurt......tho that is often shows as excessive chewing. Sometimes they just have a down day and prefer an empty tummy for awhile, fine but concerning if it continues. So enjoy your pup and realize they aren't machines, they are "little four pawed people" in that they have feelings, moods, etc and will do things that concern you. Unfortunately they can't tell us what is wrong with them. I assume you are taking many pictures during this amazing growth period. (hint, hint) |
| Haha, yes pics, I tried to upload but it didn't work. Does it have to be hyperlink? |
| When I got my girls at 8 weeks, Tonks was about 10 pounds and Luna was a tiny 6 pounds. I think your Charlie's weight is fine. Just you wait until he starts doubling in size every week- you'll wonder where your 10 pound puppy went! |
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