Feeding a Puppy That Can't Eat Dry Food Yet

By

Jamzimm1987

I work at a pet store and have found that the more you give them soft food, the more they won't eat dry food! Sometimes you have to stand your ground and insist. You can try wetting the hard food a little bit, but not much. I agree with latrtatr, he should have been started on dry food while still at the breeders. I don't recommend feeding wet food constantly because it's not food for their teeth. Dry food helps to remove plaque from teeth. I recently got a Yorkie puppy and I gave him some canned food at first and then after he didn't care to eat the dry food, but I just stood my ground and now that's all he eats. If your puppy goes more than 2 days without eating, I would talk to a veterinarian. Sometime else to try is mixing a tablespoon of cottage cheese in with the food. Be sure to mix it very well because that will encourage them to eat more dry food. In most cases, however, sometimes a puppy won't eat for a day or so, but eventually they get hungry enough and give in!

By

pedronash1

Dear Pam,
We always fed our puppies Weetbix. Now I am Australian, but you'd have to have a similar version in the US. It's a wheat breakfast cereal. Just add a little hot water on the wheat cereal then some milk and mush it up until soft. Hope this helps. Good luck.

By

latrtatr

At 8 weeks old he should be weaned from his mother. He also should have been on dry food for the last couple of weeks. Do the current owners have an explanation why the puppies are not on their own food or is it just this one that won't eat? If it is a matter of won't or can't that is a huge difference. If he can't eat choose another puppy! If he won't find out why before you take the puppy. They should have been feeding the litter softened dry puppy food then weaned them over to straight dry puppy food. The mother should wean them herself around 8 weeks. I hope this helped, I raised puppies for several years so I do know of what I speak, at least what I believe. Good Luck.

I need help. I don't know what to do with our new puppy. She isn't weaned. I need to know what to do.