LoveToKnow Dogs:Custom Feeding Dogs Advice

From LoveToKnow Dogs

Past Questions

Question: My eight-year-old Fox Terrier mix loves peanut butter, but I was wondering if it's okay for him to eat? If so, how much is too much? - Posted by: libz_g@hotmail.com
Answer: Hi Libby,

Yes, it's fine to let your dog have some peanut butter as a treat now and then. The only problem I could forsee with it is that peanut butter has a relatively high fat content. Feeding too much could loosen the stools. You would also run the risk of spoiling your for more balanced food. My suggestion would be to treat him to a tablespoon of peanut butter once or twice a week and stick to a regular diet the rest of the time. This way your dog will have the best of both worlds, nutritionally speaking.

Thanks for your question. :) - posted by:Kelly

Question: Hi, I have two dogs. Both are mixed and I have no idea what breed they could be. My dogs only eat meat and bones, and I'm trying to get them to eat regular dog food out of a bowl, but they refuse to and act scared. How can I get them to eat a healthier diet? Thank you for your time. - Posted by: onimusha888@hotmail.com
Answer: Hi Tony,

I'm glad you're interested in putting your dogs on a healthier diet. Although meat and bones do provide some nutrition, they don't amount to balanced canine nutrition.

Changing your dogs' diet will have to be done gradually so you don't upset their digestive systems or their feelings. I recommend you cut back severly on the bones to begin with, and mix a small amount of high quality soaked kibble in with the meat. If you can soak the kibble in the meat broth, that will make it more appetizing for your dogs. Once they are willing to eat this mix, you can begin to gradually cut back on the meat and increase the amount of kibble. If they seem to be eating the kibble well by this point, you can begin soaking it less so your dogs' teeth can benefit from the crunchier texture.

Please realize that you don't need to completely cut fresh meat out of your dogs' diet. It's alright to feed a mix of kibble and fresh foods.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the transition goes smoothly. :) - posted by:Kelly

Question: Please, can you help me? I have a 18-month-old Yorkie that weighs about 4.3 kg. How much food should she get per meal? I buy Butchers Dog food in small tins; each contains 150 grams. Should she having one or two tins because she also has biscuits in the evening. I cannot stand fat dogs, and with her being small, it is hard to tell. Hope that makes sense and you can help me and Keira. Thank you, S. Bentley - Posted by: sylvia.bentley2@btinternet.com
Answer: Hello,

If I've done my calculations right a 4.3 kg dog weighs about 9.5 pounds. Yorkies ideally range from 4 to 7 pounds, so it would seem your dog might be a little overweight, but that would depend on her frame size. Does she seem to have a lot of padding over her rib cage? Can you detect a roll of fat over her shoulders? Does she have a pot belly? If the answers to these questions are no, your dog is probably at a good weight for her framework. However, if you answered yes, you might need to cut back slightly on her food intake and increase her exercise with short daily walks.

Ideally, a dog that should weigh no more than 7 pounds should only have about 3/4 to 1 cup of dry kibble per day. This would translate to no more than 1 1/2 cups of canned food. Metrically speaking, were talking about 225 grams dried kibble or about 340 grams of canned wet food.

If your dog does indeed feel overweight, I'd recommend you feed about 1 1/2 tins once a day rather than 2. If need be, you can cut back to one tin, especially considering you also feed her biscuits at night. The idea is to find a balance that helps your dog maintain a healthy weight. You'll probably have to experiment a little until you determine the correct amounts.

Thanks for your question, and good luck! - posted by:Kelly

Question: I have a six-month-old Mastiff female, and I think she is underweight. I can see her all of her ribs. I have fed her different kinds of food (homecooked as well as off-the-shelf foods), but they didn't work. Please advise what's the best food to give her so that she puts on weight. - Posted by: sandhu4u@gmail.com
Answer: Hi Garry,

There are many reasons why a dog may have difficulty maintaining a healthy weight, and I think your dog's condition may involve several factors. Let's try to take them one at a time.

First, as a six-month-old puppy, your pet's activity level burns off far more calories than it will once she reaches adulthood. My advice is to choose a large puppy formula, rather than a standard puppy formula. Although I haven't used the brand myself, you may want to investigate Orijen Dog Food. I do like the fact that most of their ingredients are organic. I would also allow your dog to eat as much as she wants until she puts on a little more weight. Of course, she's going to go through growth spurts that will leave her looking thin at times, but a good diet will help her weight catch back up to where it should be.

With the food issue addressed, let's move on to medical issues that can interfere with maintaining a healthy weight. Thyroid disease is one issue that alters a dog's metabolism, although at your dog's young age, I doubt this would be the problem. However, intestinal worms are very common, and could be robbing your dog of her nutrition. If you haven't had a stool check done recently, I would take a sample in to the vet as soon as possible. If this is a case of worms, eliminating them will help your pet regain proper weight.

Hopefully, these suggestions will lead to a solution for your dog's current weight dilemma. Thanks for sharing your situation, and I'm sure your puppy will be back on track very soon. - posted by:Kelly

Question: I'm trying to make a dog cookie for pets with cancer. How can I tell a grain-based flour from a non-grain based flour? Is buckwheat a non-grain based flour. I am looking for a nutritionist to help me develop a breakfast cookie. Thank you, Linda - Posted by: pezlyn@yahoo.com
Answer: Hi Linda,

This is a very interesting question. I'm not a nutritionist, but I did do a search for non-grain flours and found this list. As it turns out, buckwheat flour would be considered non-grain, so it should serve your purpose. As you'll see, you also have a number of other options you can experiment with.

As for finding a nutritionist to work with, your vet may be able to point you in the right direction. If that fails, check out the major universities nearest to you. Many have veterinary colleges, and you should be able to find a canine nutritionist this way.

Thanks for your question, and please let us know if you are successful in creating your recipe. I'd be interested to learn more. - posted by:Kelly

Question: Hello, my Lab, Schatz, is turning one-year-old on March 5, and I would love to bake a cake for him. Can I add Pedigree (meat and vegetables)into the cake? - Posted by: anisha.schatz@gmail.com
Answer: Hi Anish,

What a happy occasion. Yes, you actually can add your dog's favorite canned food into your birthday cake ingredients. As a matter of fact, we have a recipe for doing exactly that in our article on Dog Birthday Cakes.

You might also want to check out our other article on Dog Cakes. Here you'll find several recipes for cake-like treats your dog is bound to love. You'll also find advice about foods you shouldn't include in your ingredient list because they aren't good for dogs.

I hope your dog has a very happy birthday, and give him a hug from me. Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

Question: My Beagle is about eight-years-old, and she weighs 35 pounds now. She was up to 42 pounds. She is on a weight loss diet, and I'm wondering how much she should weigh. - Posted by: vick55@sbcglobal.net
Answer: Hi Ed,

Wow, that was a big girl. I'm glad you're taking steps to help her get healthy again. Being overweight can lead to problems with diabetes and arthritis, so I'm glad you're making such good progress with her.

Depending on whether she's a 13-inch or 15-inch Beagle she should weigh between 20 to 23 pounds. More than any designated weight, you should look for her to be back in proper proportions.

Thanks for your question, and keep up the good work! :) - posted by:Kelly

Question: Hello, I have an 11-month-old Golden Retriever that, just in the last week, is not eating and is acting very lethargic. After a few days of this unusual behavior, we took him to the vet and his physical exam was "unremarkable." They did some bloodwork for tick and valley fever(common to Arizona) which came back negative. The vet has no idea what is wrong and said to feed the dog whatever it will eat. He really has to be coaxed to eat anything. It's been a little over a week, and my dog has lost a noticeable amount of weight. I am very worried. - Posted by: jenkova@iwon.com
Answer: Hi Jennifer,

I'm so sorry to hear about what's happening to your Golden. It must also be a little scary to hear the vet say he has no idea what is wrong.

I'm not a vet, so I researched your dog's combination of symptoms in hopes of finding something your own vet could look into. Most of what I turned up was either related to some form of cancer, or zinc toxicosis from eating a penny. I'm not saying that your dog has either condition, but hopefully this will jump start your vet into looking for a new diagnosis.

I also suggest that if your vet doesn't seem willing to dig in and figure out the problem you should see a different vet. Sometimes a fresh set of eyes can do wonders for a case.

I absolutely recommend cooking something tempting for your dog to eat. Perhaps he'd like some boiled ground beef and rice? If you can get his digestive system working again, maybe his hunger will return.

You have my very best wishes for your dog's full recovery. If you do find out what's wrong, please come back and let us know. - posted by:Kelly

Question: hello, I have 8 yr old english lab that has had 2 mast cell tumors removed. Will changing her diet to Orijen dog food help her in her effort to recovery. Radiation was suggested, but to expensive for us. - Posted by: sherry_m6@yahoo.com
Answer: Hi Sherry,

I originally found your question at the Orijen Dog Food article and answered it there. :) - posted by:Kelly

Question: I was told that it isnt good to feed your dog cooked turkey or ham because it would cause stomach problems. Thank you, Lynn. - Posted by: lynn4877@yahoo.com
Answer: Hi Lynn,

Let me address these protein sources one at a time.

  • Turkey itself isn't such a problem. However, you should avoid feeding your dog turkey skin, which is very fatty. Too much fat can trigger a bout of pancreatitus.
  • Ham is very high in sodium and also contains a significant amount of fat, so it doesn't do your dog's heart any good. With so many other healthy protein sources available, it easy to avoid feeding ham at all.

As for those other protein sources, it's good to vary them so your dog receives rounded nutrition without getting bored with his food.

Thanks for your question. :) - posted by:Kelly

Question: My two-year-old Pomeranian stopped eating and was having shaking spells. When I took her to the vet, they did fluids and drew blood, and she has a bun of 73, but no other signs of kidney disease. An exploratory surgery and spay was done to see if she had pyometria, and there were some spots of pus, but nothing massive. Her bun is down to 37, but she's still not wanting to eat and occasionally having shaking spells. The vet and I are at a loss, any ideas? - Posted by: jolee15@comcast.net
Answer: Hi Cheryl,

You vet is certainly the expert in this situation, so I'm glad he's so involved. In my opinion, it's time to start coaxing your cat to eat again by providing alternative foods to her regular pet food. Some boiled chicken might just tempt her to eat a few bites. If she's willing to take more, let her have it. The important thing is to get her eating regularly which will stimulate her entire digestive tract back into action. It's currently sluggish from sitting still too long, and this is why she isn't having hunger pangs. I think once you can get her eating, the shaking spells, which are now probably due to her recovery and generally weakened condition, will begin to subside.

Also be sure to watch out for a post operative infection. Most vets will prescribe an antibiotic after surgery to head this off. If your cat becomes more lethargic or begins to refuse water, take her back to your vet straight away. Also watch for inflammation around her stitches.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the food suggestion will help your cat get her strength back. - posted by:Kelly

Question: WE HAVE A HAVANESE DOG WHO IS JUST OVER ONE YEAR OLD. HE HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT DOG TO FEED. AS A PUPPY HE WOULD NOT EAT KIBBLES WITHOUT TRIPE AND NOW I HAVE TRIED TO WEAN HIM OF THE TRIPE AND HE DOESN'T LIKE HIS KIBBLES. I HAVE TRIED OVER A HALF DOZEN TYPES, FROM EVO TO TRYING SAMPLES FROM THE VET. HE WILL ONLY EAT THE EVO KIBBLES IF WE HAND FEED HIM AND THEN I DON'T THINK HE IS GETTING ENOUGH. HE LOOKS SO SAD AND WE WANT TO BREAK DOWN AND FEED HIM PEOPLE FOOD, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP HIM ON KIBBLES. ARE HAVANESE KNOWN TO BE DIFFICULT IN THE FEEDING PROCESS OR IS OUR JUST SPOILED. WE DID MAKE THE MISTAKE OF TREATING HIM TO CHICKEN BREAST FOR A TREAT AND AS A TRAINING REWARD. HAS THIS CAUSED OUR PROBLEMS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. FRAN - Posted by: klyne4@shaw.ca
Answer: Hi Fran,

Yes, I'm afraid you did spoil your dog by feeding him tripe and chicken. There are a couple of different methods you can try to get your dog to eat.

First, if you have your heart set on feeding kibble, moisten it with no salt chicken broth and let it soften a bit before suerving it. This might be enough to tempt your dog to eat the kibble. I suggest you do not offer any other food, and simpley set the bowl on the floor. If your dog gets hungry enough, he will eat it. Just remember that any moist food will begin to grow bacteria in a couple of hours, so set a standard meal time and stick to it.

Second, you might consider cooking for your dog, just as you do for the rest of the family. For nutritional advice and to find a source for recipes, visit our articles:

Thanks for your suggestion, and I hope you find these suggestions helpful. - posted by:Kelly

Question: Dear Dogs Expert, Greetings & Good Day! I read this article at The Animal Advocate Web Site. Is it true, and if so, what are the "six breeds", as mentioned in this statement? "The 60 pound Labrador Retriever is one of six breeds that produce a skin oil. The 60 pound Collie does not produce any skin oil. These two breeds have different nutritional requirements for dietary fatty acids." Thanks, John B. - Posted by: LoveAndKindness@cfl.rr.com
Answer: Hi John,

I do not know for a fact that there are only six breeds that produce skin oil. I would ask Mr. Cusick to site his sources on that one. Some dogs produce less oil, some more. I would say the number of dogs that do produce skin oil is in the majority, not the minority. I base my opinion on years of grooming and showing various breeds, not hard scientific fact.

I do agree that there is no "one formula fits all" dog food, and that the quality of commercial dog food is questionable.

You should also keep in mind the Mr. Cusick is advertising books he'd like to sell, and the website is designed to create interest. My advice is to take some of the info with a grain of salt.

You'll find a number of dog nutrition articles in our Dog Supplies category.

Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

Question: What type of food should I feed my Labrador puppy? Thank you a ton! - Posted by: www.littlepuppy15@gmail.com
Answer: Hi Meg,

I don't like to recommend a particular brand of dog food because the 2007 dog food recall showed us we don't really know what's in the kibble, no matter what the label says.

That said, you should choose a kibble formulated for medium sized breeds. This will ensure your dog is getting the nutrition it needs to grow without putting on too much weight all at once. This could lead to joint problems later life, so you need to feed according to the directions.

I have done some reviews of several brands that do seem to offer healthier nutrition than you will likely find at the grocery store. Check out the following articles and see if one of these brands might be worth trying.

All three of these articles are about brands that strive to use natural ingredients, high quality protein sources and no chemical preservatives. This is my personal criteria now for any food I feed my dogs. You can only decide if a particular brand is right for your dog after you see the results of feeding it for a couple of months.

Thanks for your question, and good luck with your new puppy. - posted by:Kelly

Question: What is your opinion regarding the health of the Blue dog food? My puppy is very picky and she seems to like this brand, but I want her to have the best food possible. I looked at Karma, but did not see a puppy line. - Posted by: michelle.tinkham@sbcglobal.net
Answer: Hi Michelle,

I also couldn't locate a puppy formula for Karma, although it seems strange that they wouldn't have one. You may want to contact the company directly to make sure.

As for Blue, I wasn't familiar with it, so I went to their website to check it out. According to the ingredients label and the individual breakdown of the ingredients, Blue does look promising. I also found mention of a puppy formula on the website, although it wasn't well advertised.

What I liked the most when I read the label was the number of quality protein sources in the first line of ingredients. I could also not find any evidence of harmful preservatives. These are the two main things I look for right off the bat.

While I don't think it would hurt to give this brand a try, you will have to judge that for yourself. We found out with the last major [Recall on Dog Food|recall]] that our pets' food isn't always as healthy as the manufacturer would have us believe. If you do give the food a try for a couple of months, please come back and tell us what you think about it. It's always better to have an opinion based on actual usage of the product.

Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

Question: Hi, I have a three-year-old German Shepherd bitch that is in good health. I feed her a diet of Beta adult dry food twice daily at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. She's exercised well and is nicely toned! My concern is that occasionally she wakes me up around 5 a.m. heaving and is usually sick producing a yellowish bile. Once she's been sick she's fine and either goes back to sleep, or, if it's time, I feed her. She never appears ill and as soon as she has been sick she's her normal perky self. I've tried feeding her a light meal before bed but this makes no difference. I also used to give her a piece of well done toast before bed until I realised it was making her very loose. She has a typical "Shepherd" digestive system so I have to be careful about what I feed her, or she has the runs for days! I've always had German Shepherds and my previous dog had this same problem although I fed her a totally different diet. I'd appreciate your advice please, Thanks, Nicola. - Posted by: Nicolapike@hotmail.co.uk
Answer: Hi Nicola,

Many dogs throw up bile from time to time and some breeds seem to do it more than others. I raised Shih Tzus for years, and they did this occasionally.

Many vets recommend feeding a handful of kibble at bedtime to keep stomach acids from building up over night and nauseating your dog. I think it would be beneficial to try this and see if it remedies the problem.

That said, when a dog begins throwing up bile frequently, it can be a sign of liver problems. I don't think your dog's problem is this severe, but if the number of episodes increases, it might be good to run this problem by your vet to get his/her opinion. Your vet can run some simple tests to quickly rule this problem out or in.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this suggestion helps. - posted by:Kelly

Question: Hi, I have a 15-month-old Boston Terrier, and I have had problems with her diet. She eats way too fast and throws up often, not to mention she has very bad gas all the time. I have tried natural dog food for the past month and still no change. Any suggestions? She eats twice a day and tends to drink a lot of water. She also eats her poop often, even though we have tried the powders and pills to detour her from doing so. Any input would be great. Thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you. - Posted by: javacat1@hotmail.com
Answer: Hi Stacy,

I'm sorry to hear about your dog's problems.

I would have suggested the stool deterrent product, but since you've already tried it and didn't find it helpful we can skip that. What I'm going to recommend you do is go into hyper-drive on maintenance. Make sure the yard is clean before you take her outside, and from this point forward, be ready with the scooper as soon as she pottys. She can't eat what she can't get hold of.

We can do something about the gulping and resulting gas issue. You can dole her meals out in smaller portions instead of feeding her all at once. This will prevent her from swallowing so much air at one time. At least divide her meals into halves for now to see if it helps. If necessary, you can break it into thirds. Hopefully this will also address the vomiting issue.

Thanks for your questions, and I hope these suggestions help.

- posted by:Kelly
Question: Can a dog be allergic to chicken but not allergic to duck? - Posted by: slgiffin@comcast.net
Answer: Hi Shauna,

Yes, it is possible that a dog could be allergic to one type of fowl, but not another. Some food allergies develop after repeated exposure to a particular food source. Since duck isn't typically used in most commercial dog food brands because it is a more expensive protein source, it is often used in Hypoallergenic Dog Food because most canines have never been exposed to it.

If you have any conerns that your dog is also allergic to duck, you can have your vet test your pet for that particular allergy.

Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

Question: Hallo, I have two black Labrador Retreivers. The bitch was sterilized 16 months ago. She is overweight. We feed the dogs twice a day, 1 cup of Vet's Choice Dog food. The dog is in perfect condition. Both get the same type of exercise. I really want the bitch to loose weight. She jumped in a canal yesterday and could not jump out by herself. I had to pick her up. Is there a specific type of dog food (dry pellets) that you could recommend? She is two and a half years old. I look forward to your reply. Kind regards, Irma South Africa - Posted by: ischoltz@kleinkaroo.coom
Answer: Hello Irma,

Honestly, two cups of food a day isn't a lot for an active Lab, which leads me to believe that your bitch's weight may more likely be due to an undiagnosed medical condition.

I think the best thing to do is ask your vet to examine her. Tell him/her about how much and what type of food you're feeding her, and the kind of daily activitiy she has. My hunch is that the vet will want to test her thryroid or check for other glandular problems.

Thanks for your question, and please let us know what you find out. - posted by:Kelly

Question: I have a male Golden Retriever/Black Collie mix that is almost four months old. I am currently feeding him Purina Puppy Chow which is what they fed him at the pound. I want to switch to a higher quality dry food because he has been having diarrhea type stools for the past week. I feed him one cup of food three times a day. He is expected to get up to 80 pounds at maturity, so I want to feed him a large breed puppy food. What would you suggest? I've been looking at Eukanuba and Iams. Thanks! - Posted by: caitlinbolte@mac.com
Answer: Hi Caitlin,

You're right to search for a large breed puppy food for your pet. Large breeds go through rapid development at certain stages of their growth, and large breed formulas are designed to deliver adequate nutrtition without causing too rapid of a weight gain. Too much weight too soon can lead to joint stress and arthritis later on.

As for Iams and Eukanuba, I hesitate to recommend them because these brands were involved in the big food recall of 2007. I have fed them both in years past without a problem, but since we can never be sure where manufacturers are getting their food sources, I hesitate to recommend them now. They could be fine, but you'll have to use your own judgement.

You might want to check out a number of foods before you settle on a particular brand. Our article on Top 9 Healthiest Dog Foods contains a list of brands you might also consider, although you will need to check if they offer a large breed puppy formula.

Thanks for your question, and good luck with your search. - posted by:Kelly

Question: I've been feeding my eight-year-old Dachshund Dick Van Patten's brand of dog food, and he likes it, but when I ran out one day I decided to cook something for him. I made grilled chicken breast, rice and green beans. I diced everything, placed it in a vacuum container and store it in the fridge. Is this an ok alternative to "store bought" food? Should I add a little flax seen oil? Thanks for your help! - Posted by: gbryan88@hotmail.com
Answer: Hi Greg,

Yes, cooking for your dog is a viable alternative to purchasing commercial dog food. The basic mix you've begun with is good, and do add a touch of flaxseed oil for those important Omega-3 fatty acids. You can also provide a canine multi-vitamin to make sure you have your bases covered.

If you haven't already read this month's interview, check it out.

I happen to have a copy of Wendy Nan Rees' pet cookbook, and I love the variety of recipes. Dr. Kevin Schlanger, DVM helped Wendy write it and reviewed the recipes to make sure they were balanced. You might want to give this a try. The one thing you should keep in mind is that most foods are only good for 3-4 days in the fridge. Some can be stored longer in the freezer.

Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

Question: I have a seven-month-old Great Dane/English Mastiff puppy mix. He weighs 105 pounds now. The dad is the Great dane and he weighs 160 pounds and is 34" at the shoulder. The mom is an English mastiff that is 28" at the shoulder and weighs 140 pounds. How big do you think my puppy will get? Is he growing on an average scale? What is the best kind of dog food to feed him to make him as big as he can get? Thank you, David - Posted by: daveyar92@comcast.net
Answer: Hi David,

My guess is that your puppy is going to grow into a very big dog. You should select a puppy kibble that is formulated for the development of large breeds in order to provide adequate nutrition.

Since you seem to be preoccupied with making your dog as large as you possibly can, let me be the voice of caution. Rapid growth and carrying too much weight can lead to serious joint problems down the road. Great Danes live relatively short lives when compared to other dog breeds, so you need to keep all of this in mind. If you want to keep your pup healthy, I recommend you consult with your vet to work out a proper feeding program to ensure your dog is well fed, but not over fed.

Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

Question: This is Sharon again. My dog was on Hills Science Diet I.D. prescription dog food for 4 to 5 months before she stopped eating it and I was putting fat free,salt free chicken broth on it and the vet was very up set with me and switched the food to senative stomach. Dixie was eating the prescription formula good with the chicken broth. She has been on the senative formula for about a month and a half and she started throwing it up on or about 12-1, when I told the vet he said to go back to the prescription formula. I hope this will solve the porblem and if she eats the prescription formula thats fine and if she stops eating it then I am going to put chicken broth on it again. It did not seem to hurt her the first time and she did not throw any of it up. Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. The first letter I wrote said she was 1 year sorry she is 16 months, the grow up fast. Sorry I repeated it I Couldn't find the answer. I'm not very good on the computer yet. - Posted by: lemax@arkansas.net
Answer: Hi Sharon,

I think you should specifically ask your vet why he was upset that you were adding fat free, salt free chicken broth to entice your dog to eat the prescription diet. There may be a medical reason behind his opinion. Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense to ask you to switch to a different food if all was going well.

You'll have to decide for yourself whether you want to continue with the broth based on his answer.

Thanks for your question, and I hope things work out. - posted by:Kelly

Question: We just purchased an eight-week-old Boxer-mixed puppy. We have currently had him for two days. We purchased the exact same food that we were told he was eating, however he refuses to eat. He turns his nose up at the food and walks away. I am concerned that he is going to start losing weight and or become seriously ill. Do you have any advice on how to get him to eat and want to eat? Thanks! Deana - Posted by: deanafrench@hotmail.com
Answer: Hi Deana,

It sounds like your puppy may be experiencing some weaning issues. I hate to say it, but sometimes breeders aren't perfectly honest in their rush to send a pup to a new home. There's a possibility that your pup was in the process of weaning, but that it wasn't complete when you took him home. As long as he is willing to drink water, you've got a little time to play with.

There are a number of things you can do to coax your puppy to eat.

  • Soak the food so it becomes softer and easier to chew. The food will definitely be more enticing if you use beef or chicken broth. Try to choose a low sodium brand.
  • You could also try mixing in a little canned dog food with the kibble to make it tastier.
  • It's also perfectly fine to mix in healthy human foods such as cottage cheese, a little plain canned pumpkin or green beans to make the kibble more tempting.

Once you get your puppy on track, his tummy will expand a bit more, and he'll notice quicker when he feels hungry.

I hope you find these suggestions helpful, but if your dog doesn't begin eating within the next two days, go ahead and take him in to your vet.

Thanks for your question, and good luck. I'm sure this will work out. - posted by:Kelly

Question: My four-year-old male Yorkshire Terrier has had his anal glands expressed twice in the last three months, and might have to have it done again soon (no problems prior to this). I hesitate to add fiber to his food (his vet recommended green beans, and I've been reading about canned pumpkin) as his stomach is sensitive. He's eating Iams Weight Control dog food (he's a tad over weight), but I wonder if there's another dog food that might have more fiber but is easy on the tummy. - Posted by: awitmer@iquest.net
Answer: Hi Amy,

Honestly, neither the green beans nor the pumpkin should cause any problems with your dog's tummy. Both are very mild, and dog's seem to really love them. I would at least give them a try. I tend to refrain from recommending commercial brands for the most part, but you might want to compare the fiber content of the brands listed in our article about the Top 9 Healthiest Dog Foods.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you're able to control your dog's gland difficulties through diet. - posted by:Kelly

Question: Hello, I wanted to ask you about a current situation. Our neighbors left their dog all alone in their backyard and he has had no food for the last four days. So, I would like to know that what should I do. When I look at the dog, I feel helpless, and I'm worried. Thanks - Posted by: contact_akumar@yahoo.com
Answer: Hi Alok,

This is a serious situation if what you have observed is indeed correct. The first thing I would do is check on your neighbors and see if you can get someone to answer. It's possible they could have left the dog without caring for it, but someone may have also had a medical emergency and that's why the dog has been forgotten. There's also a chance that someone has agreed to check on the dog in the owners' absence and you may have just missed them coming and going.

If you get no reply, and you're certain no one has been around, go ahead and give the dog some food and fresh water. Just be careful because no matter how needy this dog may be, he doesn't know you and may react aggressively out a fright. Just leave the food and water and give him some space to eat.

If you are absolutely sure he's been abandoned, you need to call your local Humane Society and apprise them of the situation. They will investigate, and if warranted, they will take the dog with them for safe keeping and continue efforts to contact the owners.

I hope these suggestions give you peace of mind about what to do in this situation. The most important thing here is that the dog is taken care of as soon as possible. Please let us know how things turn out, and thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly



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