Puppy eating questions -

[Lola's Mum]

Hello experienced pug owners :) Did your dog go through phases when they were a puppy, where they weren't really interested in food? Seems uncommon for a pug - but most of the time lately Lola will sniff her bowl when I put it down, and then go right back to playing. She will eventually eat the whole bowl - but it takes her a while. I've started putting her food in a Kong, and that will make her eat it faster...but ideally it would be great if she ate normally. I'm not sure if this is just a phase?

I have recently switched her food from Purina One (what the breeder was feeding her) to TOTW puppy pacific stream - seems like since I've switched her food is when this grazing began. So I switched her back to Purina One over the weekend...but it was pretty much the same deal.

Not sure if I should try another food or maybe try some wet food? It's so hard to figure out her pooping schedule when she eats her food over the period of an hour or more...you know?

Any advice is much appreciated...thanks!

[Tinker's mom]

Tinker has never grazed! You might try adding warm water to her kibble and see if that helps.

[Oregon Pug Mom]

My girl has never been a grazer either! First I would switch her to the TOTW but food transition needs to be done gradually--3/4 old food to 1/4 new for a couple of days & increase slowly until she's on TOTW completely. I'd mix in a little wet food & a little warm water to try to increase interest. She should be eating about 1/3 cup 3 times aday until she's about 6 months & then most switch to 1/2 cup twice aday.
You may just have a slow eater--I wouldn't think this is a problem--just her way of doing it.

[Lola's Mum]

Thanks Jackie - will try that...I did that when she was younger (mostly b/c I wasn't sure if she COULD eat the dry food).

Oregon Pup Mom - I did gradually switch her to the TOTW over 3-4 days...I had thought canned food might help, but I wasn't sure if you COULD feed a puppy wet food...I think I will try the warm water first, and if that doesn't work, do the wet food.

I am feeding her 1/3 cup 3 x a day - and like I said, she does eventually eat it all...and she's getting treats, so I know she's getting enough "fuel."

Also wasn't sure if this was her way of telling me she's ready for 2 meals a day...but I'd heard from others to wait until she's 6 months for that, so am wary of that change this early.

[Snifter]

Softening the food a bit in warm water may help and is certainly worth a try. She could be starting her teething, in which case her mouth may be bothering her a bit. Is she starting to chew on stuff more? She is a bit on the young side to be wanting 2 meals a day - mine did lose interest in lunch a little but not until about 6 months old. If she's not underweight I would not leave the food down until she eats it. I would lift it after 15 or 20 mins and make her wait until the next meal. That normally clarifies the mind quite quickly. Otherwise it does mess up the poop schedule, as you say. However if she is not then very willing to eat at the next meal you will need to explore other options.

[shaynapug]

I always put a bit of canned food in with the dry....it helps.

BUT....most of my puppies go through a period of not eating out of a dish! If I put it on the ground they eat it quickly! I start in the dish....dump it if not eating. Lessen the amount on the floor and more in the dish and then they go back to their dish!

[Lola's Mum]

I think she has started teething - she's always been a chewer but lately I've witnessed her chewing on different things - like my wooden coffee table (grrr!).

She is not underweight according to my vet - at last count she was 5 lbs 3 oz, and has been gaining 1-2 lbs every 3 weeks (for our puppy vet visits). She still looks like a normal weight to me.

I am definately going to wet her food before I try canned food, and take her food up within 15-20 mins. After a few times of that hopefully she will learn her dinner time!

[Lola's Mum]

Thanks Diane - I have actually wondered about the dish, too - because when I put food in her Kong, she eats it right away, almost every time (meaning she's eating off the floor!). So weird...she definately has always eaten out of her dish, and I haven't changed it...lol.

Strange puppies!

[valentina]

My Curtis won't stop eating!! He harrasses me everytime I eat. He has started to eat his food really quickly.

Boys!

[Tinker's mom]

If she's teething, put yogurt in a small Kong and freeze it, that will feel good to her.Make sure you don't use yogurt with any artificial sweeteners.