Skip to content

Puppy NOT eating?

Basenji Puppy Pen
  • I was using goats milk. I use a blender to grind the food up then add the goats milk to it. Ive tried the milk replacer too and he wont touch it (the others will). I even tried warm goats milk (and even the milk replacer) by itself to see if he'd lap at it or drink it and he wouldnt. he just screams. Ive never heard a puppy make that kinda noise before. And at least im not he only one with a weird puppy lol. All the others will eat anything that doesnt eat them first lol. Hes the odd one out lol

  • Again, unless there is a physical problem and it doesn't sound like there is (but I am not a Vet and do not give medical advise), he will eat when hungry… IMO...

    But if there is any cause for concern, a Vet visit is in order

  • Thanks Tanza. I feel a little better about it.

  • I've only had puppies here once, I was given a chihuaua/corgi mix rescue that had pups the next day. One ate at three weeks, but his brother waited an extra week to start. His brother always did things before him, I guess he just was maturing at his own schedule

  • I don't usually introduce solid food until about 4.5-6 weeks. I have had to introduce food earlier when the dam didn't want to feed the little vultures as much (because of the teeth), but I would use a mixture of baby pablum and either milk or water. I would make it really runny and let them lick it off my fingers first until they got to know what it was. Sometimes, I would have to start them by sticking my fingers in their mouths, but when they got the idea, they would start licking. As Pat says, I think it may be a bit too early as well, but all litters are different. Don't forget them still get a lot of nutrients from the dam's milk and if you feed them too much 'mush' they will not drink as much milk, (which I feel they need more than the 'mush). Don't worry so much about it, as Pat says, it will come.

  • As long as he's not losing weight and seems otherwise healthy I certainly wouldn't worry (especially if the oithers are ok and his parents have good health history) - mine are offered ground meat from a few days old and will usually lick this. However I wouldn't be at all concerned if they wouldn't take 'mush' at 3 weeks. He obviously is still getting sufficient from his mother if he isn't hungry. If the time comes when he takes anyhting apart from his mother's milk watch his poo which always gives an idea of health.

  • I know I am in the minority but I stopped making "mush" a long time ago. It never really made sense to me. A wild dog regurgitates recently eaten food for her pups. It's more solid than liquid so why do modern dog breeders make a mostly liquid formula to try to wean pups on?

    I feed mama dog in the whelping pen. She gets slightly moistened puppy kibble and for some meals I add cottage cheese, yogurt, and/or canned food. The pups will eventually show an interest in what she is doing and go over to investigate. This happens between 3-4 weeks of age. Some of them will just smell around while others try to taste the food. (Sometimes mama dog will regurgitate and the pups will eat it.) Within a couple of days, all of the pups will be attempting to eat the food and that is when I start feeding them solids. I take puppy kibble and put it in a small, shallow dish and add enough hot water to cover it. Then I put a lid on the dish and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. The kibble should then be very soft. Since the pups are already familiar with the smell and already know it is something to eat from watching mama, they dive right in. They never have any problems eating and they do so with gusto. From that point on, they get some meals of kibble and some meals nursing from mama dog, until she gets fed up with their teeth and doesn't want to feed them any more.

  • No, Yodel Dogs you aren't in the minority - at least I don't think so.

  • Heck, I never fed my puppies mush either, just softened kibble. And it didn't seem to take very long before the pups would be sitting in the mom's dog dish chewing on her dry kibble.
    -Joanne

  • @giza1:

    Heck, I never fed my puppies mush either, just softened kibble. And it didn't seem to take very long before the pups would be sitting in the mom's dog dish chewing on her dry kibble.
    -Joanne

    When you think about it… softened kibble is mush.... just all depends on how you offer it. And I only do "mush" between 3 to 4 wks after that it is just softened kibble... and in the end.. that is mush

Suggested Topics

  • 4 mo Puppy stopped eating

    Basenji Puppy Pen
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    36k Views
    R
    Yes… I guess I should clarify... When I say later, it's usually no longer than 5-10 min... At first he was a bit apprehensive about it, but now he responds pretty good to the eat command... I still get the impression that he is eating just to appease me, and doesn't seem as thrilled about eating as some other dogs, but that may just be his general disposition... In any case he is eating his daily meals and getting water and is a seemingly healthy boy that makes for some good photo ops...
  • Thinking of puppy names

    Basenji Puppy Pen
    36
    0 Votes
    36 Posts
    18k Views
    krunzerK
    Galactic TRI-fecta kennel name – Big Bang NeuTRIno
  • My puppy is born!

    Basenji Puppy Pen
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    8k Views
    N
    @Fran… aw :) Yeah, I can't wait to experience being dogpiled by the whole litter :) @Lisa; I don't plan on showing, but I'm sure my pup and I will visit shows often. I like the environment and the certian level of "Crazy" that I get to behold at dog shows, but I don't have the time to finish a dog, so I'd be doing the pup a dishonor by even attempting to get him show-ready. Kyle and Steve have remarked that they're going to make a handler out of me, though... so who knows! lol
  • New puppy

    Basenji Puppy Pen
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    7k Views
    lvossL
    Sophie is one who definately thinks that the standard reads "a goof with strangers". She loves meeting and greeting people and dogs though she has learned how to be dog appropriate and is not a push over. She wags her tail so much it is no wonder is is only a loose single curl, how could it be anything else with it in constant motion. We do a lot to socialize all of our pups so they are outgoing and confident but there is a definate distinction between some of our pups who would probably be considered "Aloof" though they are friendly and like attention from strangers, they always make you feel like you are attending court for royalty and Sophie whose dream job would probably be a greeter for WalMart.
  • Puppy weight

    Basenji Puppy Pen
    25
    0 Votes
    25 Posts
    31k Views
    lvossL
    L'Ox is on the small side. He is only about 16.5 inches at the withers. He may gain a little more height and will probably continue to fill out for next couple of years but he will always be a small male.
  • Puppy to Adult Food

    Basenji Puppy Pen
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    14k Views
    JazzysMomJ
    See, that's why I have no problem recommending Jumoke to potential Basenji owners {slaves, whatever}. Everything is so thorough. After talking more w/Bryan, I am in the process of switching Jazzy to Eukanuba low-fat diet because he felt that while she was getting enough puppy chow to maintain a healthy weight, she was not getting chow every day to fulfill her nutrient requirements. {she has a tendency to chunk up, and he was unaware of the quantity of food she ate each day}. He did the research for me, and recommended the food that he feels will most benefit her – and she likes it. She is getting Pet-Tabs also. I'm glad the question came up because otherwise I would have never gotten around to discussing her diet w/him. So, a big Thank you to Bryan for all his hard work, and also to whoever it was that posted the original question and got the discussions going!