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    sucetta's Avatar
    sucetta Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Dec 30, 2009, 10:17 AM
    My dog want gain weight
    My little dog will be one on valentines day I have had him for two months he has went through at least 12 or 13 different foods he likes them when I bring them home every time but it dose not last nomore than two or three days then he will not touch anything I trade with something different and he does like it sometimes he will not keep any weight on at all he is taking vitiamins and has been wormed he is playful I don't know what I can do to help him is there any one who knows what I can do?
    Just Dahlia's Avatar
    Just Dahlia Posts: 2,155, Reputation: 445
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    #2

    Dec 30, 2009, 12:41 PM
    He might have an upset tummy from so many different foods. Are you slowly changing them?
    shazamataz's Avatar
    shazamataz Posts: 6,642, Reputation: 1244
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    #3

    Dec 30, 2009, 02:35 PM

    I agree with Dahlia... 12 or 13 different foods in just 2 months is an awful lot.

    Mine get the food that the breeder has been feeding for a few weeks and then I switch to a food that I have chosen... if they don't like the one I have chosen I MIGHT change it to something else but I never keep changing every few days.

    A dog will never starve itself and it seems yours has realised that if it doesn't eat its food it gets something different/better.

    Just stick with the one type of food.
    He might not eat for a day or two but she will eventually.

    When you feed do you leave the bowl on the ground for a long time?
    You should be putting the food down for about 15 minutes and anything not eaten in that time gets picked up and thrown away.
    Just Dahlia's Avatar
    Just Dahlia Posts: 2,155, Reputation: 445
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    #4

    Dec 30, 2009, 03:13 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by shazamataz View Post

    When you feed do you leave the bowl on the ground for a long time?
    You should be putting the food down for about 15 minutes and anything not eaten in that time gets picked up and thrown away.
    Is this because the dog is a picky eater? Because I have never had picky eaters and just leave the bowl down all day, and they eat when they are hungry. They are not pig/gobble dogs and kind of nibble when they feel like it.
    shazamataz's Avatar
    shazamataz Posts: 6,642, Reputation: 1244
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    #5

    Dec 30, 2009, 03:19 PM

    Nope, you should never leave the bowl down all day.

    When you leave the bowl out all day the dog will jut eat a piece here and there, sure they might eat a cup full over a few hours but because they have been grazing it takes the edge off their appetite and they aren't really hungry enough to eat all their dinner.

    It might work for dogs that only get fed dry food but for those that eat an actual meal at dinner time it's not a good idea ;)
    Just Dahlia's Avatar
    Just Dahlia Posts: 2,155, Reputation: 445
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    #6

    Dec 30, 2009, 03:23 PM
    If they get anything other than dry, I do pick it up after about 5 minutes and clean it out. Like when I give them the sardines that you suggested:)
    shazamataz's Avatar
    shazamataz Posts: 6,642, Reputation: 1244
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    #7

    Dec 30, 2009, 03:31 PM

    Well that's different then ;)

    I've just been going through this with a friends Husky.
    He is 4 years old and she just got him off some people that moved out of the state. He was free-fed dry food during the day then they wondered why he didn't want his dinner at night ;)
    Lucky098's Avatar
    Lucky098 Posts: 2,594, Reputation: 543
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    #8

    Dec 30, 2009, 03:55 PM

    12 to 13 foods is a lot to change a dog over on, but I totally understand your frustration. My dog is a jerk when it comes to food. She'll eat her food as long as everyone else is eating the same thing. If her food is different or the other dogs food is different, she'll pick around and not eat. I have all 4 of my dogs on Innova. Two are on Senior, and the other two are on regular adult maintenance. I have had this dog since a pup, and she has always done this. THe best solution, find a food that you think is suitable for your dogs needs. Innova dog foods have done wonders for my dogs, so I will always recommend it :) . But there are other foods out there also. Don't switch the food around. Your dog is ultimately telling you what's what. "I dont like this, get me something else". Try different kinds of canned food, yogurt, eggs, soup broth (chicken or beef), brown hamburger.

    There is another factor to this issue also. Maybe your dog just isn't a big eater. Some dogs just don't need to eat a lot of food all the time. My moms dog will eat a meal every three days. She's perfectly healthy. I was told by a vet that a healthy dog can go 5 days without eating. Dogs are hunters... that instinct of survival never left the domesticated dogs.

    Food factor... There could be two things. If you're feeding a high quality dog food, perhaps the dog is consuming too many calories and is full. Another factor, you could be feeding a low quality food and the dogs tummy is full of fillers that aren't easily digested.

    I heard that if you heat up the dog food, the oils will release from the kibble making it more appealing to dogs. You might want to try that. Ive also heard that some small dogs just don't like to eat hard food. Maybe moisten it with some warm water. Ive also heard that some small dogs would rather eat large kibbles than the small kibbles.

    But I would definitely suggest to stop switching foods around. Find something that you feel is good for your dog and stick with it. Not only are you possibly getting an upset stomach, but you're also allowing your dog to boss you around to a certain point.

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