Why won't my puppy eat his food? Can I mix different brands?

You're definitely on the right track with thinking that puppies as tiny as Norik need a reliable and regular feeding schedule in order to prevent hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), so it is important to find a food that he likes. I think it's important to be sure that medical problems that could potentially be affecting his appetite should be ruled out, especially if there are other symptoms (occasional vomiting, diarrhea, or other) that may indicate a parasite infestation or other problem. It's fine to try mixing in a bit of baby food (avoid recipes prepared with onion and garlic) or even a high quality canned puppy food (Royal Canin makes some good foods for puppies) to see if this stimulates his appetite. I have 2 small breed dogs and I have always had to feed a mixture of dry and canned to get them to eat. Also, I would consider maybe looking for a food that is specifically formulated for the nutritional needs of puppies. Ziwipeak might be a great adult dog food, and it's likely formulated with all life stages in mind, but as puppies have unique requirements because they are growing I would recommend a food made for puppies, at least until 10 - 12 months of age. Also, I would not recommend cheese, yogurt, or other dairy products, as dogs can be lactose intolerant.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Norik is acting fine and this is the only meal he skipped then I would still try to offer him food in the middle of the day. You can try adding water to the food or a teaspoon of canned food. Dogs rarely will starve themselves. Don't stress and just offer more food later! If you have to go to work then put a small amount with him or offer food at his next normal feeding time. I hope this helps and good luck!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Karen. It is not typically not a problem to offer to different brands of food especially if you are using small amounts of canned food to entice her appetite. If you cannot find a large breed puppy formula canned food, then I would use an adult version. Being a giant breed dog, you what her to grow very slowly. As with any diet change, monitor for any vomiting and diarrhea. Problems are usually seen when abruptly switching from one dry brand to another without mixing the food or going from dry kibble to strictly wet food again without a gradual transition. I hope this information helps!

It is not normal for a two month old puppy to not want to eat. I suggest you take him to the vet for an exam. I am glad he is acting normally and playing but he needs to eat. I don't know what foods you have tried but I suggest Purina Pro Plan Savor - it is made for picky eaters. Use the puppy formula and you may want to mix in some canned food with the dry in the beginning. The canned food only comes as adult and it is OK to mix a bit with the dry if needed. DO NOT feed him any human foods - you will get him in a habit you cannot break. Stick to dog food and dog treats only. https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198944_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=116227 https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198944_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=132998

I would first encourage you to consider whether Norik is actually having appetite issues and not bowl issues. If you're sure that he has a strong/normal appetite, that's good, but remember that sometimes reluctant eaters actually have gastrointestinal issues - for example, intestinal parasites are very common in puppies - and make sure that you and your vet have ruled out potential medical issues first, especially if there are other concerning signs such as vomiting and/or diarrhea. Also think about whether he might have neck pain that is keeping him from wanting to lower his head all the way to the floor. If Norik has a great/normal appetite, and you've made sure that any potential health problems are ruled out, but he truly doesn't like bowls, then I would recommend trying to feed him on something extremely shallow, such as a plate or cookie sheet. You might also consider an elevated feeding bowl to see if getting the bowl up higher is more appropriate for him.

You might consider soaking the dog food to make it softer/easier to eat since he is still young. Mixing a small amount of rice or cooked chicken breast or lean ground beef may entice him we just don't want him to fill up on those alone. I am not familiar with the Canine Creek food, be sure it is appropriate for puppies or switch to the Royal Canin puppy food as this is a reliable/trustworthy brand.

If your puppy is not eating at all and this began within the last day or two, I would be very concerned about a serious medical problem - if this is the case, you should get him to a vet right away. Common causes of not eating in puppies would include parvo or intestinal obstruction, but almost any serious illness could cause not eating as a symptom so it would be hard to know the cause without an exam and possibly some blood work or x-rays. If this problem has been going on for a while and your pup is acting fairly normal otherwise, then yes - it's possible that he could have worms, or he may be a picky eater who would do better with a different diet. You could try deworming him with a dewormer labeled for dogs such as Panacur - you can get this over the counter at many pet stores, just follow the dosing instructions on the label for your puppy's weight. You may also want to try a different brand or flavor of puppy chow, or mix some canned puppy food in with his dry food to see if this helps to tempt his appetite. If this doesn't seem to help, then I would recommend having him seen by a vet to find out if there is some other reason for his poor appetite.