Why is my puppy not eating much food? Could teething be the cause?

If only Sydney could talk! It could be related to her teething. You may try soaking the kibble in warm water until it is softer. See if she will eat it that way. Its also possible you are feeding her too much. Puppies eat a lot while they are rapidly growing but then the growth slows down and they don't need as many calories (although they are still growing). If soaking the kibble doesn't help or if she begins to show any signs of illness, I recommend to have her examined by the veterinarian and checked for parasites. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello, sorry to hear about Snowball. This could be a non-specific isolated event of feeling ill. For the moment, since she is otherwise feeing well, then you can continue to monitor her at home for any changes in activity, attitude or if she develops other signs such as vomiting or diarrhea then she should be seen by a veterinarian. Hope this helps and best of luck!

Poor Belle! I'm not sure if she is up to date her deworming treatments, but if she isn't, that is a common cause of loose stools in puppies. Get a deworming treatment from the vet to get her up to date on them if she isn't. Teething can cause a puppy to be very lethargic and not want to eat much. I recommend getting her some teething chew toys that you can put in the freezer. Have a cold and hard toy will be soothing to her sore gums, and you can get one of these from the pet store. I would try softening her dry food by soaking it in gently warmed low sodium beef or chicken broth, which may tempt her to eat. You can also try feeding her small amounts of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice. Hopefully, these methods will ease her gums and tempt Belle to eat.

Some dogs are slower eaters than others, but I see that Kisses is four months old. This is the age when puppies are teething, and it could be painful for her to eat, causing her to eat slower or not eat all her food. Try soaking her food in warm water, or gently warmed low sodium beef of chicken broth to make her food softer. This may help encourage her to eat. If this doesn't work, then I would have her seen by a vet as a decrease in appetite can be a sign of a medical illness. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Make sure you are feeding Snowball the recommended daily amount. It should say it on the bag. Not every food is the same amount of calories per cup so she may require more per day than her previous diet. Because she gets sick on an empty stomach, I would split the daily amount into 2 or 3 meals a day. It is common for dogs not to eat when its hot- they don't require the calories. As long as she is eating the recommended amount per day I wouldn't be concerned. Good luck and kisses to Snowball!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Schnitzel. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian today. Puppies typically do not refuse all food simply due to teething. I am concerned he has another health concern affecting his appetite. Is he experiencing any vomiting, diarrhea, coughing or sneezing? All of these can affect puppy's appetite. He could also be experiencing pain somewhere. In the meantime, continue to offer water to prevent him from becoming dehydrated. You can also try the canned food warmed up or mixed with warm water. The dry kibble can also be mixed with warm water. This can make the food more appealing. I hope this information helps!

If his mouth is a little sore, then yes he may not eat as much. This may also come with maturity as they realize they don't have to scarf all their food because it will still be there later. Although, we cannot rule out something else is going on. If his food intake decreases more, he starts losing weight or he becomes lethargic, I would have your vet take a look at him. Your vet can make sure nothing else is causing the decreased appetite and make sure he gets the proper treatment. You can offer him a little canned food if you feel like it is just a sore mouth. Honestly, if it is just that, his appetite should pick back up within 24-48 hours. I hope this helps!