Why is my Rottweiler puppy refusing dry food and acting strange?

Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach to address your concern. If he is not eating his dog food I would offer some chicken and rice and see if he is at all interested in eating that. If not, I would recommend having him examined by a veterinarian. With his age, he is at risk for contracting viral infections such as distemper and parvo virus. I would have him tested for Parvo virus if he continues to decline and also test his blood to see if there are any abnormalities. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

Congratulations on your new baby! I definitely recommend getting him back on his puppy food, since it nutritionally balanced for his growing body. My favorite brands are Science Diet and Royal Canin. Feed the highest quality food you can afford, since this will help prevent illness in the future and save money on vet bills in the long run. The bad news is it sounds like he's training you they way he wants you, the good news is you can correct his behavior. Dogs can go without eating for a few days without any detrimental effects, unlike cats. So, to convince him he needs to eat his food, offer his puppy food in two to three meals a day. Read the directions on the bag or can for guidelines on how much to feed per day and divide that into however many meals you need to. You can offer dry, canned or a combination. It may help him transition if you offer him some canned food with the dry, and/or moisten the dry with some low-sodium chicken broth to entice him to eat. Try to keep him on a regular a schedule as you can. Put his food down in the morning and give him 20 minutes to eat it. If he doesn't eat it, take it up, and put it away for the next meal. Only give him treats for doing something, such as training or going potty outside, and only a few. You don't want to have him rely on treats as a meal. When it's time for the next meal, put his food down, give him 20 minutes. When he gets hungry enough, usually after a day or so, he'll eat. Don't feed him anything off the table either. If he begs and you feel you have to give him something, keep a bowl of his kibble on the table and give him that. Most dogs think it's fantastic because it came off the table from you.

It can be frustrating and a little scary when puppies won't eat their food! Things to ask yourself to determine if this is something you should take Max into the veterinarian for: How long has it been since he has eaten a good meal? If it has been over a day, he should likely see a veterinarian -- puppies are usually HUNGRY! How is he acting otherwise? If he is still a bright bouncy puppy - he may just not be hungry - and I would try feeding him again in a few hours. If he is lethargic or vomiting or has diarrhea, he should be seen by your veterinarian soon. Also, take a look at the food you are feeding him - is it a high quality puppy food? I like brands such as Purina (Purina Dog Chow or Purina One, for example), Science Diet, Iams, Royal Canin all make very good food with lots of research behind their foods. Making the dry food moist by adding water and even heating it up a little (make sure it is not too hot that could cause burns!) can make the food smell more appetizing to the dog. It is always a good idea to have a good relationship with a veterinarian, especially during the puppy stage - to make sure he gets his vaccinations when he is supposed to AND to make sure he does not have any intestinal parasites (which can also make him feel bad). I hope this helps and Max is eating again soon! Thank you for using pet coach!

If it's been ongoing a week, I would think about scheduling a vet visit as there may be some minor GI upset or an underlying illness causing the change. If you see obvious signs of illness including lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, pain, refusing all food, etc, then seeking care right away is best.

It sounds as Harry is suffering from a gastrointestinal condition, possibly an infection. i would recommend taking him to the vet the first chance you get, he will need to be checked first, if the vet thinks it's a simple gastrointestinal infection he will need an anti vomiting injection, antibiotics and a special food for a few days in order to get better.

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.

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!