Finicky Eater

BleuSage · Jul 10, 2015

Hi, Everyone!

I recently entered this awesome world of being a Frenchie owner and have a food/supplement question. Bleu is 11 weeks and a finicky eater. She eats but won't finish all of her serving. I'm okay with her walking away, but I'm concerned she's not getting enough nutrition since she's just a puppy. I also put a little bit of NuVet Plus on her food and add a little water which helps get her started. Is this okay or should I be adding some form of nutritional supplement, and if so, any recommendations?

Thanks a bunch!

Tgirl · Jul 10, 2015

What type of food are you giving her?

eeturk · Jul 10, 2015

I have a super picky one too. He's been like this since we picked him up at 12 weeks. We feed raw now because getting him to eat kibble was impossible (and it didn't agree with him). For Hudson we add a fatty acid supplement (it's like a goo we put on top, he loves it) and a little coconut oil. You might also try a little pumpkin purée (NOT the pie filling. Just plain). If he's being particularly bad and is on a long term hunger strike then sometimes we will mix in a little bit of scrambled eggs.

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2bullymama · Jul 10, 2015

At 11 weeks,.,,, how much and what are you currently feeding?

bullmama · Jul 10, 2015

2bullymama said:
At 11 weeks,.,,, how much and what are you currently feeding?

I was also going to ask this question too.

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davidh · Jul 10, 2015

They can be picky eaters. We had to mix in some canned food for Henri, and at times had to hand feed him.

BleuSage · Jul 11, 2015

Sorry for the delay. She came on NutriSource as the food and thought maybe I'd add a little canned to see if that helps. I tried to do a switch with her food and she went to straight diarrhea so I stopped. She's back to normal, just picky. At this point, I just want to get her back to normal and eating a little better before I try to do a switch again.
As far as water, I can put a cup of water in her bowl and she'll drink it until it's almost gone. I have to keep adding like that all day. Maybe that's normal for these guys. She drinks more than my two pugs put together! LOL

blushy · Jul 11, 2015

I'm of no help for the food. Mine aren't picky (yet!)

But the water, mine can drink infinitely. It's insane the amount of water they consume in a day. And they are never in a situation to be over heated to where they need to cool off, so Im assuming it's normal because they don't run around peeing everywhere, so they must need it!

BleuSage · Jul 11, 2015

I keep thinking I'll never get her remotely potty trained with the amount she drinks! LOL We do live in the AZ blast furnace so the water consumption makes sense. It just seemed kind of excessive give her size right now. Her poor tummy looks like a water balloon by the end of the day!

MaplesMommy · Jul 11, 2015

Maple only drinks little. I have on small bowl for her & 2 cats & at the end of the day I always have about half left to throw away. But they all eat raw, so they get a lot of moisture from their meat.

You can continue to soak the kibble in water, if that makes it easier. Or you can use bone broth or chicken broth.But only the plain kind;no spices,artificial flavours etc.

When you switched food last time,did you do it gradually? Sometimes when you do it too fast,they end up with diarrhea.

MaplesMommy · Jul 11, 2015

Id also like to throw out there, that little appetite and excessive thirst could potentially be symptoms of an illness.
If it continues, Id get her checked out by a vet.

BleuSage · Jul 11, 2015

Thanks for all the responses! She's been eating like a champ today and drinking what I would consider normal, although she just basically cleared her water bowl in her pen as she was playing in it. She's a mess! :yes: LOL I have also been in contact with my vet and have taken in a stool sample.

Thanks, again, everyone! It's nice to know there's a place to ask questions and get responses! I appreciate it!!