Hello all and Happy Holidays! I am having a problem with a litter of 5 puppies that have to be the worst eaters I have ever seen. They are 5 weeks old today and have been dewormed on schedule and I am feeding them Royal Canine Puppy Starter food wet to soften it a bit and they just wont engage and eat as they should. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Try some ground/dried alfalfa on their food. It's a good source of vitamins, helps calm stomach issues (if that may be part of it) and stimulates appetite.
Good luck! Anne
Try some ground/dried alfalfa on their food. It's a good source of vitamins, helps calm stomach issues (if that may be part of it) and stimulates appetite.
Good luck! Anne
Please, do NOT give your puppies alfalfa. It mimics estrogen and is "possibly unsafe" in pregnancy and breast feeding. Lowers blood sugar, makes autoimmune diseases worse. Would you give alfalfa to a human infant??? Use common sense. If they aren't eating their food ground/dried alfalfa won't make it more desirable. These arm chair practitioners should get charged for practicing medicine without a license.
I start weaning with Hill/Science IV, Puppy Formula-diluted, Infant rice cereal mixed into softened mashed puppy kibble for the first week and omit the Hill/Science the second week and switch to the goats milk and eventually an almost hard kibble. They love it and eat well and still nurse these weeks along with their feedings.
It's not cheap but the puppies are always healthy.
When I've had a litter that isn't interested in their kibble, I add a couple of tablespoons of a good quaity canned food and stir it well so it mixes with the soaked kibble. That usually does the trick. I've also had puppies the hit 6 weeks or so and won't eat their food wet but do if it's dry. I make sure they always have a bowl of fresh water available to them.
