She doesnt like eating!

Question
I have adopted a 3-month years old toy poodle girl, she is from my friend's friend. I took her to consult veterinary when the second day I took her home, and the veterinary said she was too thin (1.3kg, her parents around 3.2 - 3.5kg ), cough, throat inflammation and asked me " she has to put on weight!"

One week later (last friday), I took her consult the same verterinary again, and he said she hasnt recovered yet, and she still too thin (1.4kg), emphasized that " she MUST put on weight! she cannot have epidemic control injection because she hasnt recovered, and she feels pain if she still that thin while injection"  

Yes, I know she has to put on weight, but she is a very quiet dog, rare to play for long time, in fact, she is accustomed to play with me and my husband around 15-20 mins, and then she would go sleep.

Additionally, she is accustomed to eat a bit, she can only finish ONE table spoon wet food (for puppy) and she likes to have some pieces of dry food as well. We give her food in the morning (8:30), Evening (7:00 & 11:00) a day; nevertheless, we are so worry about why she just has a small smount of food every meal. (we touch her belly, but it seems really quite full enough!)

We observed, she doesnt feel passion for food, and she likes someone accompanies with her while she 's eating.

I dont know how I can make her put on weight if she doesnt want to eat, and I dont know how to do, furthermore, she is the puppy lack of confident of everything. (I heard that her parents, brothers and sisters treat her not good just because she is the thinnest and smallest one in her family)

Would you give me some advice? I really need help, thanks a lot.

Regards,

Fiona


Answer
Hi Fiona,
Sounds like you have a really little girl.  I have seen this before, lack of interest in food.  I'm curious if the breeder had been using "Nutra Cal" or other food supplement with her.  Hypoglycemia is a concern with tiny puppies and if she wasnt eatting well before you got her, how the breeder was maintaining her.  One thing I would do is offer her food more often then you are.  Feeding meals is a good idea but this little one may need more meals offered.  I would purchase a very high quality food for her. I would recommend Eukunuba Small Breed Puppy food (dry) and then get some Pedigree canned food in the tare open pouches.  I suggest this wet food because it is very very "wet" and when you mix it with the dry food it will really coat it well and make it more attractive for her to eat.  The most fussy eatters seem to take to this well.  You can also purchase a product called "Dyne" it is a high calorie food supplmement that tastes good and will help to stimulte her encouraging her to eat.  The issue of her not eatting unless you are hand feeding her - what an aggravation!!  I have seen this a few times as well and until she is in better weight, I suggest you allow her to be this fussy and do just that.  I guess she is a "social" eater. ;0) When your not with her, do have food avaiable for her so just incase she chooses to eat she has that there for her.  I would keep her in a play pen type pen where she has room for food and water as well as a place to sleep and perhaps a potty pad if she needs to do that.  Offering her quality food and water at all times is important.  Keep in mind, you haven't had her very long and she isn't use to being alone.  Allow her to eat whenever you eat, encouraging her to try new things whenever possible.  Let me know about the feeding the breeder was doing -- that may shed more light on whats going on with her.  She may need competition in order to feel like she "has to" eat.
Keep me posted and please follow up with me and your vet.  He can recommend vitimins to stimulate her as well.

Regards,
Brandie