My picky toy puppy won't eat. How do I get him to eat safely?

Question

Hello, my dog is a very picky eater. I am feeding him with Ziwipeak air dry dog food, and from what I heard from reviews dogs usually love this food. Some owners even use it as a treat, this is how good it is. However after a few days of eating this food my puppy refuses to eat it again. What should i do, should i blend it and mix with baby food, meat based. Or maybe with cottage cheese or yogurt? I heard it's not ok for toy breed puppies to skip a meal since they are prone to hyperglycemia. Pet's info: Dog | Spitz | Male | unneutered | 4 months and 28 days old | 7 lbs

Christie Long, DVM · Accepted Answer

You're definitely on the right track with thinking that puppies as tiny as Norik need a reliable and regular feeding schedule in order to prevent hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), so it is important to find a food that he likes. I think it's important to be sure that medical problems that could potentially be affecting his appetite should be ruled out, especially if there are other symptoms (occasional vomiting, diarrhea, or other) that may indicate a parasite infestation or other problem. It's fine to try mixing in a bit of baby food (avoid recipes prepared with onion and garlic) or even a high quality canned puppy food (Royal Canin makes some good foods for puppies) to see if this stimulates his appetite. I have 2 small breed dogs and I have always had to feed a mixture of dry and canned to get them to eat. Also, I would consider maybe looking for a food that is specifically formulated for the nutritional needs of puppies. Ziwipeak might be a great adult dog food, and it's likely formulated with all life stages in mind, but as puppies have unique requirements because they are growing I would recommend a food made for puppies, at least until 10 - 12 months of age. Also, I would not recommend cheese, yogurt, or other dairy products, as dogs can be lactose intolerant.

My picky toy puppy won't eat. How do I get him to eat safely?

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