Update on crying puppy

[Amanda and Wheatley]

Well, last night she slept like a dream in her wire crate! Turns out she is very intrigued by carrots! And the fact that she was probably dead tired by night. However, now I have a new issue. It's day 3 and she still isnt eating! She eats carrots, but she wont touch her dry food, and I know she eats the dry food because its what my breeder gave me! For the sake of her eating I cooked her a piece of chicken and she ate it, but she wont eat the dry food! I dont understand why?? Is she still too stresses...even though she eats raw foods?? Thanks

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Okay I have another idea. Get canned pumpkin and mix it with her food - it coats the kibble, makes it soft and gives it a great taste. Peri has had a normal appetite, but runny stools. Teri said this was normal, but suggested I add the pumpkin and that it makes poo harder and more normal. I added about 1 tablespoon to her food tonight and it gave it a nice coating (I mixed it around so it coated every piece). I have never seen her eat her food so quickly - she didn't just lick it off, she ate the kibble too because it was coated in it and made it soft. I don't know...just throwing that out there. Keep us updated - I know you are stressed about it.

[Amanda and Wheatley]

She just for some reason isnt eating much. Since shes not eating the kibble at all I'm just going to feed her cooked food. I whipped up some whole wheat pasta, quinoa, apple butter (just mushed apples), skinnless chicken, cooked egg, tilapia, mushed carrots, and some black beans. She seemed to enjoy it but ate about 1/3 of it (I only have her about 1 cup) and she was done. So she just must not have an appetite?? I'm just concerned because she feels kind of boney

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Amanda, I always take a new dog right to the vet for a general health evaluation, within a day or two of getting him, and I think it would be a good idea for you to do that, too. I agree that something doesn't sound right if a puppy isn't eating. If she doesn't start eating within a day, I would take her to the vet.
Your dinner sounds wonderful, but that's a bit too many new foods for a young puppy to have introduced all at once. And just in case she has got a tummy issue going on, beans, etc. will exacerbate it. Homecooked food is fine, but try sticking with just chicken & rice for now, or her kibble.
I would really take her in to be checked out by the vet.

[Amanda and Wheatley]

Oh...oops! I just wanted to put in all sorts of flavors so she would be intrigued! I actually did take her to the vet today, she said she was in excellent health, but shes skinny! I just dont know why she wont eat! I've literally tried everything. She will eat a chicken breast, but she gets full very quickly. I'm starting to give up... I wish someone knew what the heck is going on, because she isn't sick! Maybe shes just taking a while to adjust! She got her shots the day before I got her AND she had a very long plane ride home which was probably pretty traumatizing. On top of that she screamed the whole first night, so it was pretty traumatizing. I dont know.. I really dont know what to do!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Relax...if the vet checked her and said she's healthy, it's probably just the adjustment. Give her just a small amount of plain chicken & rice, say just half a cup, three times a day. Make a small amount of kibble available to her in her crate, too. Small amounts, more frequently. Keep it simple. It's too soon to get panicky, lol. She just needs a little time to get to know you & her new home.

[Amanda and Wheatley]

Ok, I'll just do the chicken and rice and see how that goes... apparently all those foods was a bad idea? I just wanted a variety so it would appeal to her and add more calories. She didnt eat too much and her poop is still firm. So honestly I don't see a problem with what I did... but maybe I'm wrong?

[Debbie, Brianna and Duncan]

Hi Amanda, I have just caught up on your posts. I think you have been doing a wonderful job. Trying what you feel is right, is what us moms do. And you where not wrong to try getting her to eat, but I think going with the advise Karen and some of the others would be a good plan. She will get there, I am glad she checked out great at the vet. Hope you have a peaceful night and tomorrow will bring you and your little some progress. Hang in there, she sounds like a lovely puppy. And your a good doodle mom.

[Amanda and Wheatley]

Awe well thank you! I just want her to be happy. I'm just trying to get as many calories in her as I can with the least amount of food (since she wont eat much) I guess I'll just see where it goes from here!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Amanda, join the Food Group here on DK! We have a very large & active group with all the info you could ever want on what to feed! We have also done a ton of research on various methods of feeding.
It's generally advised not to introduce too many new foods quickly...most puppies digestion is delicate, just like babies. They get diarrhea very easily with changes in diet. Even when just switching from one kibble to another, you have to do it slowly with young puppies. Her poops are firm because it takes 7-10 hours for them to digest food; I am afraid you are not going to have firm poop tomorrow, lol!
The beans in particular are very very hard on any dog's digestive system, even adult dogs...lots of fiber in the form of indigestible plant cellulose. Trust me on this.
People who feed RAW diets do not give any carbohydrates at all...strictly meat & bones.

[Debbie, Brianna and Duncan]

Karen, Do you know if Pure Pumkin can be given to Puppies? if she gets runny tomorrow. This can help you Amanda, it will firm her back up. I always keep a can on hand, just in case we have loose poops in our dogs.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, plain canned pumpkin is okay for puppies! (NOT pumpkin pie filling, but just plain canned pumpkin.) I always keep a can in the house, too, just in case. For a puppy, just a spoonful.

[Amanda and Wheatley]

I do have a can of pumpkin (not the filling) just in case of this! So I guess I should be ready! Thank you for all the advice though, you guys are all so helpful!