4.5 month old wont eat

[ckrueger]

Hello

My 4.5 month old boxer will not eat in the morning unless i am sit there and feed it to her. she rather play with my other dog instead of eating. i tried putting chicken broth and water in her food still wont eat it. All her ribs are showing :( I am feeding her Diamond from tractor supply. I was thinking maybe she just doesnt like it and i need to try a new food. I was thinking maybe trying the 4 health grain free? Help Please!

thank you!

 

[CoraBoxer]

Does she have loose stool or anything? Even if she doesn't a good quality dog food could still make a difference. If it was me I wouldn't worry about the taste/quantity - instead focus on quality. Unless she is sick and something is seriously wrong she won't starve herself even if she misses a meal. With my Cora when she was growing up she would skip meals pretty often. Almost always in the morning. Give her half and hour and if she ignores the food put it away until next regular meal time. Careful to not just feed treats instead. If mine didn't eat her meal she didn't get treats. I'd be careful about switching foods too often and because of taste. Dog who are given a choice will make a choice and you may end up with a dog that is very difficult to feed. I'm not saying they shouldn't enjoy the food but that they may end up being very picky and rejecting even dog food that is very good for them and tasty (for reasons such as how you feed it, getting bored of it, wanting/expecting something different etc).

Dog Food Reviews - Main Index - Powered by ReviewPost

Not all 'best' dog foods are best for all dogs. For example, some may need less protein then is in many of the 6 star brands especially as puppies. Remember though that formulas change. Take a look. 4-5-6 star all pretty good. Diamond doesn't come recommended.

 

[CoraBoxer]

Oh and because I forgot... in addition to incrediants, grain-free, guaranteed analysis also take a look at recalls and preservatives to make sure they aren't toxic/carcinogenic.

 

[Bathel]

You should be able to see all her ribs, that is normal for boxer puppies. They don't seem to fill out until year 2, but even then you should be ablet to see the last rib.

I would just check her weight weekly and as long as she's gaining weight AND you are following the feeding guidelines on the food you should be good.

 

[ckrueger]

I am feeding her 4health grain free( is that a good food?) she seems to be doing well with it. she doesnt seem to act sick. no loose stool. everything seems fine. and she is gaining weight. i took her to the vet this past weekend and she eighed about 28 pounds. she doeesnt ever want to eat in the morning she gets distracted with my other dogs. i loeave it out for like an hour and a half and she will eat about 1/2. she will only eat it though if i put water in it. is that normal?

 

[CountyBoxer]

My Kelsey went through a phase like that when she was around 3 months. She would eat a little and then get distracted. It was a real job just getting her to eat, but now she's eating like a pig!

I would separate her from your other dogs, give her 15 minutes, 30 tops to finish her food and then pick up whatever she doesn't eat. Don't give her anything until her next meal time and then do the same. She will eventually figure out that she needs to eat at a specific time or else go hungry. I add a little water to my girls food, helps slow her down...if that works, i'd keep doing it. Best of luck with her.

 

[ckrueger]

Thank you so much for the good advice i will try that!!!

 

[Squeemunk]

My Puppy had the same problems. Reesee is 1 now and still doesn't always eat in the morning. I switched her food several times but that didnt seem to help. I always still put food out in the morning some days she eats some days she wont. I feed her Tractor Supply 4 Health Puppy . She is at a healthy weight and my vet told me not yo worry. Some dogs just get finiky. We also fou d early on that Reesee wont eat out of anything but a ceramic bowl. Maybe try a new bowl type?