Feeding ?

[CocoLuv]

Hello! I have a 12 week old maltese puppy that I just got on Saturday, and I was wondering about feeding her. How do you know if you can leave food out for her all day? Should I try that? I was mixing wet and dry together, but she wasn't always eating it. I tried just giving her some kibble, and she did eat that. I don't want her to get low blood sugar from not eating. I just don't know how to make her eat. She seems more interested in what we are doing than her food! Any advice would be appreciated. :)

[lilybellesmom]

Hello! I have a 12 week old maltese puppy that I just got on Saturday, and I was wondering about feeding her. How do you know if you can leave food out for her all day? Should I try that? I was mixing wet and dry together, but she wasn't always eating it. I tried just giving her some kibble, and she did eat that. I don't want her to get low blood sugar from not eating. I just don't know how to make her eat. She seems more interested in what we are doing than her food! Any advice would be appreciated. :)


Hello welcome to MT!

I remember having that problem at first with LilyBelle (she's 1 now).

I would at first feed her from my hand, she would then eat from the bowl. I did that several times. Then I mixed some wet food to her dry kibble. Believe it or not, I did a Cesar Milan thing. I mashed the combo with my clean hands and let her lick my hand. Since then LB has been a good eater, LOL at 13 lbs she's a very good eater. You may have to start by feeding her from your hand at first. Do that a few times a day depending how much she'll eat.

I'd get some Nutracal just in case. I'm sure others here will have other suggestions. Good luck and let us know how she does.

[I Found Nemo]

Hi and Welcome to MT..
yes I would leave it out all day she is still a puppy so she can feed all day.Just give her the dry food and put some water in it to soften it. Can I ask what food you are giving her? Also do you have nutrical, this is good to give her once a day if you dont get it..http://www.bullwrinkle.com/ShoppingPages/nutrical_nutri-cal.htm
Andrea..Cant wait to see pictures she is probably adorable:p

[Morkie4]

HI AND WELCOME TO MT COCOLUV

Sorry I can't be of help as I haven't had a puppy that young in a long time but the girls suggestions above sound like solid suggestions!!!

[Malteseluv]

Dry food should be left out all day for her to eat whenever she gets hungry, but don't wet it or add canned to the bowl of dry food that you leave out all day. If you want to give her canned, give it to her in a separate bowl mixed with some kibbles throughout the day.

Make sure she knows where the food is. Maybe she just doesn't like the texture of canned/wet food and prefers the dry food?? What kind of food are you feeding her?

Keep a little nutri-cal on hand and give it to her a couple of times a day if she's not eating.
Believe me, it is much easier on you and the dog to prevent a hypoglycemic episode than to stop one once it has started so make sure she's eating small amounts several times per day.

Is she drinking enough water?

If she's not eating at all, then you need to get food in her somehow. You can try feeding her Gerber baby food Chicken and rice or pureed chicken.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[Im26]

Hi and Welcome to MT..
yes I would leave it out all day she is still a puppy so she can feed all day.Just give her the dry food and put some water in it to soften it. Can I ask what food you are giving her? Also do you have nutrical, this is good to give her once a day if you dont get it..http://www.bullwrinkle.com/ShoppingPages/nutrical_nutri-cal.htm
Andrea..Cant wait to see pictures she is probably adorable:p

I agree,
I left it out all day!
Now that my kids are reaching their 1st b-day
I only give them food 2 times a day, for 20 mins long...
only because I perfer it that way, they poop right after and it helps me a lot with potty trainning them (and I need all the help I can get in that field)

WELCOME TO MT

[I<3 my morkie]

Congrats on your new puppy!! :D I would definately recommend picking up some Nutrical or Nutristat to prevent hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). You can give the puppy some if she isn't eating and she will probably gobble that up. My breeder sent it home when we got Teddy as a puppy b/c low blood sugar is commoon in small dogs. Best of luck with the new puppy!!!! Keep us posted!

[CocoLuv]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions! This morning, I put the dry kibble on the floor, and she gobbled that up. So, for now, I will be doing that. Where can I get nutrical?

[Malteseluv]

You can get it at petsmart :)

[kelkiss5]

Hi and welcome to MT. I would go with the advice of the guys above.
Hope you can post some pics soon

[puppies2nv]

I totally agree....and welcome to MT...I am also fairly new here...keke