You have recently brought a new puppy home and he don’t seem to want to eat. A young puppy that refuses to eat should cause immediately concern. A healthy diet is vital to his future well-being.
Since his tiny stomach holds very little at a time, a missed meal is nourishment lost forever.
However, before you alert the vet or your puppy’s breeder, you should verify that his loss or appetite is not due to one or several easily remedied causes.
Your puppy misses his brothers and sisters or mother
Your puppy has recently been separated from his familiar surroundings. It is natural for him to miss them. Try to keep him company as much as possible. This will help him to get used to the new environment quicker.
You may also try hand feeding him for a while. But do not make a habit of it, especially with toy breeds.
His feeding times do not coincide with his hunger
Your new puppy is not used to your feeding times. He is not hungry when you are feeding him. So adjust the feeding schedule and find one that suits his appetite.
He is too nervous to eat
Being suddenly in a new and unfamiliar environment can cause your puppy some stress. Avoid the excitement of play and visitors just before and after his meal times. Otherwise, he’ll be too excited to feel hungry to eat.
His food is too tough or chunky for his baby teeth to handle
A puppy’s jaw and teeth are not as strong as an older dog’s. He may not be able to handle the food you’re feeding him with. Before you offer the food to your puppy, chop it up finely, or soften it by soaking. Teething puppies often go off their feed and need a softer diet during this period.
He has problems with his food dish
Use an appropriate food dish. Young puppies eat most easily from a flat dish, like a pie plate. Later on, long nosed breeds should be given a deeper dish. For long eared breeds, there are special deep tapered bowls which prevent their ears from dragging in their food.
