10 week old puppy refuses food

[sandybobb]

Hi. I have a little bitty girl, who is under 1 lb. at 10 weeks of age. She has been getting supplemental formula almost since birth. All siblings are now weaned but her. She is sassy and playful and eagerly laps up formula, but when I try adding rice cereal, or putting anything (including chicken) in her mouth she violently spits it out. She will lick at chicken, or other foods and gets excited, but refuses to allow anything inside her mouth that she may need to chew. Any suggestions? I've tried boiled chicken, rice cereal in formula, baby weiners, canned food, softened kibble, crushed kibble. She just is very hard headed.

[Silver Lace]

I wish I had an answer to help you out with this sweet lil girl but I did want to answer your post and say that I am sure someone on here will help you with this problem. There are a lot of folks who do have the knowledge you need to help you with this hard headed gal as you call her. She sounds sweet from your description. Sounds as if she is doing well in spite of not wanting to eat more solid foods. LIL stinker. lol

[sandybobb]

Sherri: She is very happy; and thankfully Mom is also fine with continuing to look after her. I want to get an acid bile test done to insure she has good liver function as she is so small; but she can't yet fast the 12 hours necessary to get that first number.

[BayleighL]

Besides the liver function, has a vet checked her? Has the pup gained/lost weight? Trachea fine? Mouth/teeth fine? No other structural component issues?


With such a small dog, can you back down the formula a wee bit at a time so she gets hungry. She may not need the extra calories enough to try new foods. If petite puppies are like petite children they can sustain themselves too easily on less nutritive calories and refuse other foods. For small children the offender is often fruit juice.

[sandybobb]

Yes, my vet has given her a good once-over. All seems fine. No apparent issues with crooked teeth, doesn't appear to be in pain. I have held back on the formula to try and get her "hungry", that's when I offered her some boiled chicken, which she was terribly excited about and licked at, but as soon as piece was inside her mouth she spit it out! I worry too much about her crashing to push it.

This isn't an emergency. Just a toss out to see if anyone else has experienced this problem. I had a girl her size last year who as soon as food was offered was all over it. This blase attitude is new to me.

[BayleighL]

Originally Posted by sandybobb

Yes, my vet has given her a good once-over. All seems fine. No apparent issues with crooked teeth, doesn't appear to be in pain. I have held back on the formula to try and get her "hungry", that's when I offered her some boiled chicken, which she was terribly excited about and licked at, but as soon as piece was inside her mouth she spit it out! I worry too much about her crashing to push it.

This isn't an emergency. Just a toss out to see if anyone else has experienced this problem. I had a girl her size last year who as soon as food was offered was all over it. This blase attitude is new to me.

It's funny how such little ones can already have opinions. Sounds like she'll put everyone to the test! She sounds like a really cutie-pie.

[Silver Lace]

Originally Posted by sandybobb

Sherri: She is very happy; and thankfully Mom is also fine with continuing to look after her. I want to get an acid bile test done to insure she has good liver function as she is so small; but she can't yet fast the 12 hours necessary to get that first number.

Sandybobb,
What a cutie pie. If she is happy and Mom is fine with wanting to keep looking after her that is so good. She is so tiny and Mom must understand she still needs her. Such a good Mom. I hope she will gain her weight so you can get her test done to check on her liver. Will you keep in touch and let us know how things are going for her? Rooting for her well being!