Puppy has loss of appetite

by Michelle
(CA)

We just adopted a terrier/chihuahua mix about 2 weeks ago. He's about 12 weeks old. He's been eating just fine until the last couple of days it seems like he's got a loss of appetite.

He'll eat most of his food if i'm in the room, but otherwise he wants to be where i am and won't finish eating. We are feeding him natural balance 3 times a day. Is this normal? Do i need to worry about nutrition or illness?




Hi Michelle
This sounds as though your puppy is going through one of those pretty normal 'phases' they're prone to. Puppies are like little children and their appetites vary, they sometimes develop little quirks and they go through phases and stages as they develop.

Some pups become picky eaters at times, and it's best not to pander to this. Don't worry about him starving himself, that won't happen as nature won't allow it. He may not eat as much as you would like for a while, but he'll eat enough.

At 12 weeks old, you could try just giving him two meals a day and see if that encourages his appetite. Don't feed him a lot of treats between meals either as these can affect his appetite, and don't try 'gussying-up' his meals, dogs (especially the tiny ones) can get very picky if they think it will get them something special.

Small dogs have tiny tummies though, and their metabolisms run fast, so watch out for any signs of hypoglycemia (drop in blood sugar), such as dizziness, a 'wobbly' walk, lethargy etc. If you notice these, a little Karo syrup in his water or rubbed on his gums will help, and go back to the three meals a day.

However, I would recommend that if you see any other symptoms of illness, such as vomiting or diarrhea, loss of interest in toys/surroundings/treats etc., that you take him to your vet for a check up. Just to be sure there's no underlying health issues.

This stage will likely pass fairly quickly. I wish you the best of luck!