honestly? Sounds to me like you received him "pre-spoilt" lol. If the vet
has ruled out health issues, then I will say what I have always said....a
dog is not going to allow itself to starve! They WILL allow them selves to
get a little hungry if they think they can hold out longer than you for
something better. And usually they can hold out longer than we can...we
give in, give them what they want...rather than that dumb old dog food,
they want the ham sandwich you are eating, lol. I would first determine
what I want him to eat and I would offer that. Personally I free feed. I
do not believe in putting it down for an hour and if they don't eat it,
take it back. I know I don't always want to eat on someone elses schedule!
I free feed, the food is down and they eat whenever they are hungry. So
while others may say different, my recommendation is, whatever you want
him to eat, put it down, leave it down, don't offer an alternative, and he
will eventually eat it because he will learn he isn't getting anything
else.
Also keep in mind, that a lot of chis are just naturally really slim. I had
one that always looked like he was starved to death, but you could feel
his belly and feel that it would be full, yet his hips stuck out like he
was malnourished. Some chis just will not gain weight.....so do make sure
the vet has ruled out any health issues, but if he is healthy, you may
just have to accept the fact that he is a skinny one....
Marsha
> Hi everyone!
>
> I am new to this chihuahua group. We adopted a 4 year old male chi one
> week ago from the SPCA (non-Kill shelter) of las vegas. His name "was"
> Taco, but we changed it to Ricky. He was turned in by his owners. He is
> black & tan. He is very very thin. He should weigh about 7 lbs the vet
> says, but he weighs about 4.1. His ribs and hip bones show. At first I
> thought he was starved by his other owners, but, I am having a real
> tough time getting him to eat now. The first 3 days, he ate 4 times a
> day. Now its barely one time a day. Its not that he wont eat, its that
> he picks and chooses what and when he wants to eat. I have tried to feed
> him S.D canned, simi-moist, mixables, dog cookies, good dry dog food,
> and now he is not eating much at all. this morning he took 4 little
> bites of his S.D canned food, but I had to feed it to him by hand! If he
> were at a normal weight, I would not worry so much, but he is very under
> weight. I bought some Nutri-cal for him
> yesterday. he is not thrilled with taking that willingly either... have
> to put it in his mouth. The only thing he will eat that he loves is
> either human chicken or those pup-a-roni treats. Loves them!
>
> So I know someone here might have some ideas about how to spark his
> appetite. He has seen a vet, and seems ok. he is happy and playful. if
> anyone has any ideas, please let me know. He has been through a lot. He
> was at the shelter 2 weeks, shots, micro-chipped, fixed, and put in a
> kennel with 2 other bigger small dogs, which one of the dogs was picking
> on him, barking and bitting at him. that is when I decided I wanted to
> see him... and we took him home! PS: I take him almost everywhere I go.
> He loves the car.
>
> Thank you
>
> Shanna
> Las Vegas
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