Now I have a food and poop question....

Stef · 02-28-2010, 11:35 AM

Ocean has been doing over the top good but now I have a food and poop question...
K, bear with me, its been awhile since I have had a young pup...
I have been feeding her puppy chow purina for big pups. She has been doing really well with it with solid poops that are not huge for her size but a little big cause she is a little big pup. The guy who she was born with is a friend of mine and I know he gave the pups top of the line as all his animals are super healthy, he lives in the country so he has many of them and I used to board my horse with him years ago and have no complaints. Anyway...... I am starting on Oceans second week being in our home and she is just now turning 8 weeks old. She has done well on this food as far as health and poop. I was thinking that she should get fed twice a day. And then someone said 3 times. So feeling abusive I just put it down for free food till I find out and to see just how much maybe she should be getting. But since I started that a couple days ago now she hardly eats and this mourning she has the runs. As soon as she starts to sit infront of the door I am running to her with her leash to get her out in time.. poor baby, that cant feel good and she is trying so hard to hold it for outside... Iv not seen a pup be able to do that with the runs and I feel so bad for her trying to. Its been this way all mourning.

Oh and I just thought, I got her and Feora a knockle bone with little meat on it 2 nights ago. I only put them down in the evening before bed. Do you think that could be some cause?

**fawkese1** · 02-28-2010, 03:32 PM

diarrhea in puppies that young always worries me... they dehydrate soooo quickly. especially if she isn't eating/doesn't have much appetite... i'd say vet time... has she vomited at all? does she seem lethargic at all? is she interested in any food? has she been drinking water?

it could be the food, did you switch her gradually? and it could be the knuckle bone, i don't really know. but what worries me is that it could be something else....

oh and yeah, feed 3x per day is easier on their systems....generally....

ugg... i hope she feels better soon

Stef · 02-28-2010, 03:49 PM

Actually, thats the odd thing, the diarrhea is the only sign of something not quite right... She plays hard and I mean hard, we have a lot of fun with her. Today was her first crate training day and she did pretty good I think. She watched the vaccuum vroom around the livingroom, wasnt affraid and wasnt brave just watched wondering what the deal is with it. She seems to be wanting to play when I try to get her to eat. If she decides she does want to eat its one bite and then off to the toys again.. She just wants to play more then eat. when I was giving her feeding times, she ate more because she had to wait so now that you told me 3 times then I will pick her bowls up and see if she eats more when she is given feeding times again.
Actually, my friend cooks some of the food he gives and mixes it with water and then with a top brand food but I dont remember now the brand name. Just remember thinking that it was a pricey one.

Stef · 02-28-2010, 07:46 PM

Well this evening her poop is starting to look like poop again. Solid. So... hmmmm..... dont know what that was all about......

**fawkese1** · 02-28-2010, 08:04 PM

well that is good news at least, could have been the bone...

Gone2Dogs · 03-01-2010, 09:15 PM

Could very well have been the bone but I would also NOT free feed a baby puppy. More often than not a puppy will overeat, overtax it's tiny system and diarrhea results. I would personally feed measured meals three times a day minimum for the next several weeks. Depending on the dog and size I have fed four meals a day....heck with toys it seems like you are offering food every other minute so they don't go hypoglycemic.

It could be that your baby has some self checking and after the intial "holy cow" has learned not to pig down too much food. But it may also be harder to keep ahead of housetraining with free choice...since you will not be able to time outings as easily.

Stef · 03-01-2010, 10:10 PM

I put her on a 3 times a day feeding. She grunts at me, lol... Ya, I treat a lot, cant help it. Sorry.. But there are treats that only my 2 year old gets as Im not sure if my pup can take it all right now. She is a great dane/golden mix. Shell be big

.. I think it may have been the bone though so no more bone for her, just my 2 yr old. I gave her some flavord raw hide though. She seems okay with that. Lots of good things for puppy teeth to chew on around here, lol

Mikey · 03-02-2010, 03:01 AM

I'd say three times to free feed-but that depends on breed and temperament. We've never had a dog who couldn't be freefed (until Mandy got cancer and was on prendisone-makes them eat like piggies-so she is fed 6-8 small meals a day now) and we did that as pups too. For me and our dogs it has ALWAYS been fine-our dogs never felt depraved (well except when we don't share pizza lol) and never overate, nor were they overweight.

However-it is not for every dog, every routine and every owner. So I think the three meals like your doing is better. Also lke you said, she ate less-so perhaps feeding time is her cue and without that she didn't bother?
How's the 'runs'-is she solid now?

Stef · 03-03-2010, 11:12 PM

Yes, she is solid now...
I think I will have to keep her on feeding times, I have to keep track of when she eats and make her rest afterwards because with her being half greatdane she could have inherited the great dane tummy. The tummy is not connected to the spine to keep it in one spot in great danes. If they do to much activity after eating their tummy does a knot and they die of bloat. So on the half chance, we want to be careful with that.

LkShrBulldogs · 03-05-2010, 03:22 PM

Sometimes dogs get loose stools just like humans do <eek> lol Eat something that just doesnt agree with them =/ Barring that there is no other symptoms, you can always try PURE pumpkin in a can, this usually will clear up a loose stool caused by just a tummy ache. I mix in about a 1/2 can w/ 1/2 their usual amount of kibble (dont give a full meal, sometimes the belly needs time to rest) Just make sure it is PURE, not the mix. I keep some stocked in my shelf at all times =)

HTH,
-sabrina