My new puppy won't eat!!

[suzy_99]

We just got a new puppy 2 days ago. She is a dalmatian/akita mix and is approximately 8 weeks old (maybe a little over). The first night we got her home she ate and drank just fine, but the next night she got a little sick and vomitted a little clear stuff. She also had one soft stool. We took away her food for about 4 hours, but since then she still does not seem to want to eat anything. She has drank some water today, but has only eaten about 2 pellets of her puppy food (she hasn't really eaten in about 13 hours). Is this normal for a new puppy?? I should also mention that she does not appear to be lethargic at all. She goes outside and plays, but tends to sleep when she is in the house.

[Saje]

Hmm. Is she being fed the same food as before you got her? If not she may not like change. That seems like quite a long time for a puppy to go without eating but maybe she just needs some time to settle in. Regardless, I'd call my vet and at least ask if you should be concerned and bring her in. It's always good to get another opinion.

I find sometimes that wetting a dogs food will encourage them to eat. You may also want to try other brands. What is she eating now?

[suzy_99]

Initally, we did change her food (with a little of her old stuff mixed in), but since she got sick I have switch her back to the food that she was on before we got her and she still doesn't seem all that interested. I'm kinda confused because everyone is telling me that all puppies do this at first because they stuff themselves and play too much the first day, so they kinda have a "down time" after this. I know to bring her to the vet if she becomes lethargic, but other than that I am clueless about what to do. Would it be alright to feed her a little adult can food or would that be bad for her??

[aurorab]

getting sick clear can also be from fear. It might be that all the change scares her. My dogs does would do it to herself she'd shake and the vomits clear (sometimes w/ food if she jsut ate). She is a lot better now.
Baby didn't eat much the 1st wk and Mira wouldn't eat dog food or from a bowl. Baby was easier once she got settled she atarted to eat. We had to change a bit to find what she liked. Mira we had to start w/ boild chicken and rice (she also had tapeworms and was very, very under weight). I had to hand feed her. After 3 wks she is now on dog food and eats out of a bowl. she was found on the street and she just needed to relearn how to eat.
A day or 2 is ok especially if they are drinking. Also has she been to the vet. MAke sure there isn't a medical reason.

[sparks19]

try softening her foor with some water and also try hand feeding her. i agree with the others that she is probably just scared or uneasy and is just getting used to things. but yes you should check with a vet if you haven't already :D

[aurorab]

Oh and try warming it. If dry wet it a bit and warm it. Not hot. That also helped w/ Mira. (just popped into my head- this yucky day is getting to my head)

[Sheba]

I also agree on everything else you others have said

[suzy_99]

I tried wetting her food and initially it did not work, but then I mixed in a cut up milk bone (just a small one) and she ate a healthy amount of her food. She also drank a good amount of water, so I am beginning to worry a little less right now. She has already been dewormed, but has not yet received her vaccinations, but will be getting them shortly.
Thank you for all the help...its nice to know that this type of behavior can be normal from the stress of moving into a new house.

[juliefurry]

you can try mixing canned food it with her food. I know when our puppy was that little she had to eat every few hours or she would get really sick and we'd have to spoon feed her canned food. One night we almost thought she was going to die and we were half way to the emergency vet clinic and then we stopped for some canned food, cuz I wanted to see if she'd eat it, and I forced some on her and then she was fine and she came to really quick. So try canned food because a little pup like that shouldn't go that long without eating. Even if she only eats the canned food atleast she's eating something.

[poeluvr]

why not try calling the vets, to see what he thinks?

[aurorab]

It's nice to have someone to talkto I know that you ar enot alone and that it's normal.
And it never hurts to ask. My little one was so regular and ate at the same time, pooped the same way at the same time... everything exactly the same for over a yr. She a bit of soft poop and I had no idea what to do. It just totally threw me. We gave her something that we got at a pet expo and it upset her tummy really bad. The Dr was like it's ok just try some boiled chicken and rice. He was so not a big deal about it, even my husband was like why are you calling the vet over a little soft poop it's not even diarrhea, but she was always the same, everyday, the exact same. Now I'm like, not a big deal. If it lasts a bit or she has other things then I might but I guess it just takes time to figure out. They are so like kids!

[bubbatd]

I've never been able to let dogs " self feed" on dry because of other dogs. I do prefer dried, moisted with warm water ( or broth maybe in your case....salt free) if my newly sold pups weren't eating , I'd suggest some chopped up boiled egg and cottage cheese. Rice is always good.