I have a 3 1/2 month old mini dachshund that I got about two weeks ago. The vet said he was pretty thin and to let him have as much food as he wanted. I have but he doesn't eat much. He still seems really thin - his ribs feel like there's nothing but fur and bone. He's on dry food and that's what I want to keep him on full time, but should I give him some wet food for a few weeks? Would that help to fatten him up, and would it be a problem to stop giving it to him later?
Thin puppy...should I give him wet food?
- Thread starter BigBlock
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I wouldn't free feed your pup because you have no control over how much he is eating and it works against your housebreaking. Instead, I would re-evaluate the food quality he is getting (what are you feeding?) and the quantity and make sure he doesn't have wormed. There is nothing wrong with feeding wet food other than it's expensive. It's actually healthier than dry. It doesn't necessarily have more calories or anything but it could help him gain because you are bribing him to eat. That's something else that you don't want to be doing. I'd set a strict feeding schedule for three meals a day. Put his food in front of him and give him 10 minutes or so to eat. Any food that he doesn't finish should be removed and he shouldn't be offered anything until his next meal. It'll take him a few days to get used to this but it will help you know exactly how much he is eating which helps with housebreaking and you can condition him to eat at mealtimes. Good luck 
I would stick to the dry food but maybe add a little warm water or chicken broth to the kibble to make it a little easier to chew and a bit more tasty and enticing. Make sure you are feeding a high quality food specifically for puppies (unless it's Canidae all stages). Don't go about hand-feeding him as he will grow accustom to that and you will find yourself with a whole new gang of problems. I'd put food down at three different points in the day...am/noon/pm and leave it for 20 min. He will eat when he's hungry...eventually. A dog will NOT starve itself to death. He will learn that if he doesn't eat when it's din-din time than he doesn't get it for a while. Most likely the puppy will start to eat at the desginated times.
After ruling out any health problems.... I would go easy.
Young dogs tend to be naturally thinner... and if you over do it now, he could likely end up being overweight, which is very hard on a dachshund.
The breed is known for back problems and excess weight may lead to that.
Just go slow and feed a good food.
Julie.
Young dogs tend to be naturally thinner... and if you over do it now, he could likely end up being overweight, which is very hard on a dachshund.
The breed is known for back problems and excess weight may lead to that.
Just go slow and feed a good food.
Julie.
