Starved puppy

[Ann Morscher]

Help!! My puppy is constantly hungry. She has been with us for 3 weeks now and is always ravenous. She was fed a free feeding raw diet before we got her. I now have her on 1/2 cup Innova puppy in the morning, 1/2 cup Embark Honest Kitchen dehyrated food at noon and 1/2 cup Innova puppy in the evening. She is so used to people food. We cannot eat a banana or apple without her having a fit. We have given her small pieces as a treat, but today she is acting starved all day. SHe is barking for more food and after eating her food in 30 seconds flat she is begging for more. She is pacing in the kitchen today and trying to get up on the counters where there are treats and food. Help!!!

Ann

[Colleen]

Hi Ann,

I'm not an expert, but I'm wondering if she was checked for worms when you got her? I know that tapeworms eat what's in your stomach, so you are always hungry. At least that's how it works with humans! Also, how is her weight? Is she underweight? Overweight? Normal?

[Ann Morscher]

She did have worms when we got her and has been on two rounds of medication. I believe she had round worms. She goes back next Monday and I am to bring another stool sample.

When we first got her, I would say she was a bit overweight. We have been following the guidelines on the puppy food and walking her twice a day. Now her weight is normal. The vet agrees she is growing appropriately.

I am concerned with her absolute hunger. If this continues, I will contact the vet and see about bringing her sample in sooner.

Ann

[Colleen]

It sounds like you are on the right track! Taking her to the vet sooner than later is a good idea! I hope she can figure it out!

[Eric Vecc]

Another suggestion is to not give in at all to the begging. If you give in once, she will continue to try it. And the tries will get more persistant and more frequent the more you give in. Stick to a schedule and she will follow. Bailey used to beg during every meal (and we eat at the coffee table). After 6 months of never getting a bite, he doesn't even watch us eat. He will just lay there and chew on a toy or something.

[aussiesmum]

free feeding raw diets seems VERY dangerous! A side from potential medical issues, I would take eric's advise.

Aussie gets people food in her kongs and the occassional piece of carrot to munch on. But when she is given any treat other than her assigned dog food treats, they are either given 1.) in her bed (she sees a kong she runs to her bed) 2.) in her bowl 3.) in the kitchen (if I am chopping a bannana for myself I will give her a bite).

But by limiting where we actually give her food, she doesn't beg. When we eat dinner she is enjoying her kong in her bed.

How old is your puppy? If she is still a wee thing you could feed her more often (but smaller quantities). I would also recommend trying to break the getting on counters thing ASAP as, if she will get bigger, you could have some serious problems.

[Laura Redhawk]

This may be a more mental/emotional issue for her. So, take advantage of it and start using her desire for munchies to TRAIN her to do different things. Sit/lay down/ come/stay/ even such games as Find it, earn her a treat when correctly done.

Also, you can try giving her part of her total daily food by making her scavenge for it...tossing it where she gets to look for it, instead of using a bowl. Using a Kong or a Buster Cube that she has to work a bit for the food will make it last longer and may be more mentally satisfying for her, over just having it in a bowal.

Some breeds can at times also have more challenges in this area during the winter months. Hannah was just freaky her first winter and would steal any food from any place she could. She's better now, and also understands the command to LEAVE IT, but it takes time to get there.
Wags
Laura

[Hee Yung Lee]

You have a 4 month old samoyed, right? How much does she weigh? Maybe 1 1/2 cups a day isn't enough (?). Is she fairly active? I'm really not sure-just some thoughts.