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what is good for a tiny yorkie with no appetite and very picky eater,does not like to eat he weighs 2lbs at 1 yr old

Age: 35-44

Gender: female

2 years, 3 months ago

daly

orlando fl

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I purchased a toy shih tzu puppy in Dec. She was my Christmas present. Needless to say once home we found out she was also picky. This lead to hypoglycemia due to not getting the proper nutrition. Vets had me giving her Nutri-cal for vitamins and nutrients and she was getting and sugar water twice daily. We tried every brand food out there. She just would not eat. Then we figured it out thanks to my vet not giving up on us. She refused to eat out of bowl. She would drink here water out of bowl with no problem. Her dry and can food had to be on a plate. Now she has gained 2# and off nutria-cal and starting to get off sugar water.

Age: 35-44

Gender: female

3 months, 4 weeks ago

GingerAKAChewy

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That is not enough body weight to sustain a healthy Yorkie. Healthy body weight is 5-7 lbs and is dependant upon the dog's genetics (such as weights of parents). I use Eukaneuba Yorkie food, which is a dried food and Lord Byron likes it. He would rather have treats of course; however, he is 6 lbs 1 oz and is 20% overweight, according to my vet. In Yorkies, being overweight has serious complications, such as tracheal collapse and diabetes. You have the opposite problem. As a supplement, and ask your vet first, try letting him lick some Nutri-Cal which is an energy, high calorie dietary supplement.

Age: 55-65

Gender: female

10 months ago

Anonymous

Northeastern PA

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My 3lb. yorkie refused to eat anything as a puppy also. I tried every brand of dog food and she wouldn't even eat people food. I finally discovered Stella & Chewy's frozen raw patties that I defrosted, slightly warmed, and fed her by hand. She's 4 now and her baby sister taught her how to eat out of a bowl. They eat Blue Buffalo mixed with a little Stella & Chewy's freeze dried food sprinkled on and mixed in. I also add a little warm water.
Hope this helps
Best,
Gay

Gender: female

1 year, 1 month ago

Gayzee

Chicago

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I too have a very picky eater she is a yorkie as well and I feed her Royal Canine yorkie food she loves it.

Age: 35-44

Gender: female

2 years, 2 months ago

tlgleason

Greensboro

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We have been feeding Wellness dry food with a small amount (teaspoon) or so and finally with a little warm water. Every dog we have loved this. Wellness dry or canned foods can be a very complete diet. The canned food comes in many varieties. It is also rated as one of the very best foods that you can feed your dog.

Age: 55-65

Gender: male

2 years, 2 months ago

allanmacmanes

ashford, ct

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Thank you for your question. If you need an answer right away, and don’t wish to wait for another customer to respond, please feel free to contact our Customer Service Department at 1.800.381.7179 or email CustomerService@DrsFosterSmith.com.

2 years, 3 months ago

DrsFosterSmithStaff1

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How do you keep a shitzu from eating out of the litter box?

My shitzu is almost 1 year old and is still going in the litter box eating the tootsie rolls. I cannot raise the litter box or use a gate. One of my cats is diabetic and has neuropathy in her back legs and can't jump very well at all. My dog also prefers there food rather than her own food. It has been such a struggle because I cannot put the litter box or food up high because of diabetic cat. If anyone has any ideas please let me know. Thank you so much!

Age: 45-54

Gender: female

1 year, 1 month ago

Nancy222

Illinois

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That...is a disgusting habit! My Shih Tzu used to do the same thing when she went down in the cellar with me...where one of the cat box's is located.
Do you live in an apartment? Do you live in a house? Your living space will dictate just exactly what you can do about this problem.
From what you have written, it seems that you don't have a lot of space or...that you DON'T scoop out your litter box enough.
If you do live in cramped quarters and can not move the litter box, I would suggest that you scoop it out every time you see anything solid in it and check several times a day.
Also, can you possibly put up a dog/child gate so that the little dog cannot get into the cat box or cat food area?
As far as the dog liking the cat's food better than her own...try getting or cooking something that the little dog might like better than the smelly cat food....obviously, it's more interesting to her than the food that you give her.
My ShihTzu always liked sauteed calves liver, boneless chicken thighs, lamb...along with a little canned food...GOOD canned food....duck, buffalo, venison...and Wellness Small Breed dry food.
Make her food interesting and maybe she won't find the cat's food so tempting.

Age: 55-65

Gender: female

5 months, 1 week ago

KanineMommy

Springfield, MA

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I had that problem and was kicking myself for not thinking of it earlier.
I.just got a tall box that she could reach up and over and down.
Works perfect!
Eating kitty poop is disgusting!,,,

5 months, 2 weeks ago

Chaosity

Texas

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Ask your vet, but I believe I saw either a product that is put on the litter, or something you feed your kitty which makes his/her feces not taste too great (not that it would to begin with!). Also, I would ask the vet, making sure your dog doesn't have a vitamin deficiency which might make him/her want to eat the feces. Just a thought.

Age: 55-65

Gender: female

10 months ago

Anonymous

Northeastern PA

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They sell an enzyme in pill form in most larger pet stores and in the Doctors Foster & Smith catalog which you give orally and it deters this. Good luck!

Age: 55-65

Gender: female

11 months ago

CavMom

Long Island, NY

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I have a similar problem with my yorkie mix. She prefers the cat food and she'll eat it whenever her bowl happens to be empty. To start with, I started mixing some cat food with her food. She'd eat the cat food only at first. But, eventually she started eating all of the food in the bowl. Now, she eats her dog food without cat food all of the time. She will still, on occasion, eat the cat food if she's hungry at a random time. But, it took a few months and she now eats her dog food. I also moved her food bowl to her crate. So it's in her personal space. That might have also helped. My vet said that as long as she was also eating her dog food, it wasn't a health concern. Also, when I stopped putting in the cat food, I'd put some treats in her dog food. For example, she gets one of her dentastix every morning. So, I put that in her bowl. I would also break up a treat and put it in there too. (Don't want too many treats, of course!). That helped a lot. As for the litter box, she does that too. Well, she did. The vet said that there wasn't really a health concern with it, but recommended I stop her. Unfortunately, my cat is twice the size of my dog. So, wherever the cat can go, the dog can go. I don't have a high place for the cat to go that's out of the way in my small condo. So, I just got more vigilant with my scooping. I check it every morning and clean if need be. My dog is crated while I'm gone, so daytime isn't an issue. I check it when I come home and before bed. Also, my dog is a lap dog. So, if she's ever out of my sight, I know she's probably on the lookout for the litter box. But, I make it easy on myself. I have a "litter locker" that you can buy bags for so you can scoop and then just leave it until it's full. It's sort of like a diaper genie. Now, the litter locker system has a large container of a bag that you then twist a dial on to turn it so it seals it off in sections and you can use it for a month. Then you buy a new bag container. Well, those bag containers are about $15. So, I stopped buying them and I use a regular plastic bag from the grocery in it. When you close it, it seals up the smell. I can't twist the dial of course. I just close the top. I'll use one bag for a few days and then toss it. But, I also don't use litter anymore. I have the Breeze system. It has pellets and a tray underneath with a pad to catch the urine. So. I don't have a litter mess to deal with every time I clean. So, it's very sanitary and MUCH neater. So, I don't mind to mess with it a few times a day if need be. So, I think your best bet, if you can't move it, is to just keep an eye on it. This is easier if your dog is crated while you are gone so you don't have to worry about it then. But, the vet said that the taste is good to dogs. There's not really a way to stop the dog except to remove the "tootsie rolls" as a temptation.

Age: 25-34

Gender: female

1 year ago

Beth628

Ohio

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Thank you for your question. This is always a challenging problem, and one that we hope you can solve, since the cat litter 'coating' on the 'tootsie rolls' might cause an intestinal impaction, which could be life threatening. There are a number of things you can try. One idea would be to use a gate set a bit off the ground (if there would be a height that your cats could slip under, but that would deter your dog). You can also do the same with a small arch or cat door (again, this may not work very well if your Shi-tzu is smaller, or your cats are larger. A third option is to use a keyed door. These will only allow access to an animal that has a key on their collar. We have provided a link to one below. jpk

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...

1 year, 1 month ago

DRS1

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Anxiety + Stress = Excessive Whining

My Lhasa/Shih-Tzu mix is almost 10 months now, and about 2 months ago he started getting really whiny. Example; every morning my dog and I drive my son to school, same time, same route. He never whined or made any fuss. Now all of a sudden it's a major drama. If I put my shoes on he starts whining. If anyone looks like they're leaving, he starts whining. Take him with you in the car, he starts whining, and it doesnt matter if he's on the seat or the floor. Now even at night as I turn down the bed he's started carrying on till I finally put him on it. Again, never used to be a big deal.

I've tried anti-anxiety pills, but they don't make a difference at all. No major changes, not even minor ones to family, food; I keep routines for a reason. I recently bought a Thundershirt, and that doesn't help either. On recommendation from his obiediance trainer I've tried teaching him "settle" and to lay on his bed, but it does no good. I'm at my wits end and have no idea what to do. I'm supposed to be training him to be my service dog, but his over excitability, and now all the crying, is becoming a hindrance as he can not focus when he gets like this.

Suggestions, ideas? I'm open to just about anything.

Age: 35-44

Gender: female

1 year, 2 months ago

Rhaevin

Pahrump, Nevada

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It sounds to me like your dog may need a buddy. I bring over my friends puppy for about 90 minutes every couple days and it really helps her. My pup is 4 months old chihuahua and was a crisis rescue. Don't dope up your pet. That is a bad start. Maybe you can ask Cesar Milan. He is the expert here.

Blessings

Age: Over 65

Gender: female

5 months ago

Rainhorse

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My first suggestion, a COMPLETE check-up by a very GOOD veterinarian.
Is he neutered?
Could he possibly be in pain?
You have to look at ALL the choices it could be.

Age: 55-65

Gender: female

5 months, 1 week ago

KanineMommy

Springfield, MA

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Thank you for your question. We find that dogs may whine for many reasons and whining is not always related to anxiety. If you think there is truly an anxiety component to this, you may want to try a product such as Comfort Zone to see if this helps. This may be found at the below link:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...

Dogs may also whine in anticipation of something that they like, such as going for a walk or a ride, to get your attention, or to get you to do something they want (such as feeding them a treat). If you have responded to this whining with a big reaction or by doing what your dog wants, they may be used to this now and expect a reaction now. One thing you could try is to interrupt the whining by focusing their attention on something else. As soon as your pet starts to whine, you may want to have your pet sit, then praise them for this. At this point, it would be up to you whether you choose to give your pet the thing that they are anticipating or wanting. If you do not want your pet to have or do whatever it is that they are wanting, then you may want to try to redirect their attention to something else, for example a favorite toy. When your pet is in the car and starts to whine, you may want to have your pet lie down, and then praise your pet for doing what you asked him to do and then give you pet a toy that they may really like, or maybe something your pet only gets when they are in the car, to help keep them busy. Increasing your pet’s activity level a bit may also help. If none of these suggestions work, we would suggest you consider working with a veterinary behaviorist for further assistance with this.

tmb

Age: 25-34

Gender: male

1 year, 1 month ago

DRS1

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I'm not a big believer in pills. I have a friend who has tried the pheromones with her dog, who suffers extreme anxiety, and they have worked. These can come in sprays, impregnated into a special collar, or like a 'scented oil plug-in'. I would also recommend crate training for him. A crate is natural for a dog, as in the wild their cousins live in dens. What does your veterinarian say about this? I'd definitely consult with him/her as well!

Gender: female

1 year, 1 month ago

LynnDee

Skagit County, WA

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Thunder is a tough one as my dog "freaks" out over it also. I do have something you can try for when you leave him alone. I always give my dog a mix of treats right before I leave the house. I tell him to "protect the house" and that we will be back shortly. I emphasize the "protect the house" part. He goes up on the couch and waits for his treats. It takes a few times but it has been working for me for at least 6 years. I have been told that telling the dog such a thing gives them ownership and responsibility. It's worth a try. Good luck!

1 year, 2 months ago

Steeler56

Scranton, PA

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I had a pomerianian dog and he seems to rub his rear on a rug or soft area what does this mean?

He is a rescue dog I don't know his age

Age: 45-54

Gender: female

2 years ago

Prince

Island NYLong

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could have worms or if you just had him wormed then his anal glands could be clogged/blocked..you can milk them your self or let a vet tech or groomer do it (that's what I would do lol)

1 year, 9 months ago

RebeccaB

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It sounds like a trip to your dog's veterinarian is in order. Your Pom could have inflamed anal glands that need a vet's attention.

1 year, 10 months ago

FSCustomer

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This is a common sign of the dog having worms. The worms irritate the rear area and the rubbing action helps relieve the discomfort/itching. Check with vet to be sure.

Age: 55-65

Gender: female

1 year, 10 months ago

RGValleyGal

San Benito, TX

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Thank you for your question. There could be a number of reason your dog is scooting it's butt on the ground, one of the most common is that it's rectal glands are full. The best way to get this sorted out would be to contact your vet as soon as possible. Here is a link to an article on our PetEducation web site that might be helpful: http://www.peteducation.com/article...

2 years ago

Anonymous

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House training a toy poodle

He was 6 months old when I got him so his habits were already a part of him. He has learned to ask to go outside to pee, and he does pee when outside, but he will NOT poo anywhere but the carpet inside the house no matter how long I leave him outside. I've tried shaming him. I've tried ignoring the problem. Nothing works. Suggestions?

Age: Over 65

Gender: female

10 months ago

MommaJo

Central Florida

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I would take a sample of his stool (poo) outside where you want him to go so that he can smell it and maybe this will give him the hint that this is where he needs to go. Dogs usually go back to where they have done their business before. Once he does poo outside, give him lots of praise.

8 months ago

Westiefied

Eugene, OR

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Yes, but it is a lot of work, not much fun. The key is consistency and patience. NEVER ever let that little dog loose in your house with your eyes directly on him. That way, you can get him outside when he starts doing the sniffing around looking for a place to poop routine instead of him sneaking off to do the dirty deed. You may need to actually tie the dog to you with a leash, use a crate when that isn't convenient, or he is outside taking care of business. If those are his only options day in and day out, he will learn. Good luck!

9 months ago

GeminisGems

Falcon, CO

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Develop a ROUTINE. Be consistent and persistent. Shaming or punishing will not work.
Leash walk in morning and especially after meal time.
When he poos , positive reinforcement! Great praises when he finally does it outside.
( good job! Good puppy! ) can even offer a small treat. I rather use emotional reward than food. But what ever works
Best for you. Dogs love praises and attention.
Keep repeating the same process. They learn fast!
Keep a vigilant eye when indoors and catch him in the act then quickly scoot him outside.
Dogs want to please their human companion.
Routine and positive reinforcement is the most important advice I can offer.
Good luck !

9 months ago

K911

Maryland

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