Clarissa

Hi guys! I'd like some advice please (silly me for thinking that just bc I spent an entire YEAR reading everything I could find about Dobermans before getting one that I could get through 2 weeks with Diesel Maxamilien before needing answers lol)
First our puppy is 9 weeks old now and he was underweight (only 12lbs) last week on his 1st vet visit and is going back in a few days, the problem is that although I am feeding him good food (Blue Buffalo) 3 x a day he is LOSING weight! He is getting bigger but not gaining weight. During the 1st week he ate his food like a champ ( but then I started mixing in some raw meat and or vegestables occasionally, and now a week later he will barely touch it unless I put something 'raw/yummy' in it and now unless it's all coated he simply picks around the dry food! :/ I meant for it to be a supplement but....I leave his food out longer now (1-2hrs) to give him time to pick at it as he is now reluctant to eat dry kibble. Not sure what to do
2nd I was told by his breeder to add a milk replacement for months but when I went to the store to get some when he 1st came home EVERY employee said not to that he was weaned and didn't need it. Now I feel stupid as he has been w/o any for weeks now and I'm thinking...obviously needs it?

Sam1491

Has he seen a vet with you at all?
- did they run a fecal screeing for intestinal parasistes?


How long do you usually leave his food down for?
He should be gobbling up his food in 10-15 minutes and whatever he leaves gets picked up. Adding things is nice but it can also create a picky eater like you now have (assuming he doesn't also have anything medically wrong)

Milk replacer is completely unnecessary, puppies are weaned around 4 weeks of age and no longer require milk after this, if he is eating solid food he doesn't need milk!

You say he is underweight but are his hip bones poking out? his spine, ribs?
Do you have any pictures?
All puppies grow at different rates.

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"The Red Devil Diva" & Her Shamelessly Obedient Human

Dave_L

I only put meat and other added things like rice or potatos on special occassions like Lexi's birthday, or Christmas etc.

I didn't want her to become a picky eater.

Personally, I would watch to see if he is being lethargic. If he is acting normal and looks healthy then I would just leave his dry food out and wait until he's hungry enough to stop being picky.
Lexi looked very skinny during her young puppy stage and her size worried me as well even though she was eating and acting normal.
Anyways, eventually I bet the hunger will take over and he will eat the dry food. Sounds like he is just being picky if he was eating fine until after you stopped adding the extra yummies.

What you could try is getting some salmon oil. Drizzle a little bit over the dry food and shake the bowl to mix it up. It will be good for his coat as well as adding some flavour to his meals.

Or, ask the vet and see what they say.

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Clarissa

I don't have a picture to post yet but I will soon He has seen the vet with me; his 1st visit and one tomorrow, he tested positive for parasites and was de-wormed. He behaves happy and fine but yes his ribs are obvious/def more noticeable this week than last. Thank you I am so happy to hear that the milk replacement is unecessary for his weight gain, I am going to w/hold the yumstuff for now and try the Salmon oil. Thank you for the quick replies!

Sam1491

Make sure your vet does another parasite screen tomorrow, that may be part of the issue. If he is all clean there then yes, don't let him get spoiled/become picky with the extras, you can add some plain greek yogurt (unflavored) if you want but still do the 15 minute rule. You want to see a hungry puppy wanting to eat because the food doesn't last forever not a picky eater.

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"The Red Devil Diva" & Her Shamelessly Obedient Human

Fitzmar Dobermans

try soaking his food in some warm water for about 15 = minutes first. He may be having difficulty eating the dry kibble with his baby teeth. He does not need milk replacer, but to get weight on him a spoonful of canned food mixed in well could not hurt - and it will mix in better if the food is soaked till it is soft. You can wean him off it once he is healthy.

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CH Cha-Rish A Moment Like This RN WAC CGC "Louise"
AKC GRCH/UKC CH Fitzmar's Command A Minute CGC "Harvard"
Fitzmar's Victory Hop Devil "Jezebel"

Bri1218

falnfenix

Bri, there are plenty of people here who feed raw. you won't find anyone arguing with you outside of the whole time/money spent situation.

Kayree

I'd second what Sam1491 and Fitzmar said. Definitely have another parasite screening to make sure you're pups fully healthy.

And I'd be soaking his food in water too - we did this for Angus until he was 13 weeks.

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stryker2

Maybe change kibble from the Blue Buffalo. Another stool check.

Rouleaux

I agree with the above. NO milk replacement, second fecal screen, soak his food in warm water (your breeder should have told you this one!) and CHANGE the diet. There are quite a few threads on this forum regarding diets used and preferred by other users.

IMHO, I do not like, use or promote Blue Buffalo. Yes, it is better than most grocery store sold brands, but it isn't what I would call a high quality food.

I started Rouleaux on Orijen Large Breed puppy when I brought him home, soaking his food for close to 12 hours (to make it really mushy), then gradually down to 30 minutes to soak (I brought my boy home at 7 weeks- now I know better for my next pup). He is no on FROMM brand 4 Star ALS grain free (although the last bag I picked up wasn't grain free, I trust this brand and LOVE its interchangeable recipes) with Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Boost ALS grain free (Venison and Lamb recipe and Salmon and Lamb lamb) Mixed in in small quantities here and there. He still gets his food soaked in warm water, but not to make it mushy, but to make it more like a stew- also this method is used to help prevent bloat, along with rest after eating.

Just wait until he isn't eating due to the effects of Pano

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AlyssaN

The problem I had with soaking food was that Murphy became unable to hold his bladder. He peed a lot when we did it, so keep that in mind.

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Kansadobe

If you purchased the puppy from an experienced and responsible breeder, TALK TO AND LISTEN TO YOUR BREEDER. If your breeder is responsible and experienced, he/she will undoubtedly have more knowledge of what works for their puppies than a bunch of pet owners on a chat list, many of them on their first Doberman as well.

Now, if your breeder is inexperienced or a BYB, this place is probably as good a place to ask as any.

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Rouleaux

I feel like this is a key point here^^^

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Clarissa

Had his 2nd vet check & shots this week. He was 16.5lbs at exactly 10 weeks old. His stool check was positive for 1 type (down from 2 atleast) so that was some of the problem. I have started soaking and mixing it with wet BB and he's eating a lot more at a time now so TY! Vet says he may have puppy staph but doesn't want to treat yet with antibitotics due to his age so...we'll check back on that later. I mix his food with some raw meat (whatever I have on hand) once a day already. But I probably WILL change his dry kibble. On a good note he's been sleeping -or atleast waiting- through the night since he was 8 weeks (had to throw that in there I know I'm lucky)!!! Thank you for the ideas and sound advice.

Clarissa

oops double post