puppy / adult food

[katiescat]

My puppy has diarrhea today. I finally figured out why but now I don't know what to do about it.

I feed my puppy (Bubba) by my front door on the linoleum. I feed my older dog (Turbo) on my bed so Bubba can't get her food. Bubba has liked Turbo's food since I brought him home.

I found out today that Bubba has grown so much in the last 2 weeks that he can now climb onto my bed. That is the only place (or I should say was) I could put Turbo's food so Bubba wouldn't get it.

How can I get Bubba to stay out of Turbo's food? Turbo has food available to her all day and so does Bubba but he dislikes his puppy food.

Should I just let him eat the adult food and not worry about it? As soon as I notice him into her food again I pick him up, sharply say no, and put him in front of his food but in 2 weeks he hasn’t figured it out.

Any suggestions?

[ November 25, 2003, 06:57 PM: Message edited by: Katiescat ]

[Dawn]

How old is he?

[katiescat]

He's 8 1/2 weeks and now the same size as my cockapoo.

[Dawn]

Definately keep him on the puppy food. Do you have him on large breed puppy food? If not, I'd suggest that you switch.

[fullhouse9873]

We have scheduled feeding times at my house. Chance gets a little wet food mixed in with his dry - and he tends not to eat if he's distracted. So we shut him in the pantry for 15 minutes so he can eat in peace. This way we don't have fights over food.

Also - if you crate your dogs - try having feeding time in the crate. I know a german sheperd breeder that does this - just because they have so many dogs!

[katiescat]

Sorry I don't crate my dogs although I have thought about doing so.

I'm keeping him on puppy food for now or I should say I'm trying. I will look for large breed all I know about this puppy food is that it's puppy food.

I would normally have scheduled feedings but with the abuse and neglect Turbo has gone through she learned to grab a bite or two and carry them off to eat. That is how she eats all day long a bite or two here and there. Bubba is the same way he will wolf down a few bites then play or sleep for a while and go back to wolf down a few more bites.

I had thought about locking him in the bedroom to eat but he freaks if I'm out of sight (you should see him when I get back from feeding the horses he won't leave my feet). And Turbo hates being alone in the bedroom by herself for more than a couple of minutes.

This is the reason why I was asking if it would be better to change him as this back and forth keeps giving him diarrhea and the smelliest gas.

[ November 26, 2003, 07:36 PM: Message edited by: Katiescat ]

[fullhouse9873]

I would suggest first off that you try crating your dogs. It can be so beneficial for both the dogs and the owners.

I feed my 6 month old adult dog food. But he does have special needs - he gets diahrea on most kinds of foods. I did consult my vet before I started this. Take your pup to the vet - and they should be able to give you some advice on when it will be safe to switch him to adult food.

[lou3]

yeah - most of you remember not to feed your dogs adult food until they are about 1 year old, they should switch from puppy to junior food at around 5 - 8 months (depending on breed) and then to adult food at 11 - 18 months (again depending on breed)
Obviously Fullhouse has a medical purpose for this, and therefore has no choice, but dont anyone else try it.
Lou

[Teri]

[Try this and don't back down because the pups have great powers of persuasion. Feed them 2x a day with their own food. Baby gate or in different rooms. After 15 minutes take both bowls up. You may have to refrigerate leftovers for awhile. At first they won't know what hit them but they will get used to it. If you leave dog food out all day a lot of dogs will get overweight. You don't want your large dog to grow to fast.It can cause many bone and joint problems. That's why there is special large breed food. Another idea would be to build a box that your little one can get into but your big one can't. Hope I helped! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[LTdog]

I crate my dogs and they love it its also very good for us we dont put them in ewhen they are bad it is just their dn kind of thig lucy used to steal butter off the counter take it to her crate and eat it and tramp chooses to go in his he doesnt like going to new places with out his crate and also if your dog is hurt it is easier to contain them if they have surgery. I dont give my dogs puppy food I make my dogs food they get all the healthy thigs and I have a book on natural foods and my puppy loves it they have a whole section on puppy food and its basically stuff high in protein and calcium and garlic which is very good for dogs and when tramp was little he did not like his food so we got this book because he wouldnt eat and he loved it!