puppy (over eating)

[arashed]

hi,
my 5o days old rottie eats more than 3 times aday (doctor suggests only 3 meals to me), if she wakes in the middle of the night, she never sleeps before taking another meal, which ends up 2 eating 4 or 5 times aday, is that natural, should i feed her as much as she needs as long as she's hungry????

[rottmommie]

it sounds to me like this eating extra at night, and not sleeping til she gets some food, is boredom , or stress, or maybe even both. Try a distaction, toy, nylabone, etc...anything but food......

[whitney greenway]

yes, you want her lean.

Fat puppy can lead to all kinds of health problems.

[arashed]

nothing works except FOOD, i dont think its stress but i guess its boredom cuz i dont let her out of the room much cuz of the cold that she has, also i guess its the medicine that she takes that makes her eat much, how many times should i let her eat, wuts the kind of food u deliver?

[Carina43]

Four times a day isn't too much, as long as she doesn't get too fat...she's only 7 weeks old. Five times a day is kind of a lot, unless she's only eating a little bit at each meal.

Can you get her a big meaty bone to chew on at night if she gets bored or won't sleep? Something like a beef rib or knuckle bone...it will taste good to her, keep her occupied & give some good exercise for her teeth & muscles. She won't get fat because there's not THAT much meat on something like that, and she'll have to work pretty hard to get at it.

Maybe also try to play with her a lot in the evenings so she's tired out...a tired puppy is a good puppy!

[rottmommie]

what medicine is she on?
Is she taking prednisone?
THAT would explain the hunger. How long does she have to STAY on medicine??
she should have time to play and socialize, she wont catch a worse cold inside the house, let her have some activity!

[Judi W]

Usually by this age, pups are on 3 meals a day. Put her on a schedule and keep her on it. If you respond with food every time she fusses you are developing a habit for her that is not good in either the short or long term. I'd do a late night potty around 10 and then expect to get up for potty about 5. Fussing does not mean she needs to eat, just that you are teaching her you will feed her if she fusses.

[arashed]

she was taking Rhinomol, and Emox both 3 times daily for 5 days ( already finished them) and Decal B12 as a vitamin for 10 days, i already noticed when she's tired, she sleeps better and eat less at night, average 3 to 4 times daily, but sometimes she doesnt finish her meal at once and she eats it on intervals, should i take the plate after an eaxact time or is it okay to leave for her to eat it whenever she likes???

[Judi W]

Leave it down for 15 minutes and then take it up. By regulating her eating times you also assist in regulating the times she needs to eliminate. Don't keep the buffet line open although you can still do 4 meals a day if you think she needs that extra meal. If you are sure she has pottied and it is time for her to be quiet, she will never learn if you jump up and respond whether with food or something else, everytime she fusses. Remember that she is still little so she can only go so many hours in the crate. (about 4 or so) She will need to potty after every meal. If the meals go on all day how can you have an "after eating" time to go potty?