Got new pup and need food advice

[berserk]

I just got my new puppy a week ago, he is a Rott/German Shepherd mix. My mom also got his sister who is the sweetest little pup. When we first went and looked at them I noticed they had food in a huge bowl and the pups just ate when they wanted. When we got them home it was time to feed them, I had picked up some bil-jac puppy food and we decided to give them a 1/4 cup 3 times a day. It seemed to be enough at first but I soon noticed they were eating anything and everything of the ground. I would take what ever they picked up if I could, but alot of times it was to late. I just assumed they were curios pups, but after a week it looked like my big male pup had lost some weight. We started thinking it was the food so we talked to a vet and decided to move them to purina puppy chow large breed.

Well last night I caught the pups eating the drywall in my kitchen (yes you read right they were eating the wall) there was about a 5 inch by 5 inch square of dry wall missing . I think and hope they will be okay, drywall and the paint are not toxic. I am starting to think there just real hungry, and that bil-jac food is crap and not filling them up. So we have started mixing bil-jac and purina to get them used to the new food, and in a week we'll just be giving them purina. The most important question is should I just leave a big bowl with food out all day (im afraid they will just eat till they puke). Or just increase the amount we give them, and stay with feeding them 3 times a day? By the way there 8 weeks today and the girl weighs 10 pounds, the boy is about 5 pounds more. I have been worrying like crazy and need to know how much you gave your pups.

[murdock maclean]

Hey there,
I dont think they are eating the wall because they are hungry, pups will do things like that and eat stuff off the ground, grass, rocks, dirt lol ect.
Did you leave your pup alone when he chewed the wall? He may have gotten bored.
Also when my dog was a pup i left food in his bowl at all times he would eat when he was hungry. Some pups might pig out doing this so just watch him and see what he does.

[berserk]

He was only alone for about 30 minutes when this happened. The most there alone in a day is about 4-5 hours. My parents and brother interact with them in the evening. I work nights so on my days off they get alot of attention in the early morning and afternoon. Its just real stressful right now because I havent had a pup since I was a kid, and back then my mom took care of her. But that was at least 10 years ago so were both "new" at this. Anyone else have advice?

[SABELLESMOM]

Well, I suggest you get crates for when you can't watch them closely enough. There are crates with partitions. Initially they could share, but eventually you would need two. (Try your local Agway, they had a sale recently on the 2 door models with partition- buy 1 big enough for 1 dog, full sized) They should have just enough room to turn around and lie down. They don't like to relieve themselves where they lay, so it makes that part easier as well.

They are not eating dry wall out of hunger. They want things to chew. At 8 weeks, you could try large size greenies. Chances are (at 8 weeks) they won't be able to get much off at a time so it will satisfy their need to chew for a while. Later give them RAW marrow bones. I do not use raw hide chews as they get soggy and can choke your pet. I've also heard some folks had to have them surgically removed when they became impacted in the bowel.

Find a better food. There are lots of premium brands out there. You may pay a bit more, but there is less waste. And, you feed less because it's not all cereal and fillers.
On your package the first ingredients listed should be meat (not fillers and chicken feet) and meal. The remainder of ingredients should sound relatively healthy, like ground whole rice, oatmeal, salmon, duck, spinach, apple, etc.

Protein analysis...around 22-26% (roughly)
Crude fat ..........10-14%
Crude fiber.........3-4%
Moisture ...........9-10%

I'm sure people can help with brands other than the ones I'm familiar with. But here goes: Canidae, Flint River, California Natural, Wellness, Chicken Soup for dogs, and Royal Canin.

[Troy]

Natura Pet foods are of good quality, Innova specifically.

Check them out and compare at: www.naturapet.com

Good luck.