Akita Forum:
Do I need to change her diet?

I have a puppy that will turn one year old next week. I'm getting a little concerned about her eating habits. I don't know if she has a small appetite or just a picky eater. We feed her IAMS lamb&rice puppy formula and she does a little better with that but she'll only eat a little at a time. I've tried twice a day feedings and leaving her dish out for about an hour, to let her eat, and then taking it away, but that didn't work either. I have even added canned food to her regular food. My vet says she's healthy and not to worry. She weighs about 80 pounds. I'd like to know is there any other foods to try or if they like particular flavors. Thanks, Nyah's Daddy :)

I wanted to take a quick moment to respond to your question. When we bred our female and whelped the puppies, we had them evaluated for show and pet quality by a couple who judges for AKC. They evaluate over a thousand litters a year (not just Akitas)and they informed us that by far, Pedigree adult food is the best for dogs and puppies should never be given puppy food. That is all our dogs have ever been fed from birth and they have not had any allergic reactions or any skin conditions. We almost always had some sort of broth - not a lot but just enough to give the food some variety of flavor - to their food. I would also say though that your puppy will not starve herself and that as long as she is gaining weight and seems happy, I wouldn't worry too much. Because her body is still growing, she may be experiencing some growth spurts that have slowed her appetite down some.