Having problems with Taco, need advice

[aliciatobytaco]

Hi Everyone.

I have been having a few problems with taco lately.
Friday, Sunday and last night he has had 'pooping' issues.
Not diarrehea, just ALOT of bowels movements, during the night.
He is actully going in his crate which is very abnormal.
I called our vet this morning, and they ran a stool sample, and everything checked out fine with that. There main concern was how much is he eating, and how late. Anyone with more than one dog knows it is hard to get them on a scheduled eating time. I will admit I am bad about letting them munch whenever they want. My vet told me, like he has many times before, to feed them one time in morning and that is it. To put the food down for 20 minutes, if after the 20 mins they haven't eaten take the food up, and let that be it all day. It is soooo hard to do this, because they are starving at night time.
I know it will take time, and when they realize this is there only chance to eat, they will eat then. Does anyone have any advise on this or what might be going on???

[Luckys Mom]

Alicia.. i don't have an issue with Lucky pooing and it very well could be him eating late at night....i know it is hard...and with Lucky it was even harder for me...he was so use to eating human food everyday...and he was gaining way to much weight...and i had to give in and get him on dog food one way or another...they will make you think they are starving but there not...here is what i do and MOST IMPORTANT: don't let them know you care if they eat or not they know when you care and when you don't just put the food down and walk away act like you don't care if they eat it will make them realize that when you feed them its time for them to eat and not when they want...depending on your work schedule and hours...but this is my time

Morning 7am i put his food down for 15 minutes...if he don't eat..then i pick it up


Dinner 6:15pm i put his food down for 15 minutes...if he don't eat...he gets nothing for the night...

if Lucky eats his food in the morning then i give him a treat before i leave for work...and if he eats his dinner i give him a snack around 8:30pm and he is good till morning...i know its hard but you make the rules not the pups...

[aliciatobytaco]

thanks Luckys mom.
After talking to the vet this morning I know I HAVE to stick to my guns.
The pups didn't really touch there food today, and now they are searching the kitchen floor for crumbs. Usually they are free to go get a bite of kibble whenever. I know they will actually be hungry when I put there food down tommorrw, so more than likely they will eat?!? i hope. It is hard, exspecially with three little chi faces looking up at you going 'where is our food at tonight mommy" but they need to know I am boss!!

[Romans Mom]

Alicia, We're go through the same thing. And now with the time change, all 3 of mine have really been off. They usually eat and 9 and 5 on the dot, then they wanted it at 8 and 3, recently too, they all want to eat at different times, but Sheba thinks she needs to eat each time. ha

and now tonight, it's 6 pm, and they are not acting like they want to even eat. lol ...except Sheba who is bugging me at the moment. :razz: lol

Mine come in and vaccume the kitchen carpet for me. When I make cheese logs, they love it because there's always greated parmesan. lol I don't have to vaccume! :w00t:

We were told the same thing as you and lucky's mom.. and that it has to do with when they poopie and to feed them at a scheduled time. I think it's easier said than done when a hungry Chihuahua is holding you down to get all the food! lol lol:D

PS Info from Chihuahua For Dummies: It's common in chi's to "vaccume" for food. ;-)

[Amaze]

Alicia-I think that your vet is along the right track except for one important fact-Chihuahuas have TINY tummies and need food atleast twice a day! Especially since they are used to getting their food whenever they want, it is better to gradually change their schedule-I'd even feed them 3-4 times a day at first until they realize that they only have access to their food at certain times. Also, some dogs have issues digesting foods with certain products like wheat or certain proteins (beef and chicken are the most common) in them so check the label of your food and see what exactly it is full of.

Heuser and Tally have always eaten by timed feedings and neither one of them seems to mind or even realize the difference. I feed them at 10am and 7pm and they have a half an hour to eat. if they walk away, I pick up the food since they know that this is a signal that they are done. I would leave the food down the whole 30 minutes at first so that the 3T's have a chance to figure it out. Try feeding them earlier (like 6pm) to give them time to digest their food and hopefully the late-night crate pooping will stop.

[aliciatobytaco]

Thanks everyone! You are all so helpful. This is why I love CC so much :)
I agree with you Lys, I think the chi's at least need 2 times to eat daily. I put their food down this morning @ 9 and then I will shoot for 6...that leaves plenty of time for them to potty.Taco and Tazzy are eating, but Toby is stubborn one. He sniffs, looks at me, and walks away...oh, and the best news....since I didn't allow them to eat late last night..There was not any accidents last night in the crate. Yipee!
We recently bought a larger crate and transitioned Tazzy into it at night also. Toby and Taco have always slept together, so we thought Tazzy should sleep with them. Last week was fine, and then the poopy started. I think Taco is p***ed about her being in the crate with them. I put Taco in his own crate last night, he curled up, slept all night w/out any poopy. Taco has always been a bit of a 'grouch' so having his very own space at night might be just what he needed.