Puppy won't eat

[TamanTun]

My mini dachshund 11 month old pup is so fussy. We are moving overseas in a couple of months and want to bring her too but I'm at my wits end with her eating habits and just want her to be healthy so she can travel with us. I took her to the vet and he explained that she has very high platelets and needs to be on a low protein diet. Trying to get her to eat anything let alone a specific food is just so hard. I've tried hand feeding, leaving out the food, taking it away and trying the next day. She will eat a few chunks of chicken and then walk off. She managed a handful of the dry food the vet gave her yesterday but she eats a fraction of what he said she should be eating. She is so skinny and just isn't interested in food. No problems with poo's and wee's and she drinks occasionally. Any tips at all? What am I doing wrong?

Some dogs are just very fussy, no matter what you do unfortunately.

Have you tried adding warm water to the dry food and mashing it up so it smells appealing to her?

I would go back to your vet. Did he give any reason for the high platelets or run anymore tests?

The excessive drinking would also concern me. It may be nothing but I would want that confirmed by tests.

He should also be able to advise on a high calorie but low protein food which may help.

If all health tests come back ok then try giving really small meals for a few days. I do understand how hard this is with a dog that you want to get loads of food into!

But by giving less food dogs tend to eat it and then want the next meal. Also for a week cut out all treats and only feed the small meal allowance. Very slowly you can increase the quantity.

A recent study has shown that dogs (and cats) prefer to work for food so maybe try a few basic cues and then treat as a reward. Equally not all dogs like this way of eating!