Expert: Kaza - 12/29/2007

Question
Hi,  I have an adorable 5 month old Bichon Boy, up till now he has eaten bakers puppy food, but suddenly he won't eat it. I asked at the pet shop if he could go on to adult food and he advised not yet. I felt he needed a more varied diet as we also get fed up with the same food day in and out. If I give him our food he will eat it (and it doesn't upset is tummy albeit we do eat healthy and with a lot of garlic)
but I worry as a puppy eating what we eat he does not get all the nutrients he needs for a growing puppy, hence I have tried stopping our food to entice him on his own which i will jazz up with a few bit of chicken etc, but he is just not interested and will not eat all day then sick up bile at night because he is hungry.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
At 5 months he still requires up to 3 meals per day to avoid hypoglycaemia a common condition in many toy breeds. We recommend a raw food diet for bichons as it does assist with tearstain prevention. The use of garlic needs to considered very carefully as it is TOXIC to dogs, eventhough they do tolerate it.
Have you considered giving a raw chicken wing twice per week , this will greatly assist his nutritional requirements.
for more info on what to feed a bichon please go to my health site and read the diet and nutritional posts.

www.eurobichons.com