What are High Calorie Supplements???
Teacups and tiny pups need all the nutritional advantages we can give them, and adding a high calorie supplements such as NutriCal, NutriStat, or Dyne to your feeding routine, may well reduce or eliminate the occurrence of hypoglycemic episodes.
Where to buy Nutrical, Nutristat or Dyne?
Where to find these? You may find either NutriCal or NutriStat in the pet sections of larger general stores such as Walmart, Kmart, Target etc. and you may be able to find them in some grocery stores that have a nice pet sections too.
They may be marketed under different names, and different manufacturers have different looks and labels - so have a look around and ask a stocker or clerk to help you locate it, if you can't find it!
You will certainly find them in large pet stores such as PetSmart or PetCo [or whatever they may be called in your geographic area] and most likely in the smaller ones as well. Both of these come in small tubes, similar to tooth paste, and are neatly useable and fairly “mess-less”, never mind that they are sticky and gooey. Most pups will take readily to them, and lick them of the tube opening without making a mess.
Ideally you purchase two of these high calorie supplements tubes – one to keep in the pups travel bag or carrier to have on hand when you are away from home [and as back-up for home when you can't find the first one or have used it faster than you thought you would], and one near the playpen where it is handy for daily applications as needed.
They may be marketed under different names, and different manufacturers have different looks and labels - so have a look around and ask a stocker or clerk to help you locate it, if you can't find it!
You will certainly find them in large pet stores such as PetSmart or PetCo [or whatever they may be called in your geographic area] and most likely in the smaller ones as well. Both of these come in small tubes, similar to tooth paste, and are neatly useable and fairly “mess-less”, never mind that they are sticky and gooey. Most pups will take readily to them, and lick them of the tube opening without making a mess.
Ideally you purchase two of these high calorie supplements tubes – one to keep in the pups travel bag or carrier to have on hand when you are away from home [and as back-up for home when you can't find the first one or have used it faster than you thought you would], and one near the playpen where it is handy for daily applications as needed.
How much and how often to give???
That all depends on the size + age of the pup, how well it eats, the quality of food, the energy level it has and its daily activities. With a new to you and very young pups [9-10 weeks, you should not bring any teacup younger than that age home with you!!!] I would initially give it a dab [pea size] of NutriCal every time I pick it up for the first 2-3 days.
Make offering the high calorie supplements a happy and pleasant routine, don't force feed and don't over do. A pea size dollop on your finger tip several times a day, is enough for starters. If the pup is familiar with it via the breeder, it will readily accept this as a treat. If it makes a funny ["gag"] face, gently pry the mouth open and scrape the goo into its mouth. Don't give too much in order to not overwhelm the pup. Done.
After several applications like this, it will readily take its NutriCal directly off the tube. Again give the same amount or a bit more, after a play session before you put the pup back into the playpen to play by itself or to rest. NutriCal will help maintain the blood sugar level for those resting periods while it is sleeping and not eating or snacking.
Offer a larger amount [about the same length that you would put on your tooth brush] first thing in the morning when it gets up, and again in the evening before you put the pup to sleep for the night. Uncomplicated, huh?Do the same as a preventative if you are running late feeding, or the pup had a bit too much excitement or exercise or playtime...
Make offering the high calorie supplements a happy and pleasant routine, don't force feed and don't over do. A pea size dollop on your finger tip several times a day, is enough for starters. If the pup is familiar with it via the breeder, it will readily accept this as a treat. If it makes a funny ["gag"] face, gently pry the mouth open and scrape the goo into its mouth. Don't give too much in order to not overwhelm the pup. Done.
After several applications like this, it will readily take its NutriCal directly off the tube. Again give the same amount or a bit more, after a play session before you put the pup back into the playpen to play by itself or to rest. NutriCal will help maintain the blood sugar level for those resting periods while it is sleeping and not eating or snacking.
Offer a larger amount [about the same length that you would put on your tooth brush] first thing in the morning when it gets up, and again in the evening before you put the pup to sleep for the night. Uncomplicated, huh?Do the same as a preventative if you are running late feeding, or the pup had a bit too much excitement or exercise or playtime...
Dyne
Dyne is a bit different from NutriCal or NutriStat, in that it comes in a thick liquid form. This high calorie supplement is generally available from Pet Supply Companies via mail or online orders only, as I have not seen it anywhere here in pet stores [not to say that it won't be available there in other geographical areas]. You will also be able to order NutriCal from the same online or mail order sources.
I like Dyne specifically for picky eaters as it is highly palatable without the gooeyness which can be a turnoff for pups with eating issues. Dyne can be drizzled over dry food or mixed with wet food, and is readily accepted by most of the pickiest of eaters. It can also be added to the drinking water if necessary for a regular boost of the blood sugar level.
If push comes to shove, and you need to fall back on syringe feeding your pup, Dyne is most suitable for that as well and can be safely used to liquify canned food, so it goes easier through the syringe for easier feeding. Dyne is definitely one of the least complicated ways of adding daily calories to your puppys' intake.
It comes in a rather large [16 oz] bottle as the smallest size available, but at roughly $12-13 for it, it is all you will need to get your puppy through babyhood and beyond, and is money well spend. It lasts forever in the fridge once you get past the point of needing it daily for a picky eater, and can be saved for high stress situations such as traveling, house guests, trips to the vet, and to help with swift recovery from low blood sugar episodes etc etc.
If you are thinking about ordering Dyne, go ahead and order at least one, if not two tubes of NutriCal as well – the later is a bit easier to take along for outings and trips and quick “perk-me-ups”.
I like Dyne specifically for picky eaters as it is highly palatable without the gooeyness which can be a turnoff for pups with eating issues. Dyne can be drizzled over dry food or mixed with wet food, and is readily accepted by most of the pickiest of eaters. It can also be added to the drinking water if necessary for a regular boost of the blood sugar level.
If push comes to shove, and you need to fall back on syringe feeding your pup, Dyne is most suitable for that as well and can be safely used to liquify canned food, so it goes easier through the syringe for easier feeding. Dyne is definitely one of the least complicated ways of adding daily calories to your puppys' intake.
It comes in a rather large [16 oz] bottle as the smallest size available, but at roughly $12-13 for it, it is all you will need to get your puppy through babyhood and beyond, and is money well spend. It lasts forever in the fridge once you get past the point of needing it daily for a picky eater, and can be saved for high stress situations such as traveling, house guests, trips to the vet, and to help with swift recovery from low blood sugar episodes etc etc.
If you are thinking about ordering Dyne, go ahead and order at least one, if not two tubes of NutriCal as well – the later is a bit easier to take along for outings and trips and quick “perk-me-ups”.
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What you should also know...
High calorie supplements do not replace good quality puppy food.
It is purely used as a transitional supplement to add additional calories to your pups food intake, without the pup having to eat more. Once the pup is established in your home, and you both have found a sound balance between food intake [calories in] and exercise + play [calories out] to maintain a good blood sugar level for it, Nutrical or Dyne needs only be given as a precautionary measure when you know the pup has a busy day ahead [the grand kids are coming to visit, or you're going to the mall with it, or a vet trip is scheduled] or if it had an unexpectedly rough day for whatever reasons, and is tired and exhausted.
You will still need to maintain a sound Feeding Schedule with all what that entails, but adding high calorie supplements to your care regiment, makes it all easier!
Eventually you will want to wean the pup from its high cal supplements and for the pup to maintain on its puppy food alone. There is no hurry for this, but again – offering dry food free choice [24/7] is the way to achieve that, and so is making sure that you offer as good quality puppy nutrition as you can reasonably afford.
It is purely used as a transitional supplement to add additional calories to your pups food intake, without the pup having to eat more. Once the pup is established in your home, and you both have found a sound balance between food intake [calories in] and exercise + play [calories out] to maintain a good blood sugar level for it, Nutrical or Dyne needs only be given as a precautionary measure when you know the pup has a busy day ahead [the grand kids are coming to visit, or you're going to the mall with it, or a vet trip is scheduled] or if it had an unexpectedly rough day for whatever reasons, and is tired and exhausted.
You will still need to maintain a sound Feeding Schedule with all what that entails, but adding high calorie supplements to your care regiment, makes it all easier!
Eventually you will want to wean the pup from its high cal supplements and for the pup to maintain on its puppy food alone. There is no hurry for this, but again – offering dry food free choice [24/7] is the way to achieve that, and so is making sure that you offer as good quality puppy nutrition as you can reasonably afford.
High Calorie Supplements are not Vitamins.
High calorie supplements should not be confused with separate puppy or dog vitamins. While they offer some additional vitamins to support a small puppy, they mainly add easy to consume and digest calories. They are not what is properly termed a dietary vitamin/mineral supplement such as for example NuVet Vitamins, that cover and improve an amazing amount of dog and cat health deficiencies and conditions, and that can also improve much old age misery and ailments for many pets.