I answered you on the 17th.

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photos-Jennifer Hague, fixyourimages.com

It's hard for me to give advice as I free feed. I think I did see some say they feed 1/2 cup a day, 1/4 cup in the morning, 1/4 at night. Is she underweight? If she is, then give her more until she is a better weight. She may have a vaginal infection, thats why she's scratching herself on your leg. Or a fungal infection. An anti-fungal cream like for jock itch or an anti fungal shampoo may help, but it may be something you would want a vet to advise you about. Thank you for takng her in and fostering her, you are doing a great thing.

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Thank you Jan for the wonderful siggy!

my female, Tabitha, is 5lbs 5 oz. I feed Royal Canin mini indoor adult 21.
She eats two meals a day and I weigh her food on a kitchen scale. She gets
.6 ounces per meal (that's just over half ounce). She also gets one hip and joint
biscuit per day. Her brother, Jerry, has a much faster metabolism. He weighs
6 lbs 5 oz and eats .9 ounces twice a day. I know it is far less than what the
package directs you to feed. I had very overweight dogs a year ago and I have
had to be very vigilent since then. My Vet told me that a 5 lb dog needs 160 calories per day (average).
I hope that info helps. Good luck with your foster Chi

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"My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet." - Edith Wharton

Thanks all. She has an appointment tomorrow with the vet. I made the appointment before i even got her LOL. I will have him check for vaginal infections. I tend not to free feed because of the type of training I do with my dogs. I am a dog trainer (much more used to dealing with the larger dogs) and I think this is the first unfixed female I have ever had.

I had fed raw when I lived in canada and it was so much easier to get. Here in the states I can not find any affordable high quality raw food. In canada I got 50 pounds of human qualitry raw food for $45 and would buy 3 boxes of those a month for the boys. Here $45 does not seem to even cover a week for one dog.

Since I have been in the states I use the smartpack livesmart food which gives a high quality food in easy to use packets at a cost that boggles my mind at how reasonable it is (cheaper then petstore bargin brands in some cases and gets 4/5 stars on the rating web site).

I have Tia (i put up pictures of her btw) on a high quality food from the pet store but would like to get her onto the livesmart but first I need to find out how much to feed her. She does not seem underweight to me she is just under 5 pounds.

My biggest fear is that the scum who had her before will win at court and I will have to give her back. that would break my heart.

Tia burps often and loudly is that normal?