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Does your dog act like a picky rock star when it comes to food? Some dogs can
be very finicky about their food, and it can be frustrating for the dog owner.
They may turn up their nose at certain food or even refuse to eat. Cats have
developed a reputation for being finicky but dogs can also be quite choosy at
mealtimes. There are a few things that you can do to help your finicky dog be
more agreeable at mealtimes.
If your dog had a normal appetite and suddenly became a finicky eater, it is
important to get to the root of why he has lost interest in food. Most
importantly, you should determine if your dog is ill. If your dog’s appetite has
changed and he is showing other signs such as diarrhea, lack of energy, coughing
or anything out of the ordinary, you should see your veterinarian. If your dog
is healthy, here is a checklist of items that will help you with your finicky
dog.
• Have you changed his food? Dogs are a bit like toddlers in that they do not
always immediately adapt to new foods. Luckily, unlike toddlers dogs will not
throw food at you! To introduce your dog to a new food, you will have to make
the change gradually. Mix the new food with the old food. You can mix about ¼ of
new food with ¾ old food for several days. Gradually increase the new food and
decrease the old food. Be patient as your dog may not adjust quickly, especially
if you are switching him from “junk food” to healthy food. His taste buds will
adapt in time.
• Is the food spoiled? Dry and canned food can spoil, or you could have
purchased a bad batch of food. Refrigerated food should never be left out all
day. If you feed your dog canned food, and you do not use the entire can, store
the remainder in a glass container in the refrigerator. Dry food that is
naturally preserved has a shorter shelf life than dry food that is chemically
preserved. Be sure to check the expiration date on the bag.
• Is your dog hungry? If you are giving your dog treats in between meals he may
not be hungry. Treats should comprise no more than 10% of your dog’s diet. Make
sure that the whole family is aware of the treat ration for the day and that you
all have a system for communicating when the dog has received treats. Too many
treats can not only lead to a finicky dog but an overweight dog! One dog owner
had a sweet little schnauzer that convinced anyone who entered the house to give
her treats. She would show the visitor the treat box and dance around with a big
sad look. The poor dog ended up 20 pounds overweight and barely able to move
from her doggy bed! No matter how cute and lovable, don’t overfeed your dog, it
is not healthy for them.
• Is the food too cold? While the temperature of the food does not matter to
your dog, the aroma makes a difference. Cold food has less of an aroma than room
temperature food. You can add a bit of hot water to the food to bring out the
aroma.
• Does your dog have a feeding schedule? Free feeding can lead to a finicky dog.
Free feeding is not a good choice for any dog. Some breeds are prone to obesity,
and will just continue eating even when full. If food is left out for them at
all times, they will eat it! Some breeds are prone to bloat or gastric torsion
and as such they need to have their food intake controlled. Finally, all dogs
must have time to rest their digestive systems or it can lead to medical
problems. If you are free feeding your dog, it may take a week or two to adjust
your dog to a feeding schedule. Initially the dog may only nibble at his meal
because he has been accustomed to feeding all day. Take the food away after
15-20 minutes. The dog will soon adapt to only eating at certain times. This is
not cruel, and it is okay for your dog to be hungry. Dogs can even go 1-2 days
without food and it will have no adverse effect.
Some dog breeds are just hard wired to be picky, such as the German Shepherd. If
you are the proud owner of a breed that is naturally a finicky eater, it will
take a bit of patience to find out what your finicky dog will eat.
• Change the texture. Some dogs may prefer moist food to dry or vice versa. If
you are giving your dog dry food, try adding a bit of broth or hot water to
moisten the food. If you are giving your dog moist food, add kibble to give it
some crunch. In making the change, make small adjustments to test what will
work. Finicky dogs will be slower to adjust so give it time.
• Change the feeding schedule. If your dog is on a twice per day schedule, try
switching to once per day. Do not overfeed as this could lead to gastric
problems. As long as your dog is healthy and not overweight, it is okay to try
the once per day schedule. Some dogs do better with one daily feeding.
• Change the flavor. It may not always be practical to run out and buy a new
flavor of dog food, but you can make subtle changes to the existing food. Add a
little bit of unsalted meat to the food, or poultry broth. If you are due for a
new bag of food, try a different flavor. One caution here, don’t buy the biggest
bag of food! Buy a small bag so that you can try it. Remember your finicky dog
may well reject the brand!
• Bribe your dog. Is there a treat that your dog loves? Break it up into the
food. You can try to gradually decrease the treat until your dog eats the food
alone. Remember that treats should comprise no more than 10% of your dog’s diet.
Working with a finicky dog requires patience. Do not leave the food out if they
do not eat. Take the food away after about 15 or 20 minutes. Even if your dog
goes a day or two without eating, he will be okay. He will get hungry enough to
eat his food. For naturally finicky dogs, you may have some trial and error with
food but you will find the right texture and taste combination to keep your dog
happy!
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