How To Get Dogs To Eat Their Food

Hide The Pill In A Treat

How to Get Your Dog to Eat Their Food With Dog Food Toppers | Chewy

What do all dogs love? Treats!

And when it comes to the battle of the pill, you can use treats to sneak a pill inside your dog.

Using food is a great way to give a pill to a dog that bites. You can throw the treat and have him catch it in his mouth. Your fingers dont have to go near those snapping jaws.

The success of this method relies on your ability to seal the pill inside the treat. If your dog feels or tastes the pill inside the food, he will reject it.

Typically, the smellier and tastier the food, the more likely your dog will be to take the pill.

Here are 8 of the best foods that you can hide a pill in.

Change Dry Food Brands

If you have a hard time getting your dog to eat dry food, another brand may be a better fit. Try a sample pack from the pet store to see if your dog likes a different brand better than the one youve been buying. Alternatively, you could try to mix in some wet food, which may stimulate your dogs appetite more than the dry food.

Transitioning To Homemade Dog Food

Most dogs dont have a problem making the switch to homemade food. If yours is prone to digestive issues, start slowly by mixing a little bit of the homemade food with the commercial food.

Over the course of a week or two, gradually increase the amount of homemade food while decreasing the commercial food.

If your dog vomits or has diarrhea, try introducing only a couple of new ingredients at a time until their systems are well adjusted to the fresh diet.

For dogs with health issues, please consult with a veterinarian if you arent sure what kind of supplements are needed. Use your best judgment, the way you would when feeding yourself or your family.

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Let Your Dog Eat Grass

If your dog wont eat its normal food but keeps trying to eat grass, you should let them. Eating grass can make your dog vomit, which may actually be a good thing. If whatever is making your dog feel ill will be eased by vomiting, your dogs instincts may be leading it to eat grass. Just make sure to keep your dog well-hydrated. However, if your dog vomits more than twice, or eats grass every time theyre outside, thats a sign that you should take your dog to the vet.

Talk To A Vet About Your Dog Not Eating

The first thing that you should know about your dogâs lack of appetite is that there is the potential it is connected to something more serious than a simple belly upset.

If you’re concerned about your dog not eating or if it’s accompanied by more serious symptoms, you should speak with a vet immediately. Alternatively, even if there are no other symptoms present, you might find that simply speaking with a vet can help ease any nerves you have surrounding the situation.

In reality, there are many reasons your dog could be refusing to eat, but you do want to rule out some of the more serious causes. Once you do that, you can begin to figure out what exactly is causing your dogâs appetite to decrease without having to worry that itâs something that will require serious medical attention.

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Your Dog Wont Eat But Drinks Water

If your dog wont eat but drinks water, give it a day or two. Its possible that your pet merely has an upset stomach. If you notice other issues in behavior, you should call a vet.

Perhaps your pooch got into the trash and ate something that isnt agreeing with him, perhaps he ate a bug, or maybe just ran around too much. Avoid giving your dog treats at this time, but rather wait until they are ready to eat their actual food.

Eat At Different Times

When you are eating a meal or snack, your puppy is going to be naturally curious about what is happening in your mouth or what is in your bowl rather than their own food dish. Your puppy is going to need to understand that even though they are an important part of the family, they are not human and should not be eating your human food. In fact, sometimes it is us humans that need to be trained to not give into those beautiful cute puppy eyes!

However, when you are eating around the same time as they should be, the puppy will become confused and may prefer the smell of whatever food you are eating. Eating before or after your puppy eats will help avoid some confusion and frustration for both of you.

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Should I Take My Dog To The Vet For Eating Poop

If your dog has chowed down on a pile of doody as a one-off and shows no ill effects, theres no real reason to take them to the vet about it. Likewise, if they do so and then throw up but seem to return to normal almost immediately afterward, keep an eye on them but assume that your canine has learned a valuable lesson.

All the same, youll want to follow the steps laid out above to ensure that both you are and your furry friend are kept safe and will experience no ill-effects. If youre worried that your dog has swallowed something untoward, youll want to get them seen to.

If this behavior continues, however, youll want to find out why . If it isnt something that you can deal with through the medium of training, it may be time to call in a professional a vet, an animal psychologist or a behavioral specialist. Theyll hopefully be able to prevent your pooch from continuing down this road, and convince them that store-bought treats are infinitely more appealing.

However, its possible that your dog has developed coprophagia due to a medical concern. Issues with the thyroid gland or the pancreas, in particular, are likely to make your dog hungrier than usual. This, in turn, will leave them likely to seek nourishment from unconventional sources such as excrement.

Training Questions And Answers

How to Make My DOG EAT DRY FOOD! ð?¶â 5 Easy TRICKS!

Hello! My baby hunter is such a picky eater, we are partly to blame coz we spoiled him since we got him when he was 3months. When he doesnt want to eat what we prepared we always give him other variety just to make him eat. We changed his dogfood atleast 5 times before coz of his pickiness until he totally ignored his dogfood so we slowly tried to change again his diet to raw feeding. The first month of his raw feeding diet is good, he excitedly eats his food but recently its really hard to make him to eat.there are times that he would only if we hand feed him or times when even we hand feed him we will just spit out his food. What should i do to make him eat his food? Tia. Godbless.

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Your Dogs First Raw Meal

So you do your research. You check your budget and find a supplier of meat, bones and organ meats. Or you choose a pre-made raw food for your dog. Maybe you even invest in a new freezer to store this delicious bounty!

You diligently chop and dice and blitz and grind.

You might gag a bit at the blood and the smell especially if youre feeding green tripe! But you want to do your best for your best friend.

So you soldier on to prepare her tasty raw meal.

Your dog may be wondering whats taking so long. After all, shes used to seeing you scoop some dry lumps out of a bag into her bowl and plonk it down in front of her. That takes about 30 seconds.

But shes waiting patiently.

So you proudly set it before her, expecting delight! But then, your dog looks up at you with a What the ? face and walks off in disgust.

Youre devastated! How ungrateful is your dog? After all the trouble youve gone to!

Does this sound familiar? Is your dog less than appreciative of her new healthy diet?

Well dont give up! Its not time to sell that freezer on Craigslist yet.

So what can you do to show your reluctant dog that raw really rocks?

He Doesnt Like His Food

Some dogs are just plain picky. If you have ever been in charge of a toddler, youll be familiar with this refusal to eat certain foods. Your pup is not unhealthy or in danger hes just fussy! That can be really annoying and frustrating, but you cant force your fur baby to eat something they dont like.

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Who Could Blame A Dog For Not Wanting To Eat Rotten Food

What You Can Do

It is imperative that you get your dog back to eating his regular food before health problems arise. The more you let him get away with eating only treats, the more he wont want to go back to his regularly scheduled kibble.

Luckily, there exist quite a few solutions to your problem that you can and should try!

Faqs About Dog Feeding Guidelines

How To: Convince Your Spoiled Dog To Eat Their Food ...

How often should I feed my dog?

Puppies should be fed 4 meals a day, bringing this down to 3 meals a day at the age of 4 months until your pup is 6 months. It is important that the puppy is fed a diet designed for its age and breed size. There are diets specifically designed for puppies and young dogs which will ensure the growing dog receives the nutrition required for healthy growth and bone development. Browse our puppy food here.

For dogs of 12 months or older, feed 1-2 times a day. Small breeds burn energy quicker than large breeds and should be fed 2-3 small meals a day. Little and often is key! Browse our adult & senior dog foods here.

Feeding Tips:

How much should I feed my dog?

Choose a high-quality dog food like our grain-free Canine Choiceand look at the recommendations on the label. Most high-quality dog foods recommend approximately 1-1/2 cups per 10kg of body weight per day for smaller breeds, since they require 15-25% more calories per pound than larger breeds. Large and giant breeds are more often fed 1 cup per 10kg.

You must also consider the following, and adjust the food amount accordingly:

Actual calorie content of the food, current weight and projected target weight if necessary
The activity level of your dog, low/moderate etc
Other environmental variables
Any additional calories from treats or table foods
Does the amount to be fed in the feeding guidelines pertain to each meal or the daily amount?

How should I determine what to feed my dog?

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Heat Up Your Dogs Food

Heating up your dogs food increases its smell and palatability. Sick dogs will have a hindered sense of smell and taste. Food that has been warmed up may smell more fragrant and can help entice your dog to eat it. This will also help with taste which will encourage your dog to continue eating after that first bite.

Easy Homemade Dog Food Recipe

Jump to RecipeMy easy homemade dog food recipe combines lean ground sirloin, wholesome brown rice, fresh vegetables, hard boiled eggs, and tender herbs

***Please note, I am not a veterinarian, just a very passionate dog owner! The information in this blog post documents our own personal experiences, research, and the recipes that we feed our dogs under our veterinarian’s careful supervision. Please, consult with your vet and use your own personal judgment when considering transitioning to a 100% human grade food diet for your pup. This post was updated with video August 16, 2020, updated with additional recipe links 9/14/2020, updated 1/7/2021 with metric measurements.***

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Did You Just Adopt Your Dog Recently

A newly adopted dog can take days or weeks to settle into their new home. Anxiety is a common cause of temporary inappetence, so its not unusual for a new addition to the household to refuse food for the first day or two.

It is important to ensure that they are given a quiet place to eat, away from other pets or children that may interrupt them. As long as they are otherwise energetic and not having vomiting or diarrhea, its okay to give them a day or two to get used to their new home before worrying about them not eating.

However, if they are lethargic, vomiting, or having diarrhea, or go more than 48 hours without eating anything, they should be examined by a veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical conditions.

Organ Disease Or Dysfunction

Why Your Dog is Not Eating Their Food | Chewy

Puppies can suffer from problems in their liver, kidneys, endocrine/hormonal system, and pretty much any other organ or part of their body. It can be the result of problems they were born with , an infection, toxic injury, or something else theyve picked up.

For example, puppies with liver shunts will have stunted growth, poor muscle development, abnormal behavior such as head pressing, seizures, circling, etc. They may also have vomiting, diarrhea, or abnormal appetites.

Acute kidney failure due to a toxin or infection can cause decreased appetite, abnormal urination, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, etc.

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Dog Not Eating After Surgery Or Vaccination

Surgery like spaying and neutering commonly results in dogs not eating for a day or two. Often the anaesthetic causes nausea so your pooch may skip a meal or two, which is totally normal and nothing to worry about. A dog not eating after surgery is common and usually, the loss of appetite resolves within 24 hours. If not, call the vet.

Pain after a procedure can also cause your dog to lose interest in eating for a short time. If your dog is not eating at all after 24 hours, its best to check in with your vet.

Similarly, after your dog receives a vaccination, its common that it would lose its appetite. Let them rest and recover and if theyre not improving within 24 hours, contact your vet.

Why Is My Dog Not Eating But Drinking Water

A dog is drinking excessive amounts of water but refusing to eat could be a symptom of many things, including diabetes, liver disease or an infection, among others. If your dog is drinking lots but not eating, contact your vet who will be able to discuss diagnosis and treatment with you.

Keep The Dog Hydrated

A dog can go days without food. Yes, his energy will be low, but it won’t cause any serious issues. If your dog stops drinking water, it can cause major problems very quickly. Dehydration can even be life threatening if not treated fast enough.

When you’re learning how to get a dog with no appetite to eat, you need to keep an eye out for the signs of dehydration. Look for:

Sunken eyes
Tacky, dry gums
Lethargy
Loss of skin elasticity you can test this by pinching the skin on the top of your dog’s head if it springs back quickly he is well hydrated, if it moves back in place slowly you need to bring him to the vet for IV fluids right away.

Hopefully, you’ll realize quickly if your dog is not drinking enough fluids. Make sure there is plenty of fresh, clean water available for him. If he won’t drink, try adding 1 tablespoon of low sodium beef or chicken broth to his water dish. Dogs are enticed by a strong scent, and adding a small amount of broth to Fido’s water dish may just be the motivation he needs to take a drink.

Use Crunchy Peanut Butter

My Dogs waiting to eat their food Aug 2016

The Technique:

So many people I know use the trick of hiding a pill in peanut butter to fool their pooch into taking its medication.

While this works for some, other pups will simply root around and leave the pill behind. Some dogs have an ability to do this that is so uncanny it will make you wonder if they were a police dog in a past life.

But if you crush the pill and use the crunchy variety of peanut butter, its harder for your pup to distinguish the little pieces of the pill from the little pieces of the peanuts in the peanut butter.

Potential Problems:

Same problem as other methods involving crushing pills. Some medications cant be broken or crushed before being administered.

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Hide Your Dogs Pills In Coconut Oil

The Technique:

I have found this trick can be particularly helpful with larger pills because in addition to camouflaging the pill, a spoonful of coconut oil also lubricates your dogs mouth and throat.

This helps the medicine slide right on down before your dog spits out the pill.

This method is also useful to get past your dogs gag reflex.