Is Your Dog Not Eating Dry Food
Does your dog turn up their nose at dry food, only to wolf down canned food the minute you set it down? This is a common complaint from pet parents, and it can mean a few different things.
It may be that your dog has dental or oral pain. Many pet parents believe that if their pet is eating, they must not have oral pain, but thats not the case. They have to eat, so many dog struggle silently with oral pain for months or years until a dental procedure is done to extract any rotten or infected teeth.
While some dogs will still eat dry food even with severe oral pain, many prefer canned food, as its easier to chew. If your dog is no longer wanting to eat dry food but will eat canned, they should be seen by their veterinarian for an oral examination.
It may also be that your dog prefers canned food to dry food, as it often smells stronger and may be seen as more of a treat. Try mixing canned food with the dry kibble to encourage your dog to eat, and gradually transitioning to a higher ratio of dry food, until your dog is back to eating dry kibble.
Some dogs simply refuse to eat kibble in favor of canned food. While this can have some negative consequences, such as worse dental disease or a higher food bill, it may not be a problem to have your dog on canned food long-term. Talk to your veterinarian to see if feeding your dog an all-canned diet may be the best option for them.
Encouraging Your Dog To Eat Dry Dog Food
If his teeth and health are fine but your dog wont eat dry food, you can take some steps to encourage him to eat the healthy dry dog food youve purchased in an appropriate size for him. The first step is to ensure your dog is actually hungry. Cut out the treats, except for those you give him when you are training him. Training treats should be small and low calorie, as our Train Me treats are. Reduce the amount of food you are feeding. The best schedule is to divide the food into two meals, morning and evening.
You can entice him to eat his dry dog food by adding something he loves to it. Try some table scraps such as boneless cooked meat without any sauce or seasoning. Dogs also love eggs and cheese, so you can mix that into his dry food as well. Some dogs really love to have a little bit of wet food mixed in with their kibble.
If you have multiple dogs, that can be part of the issue. Dogs have a strict sense of pack order, and a younger, timid dog might be reluctant to eat near an older, more assertive dog. Your dog could even be reluctant to eat near you, particularly if he is a rescue who might have experienced abuse. Try giving your dog his own space to eat undisturbed, preferably in a room alone.
Exercise is a great appetite stimulant. Dogs can get down in the dumps and lose their appetite. A daily walk burns up some calories and stimulates his mind too. Dont we all feel a little hungrier after a bit of fresh air? Dogs do too.
Your Dog Doesnt Want Dry Food Anymore Try Fresh Cooked Dog Food
You can also consider giving your Pooch a slightly more balanced and healthier food than this kibble.
I always advise dog owners to try Fresh Cooked Dog Food, , they have different recipes and a different menu for every day of the week.
So your dog wont get bored, eating the same food every day !
The ingredients used are of human quality, the recipes are balanced and the dogs love them !
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Get The Latest Recipes Right In Your Inbox:
Keep your dog healthy and fit with this easy peasy homemade recipe its cheaper than store-bought and chockfull of fresh veggies!
I never thought I would be one of those dog owners who made homemade human food for their pups. Not in a million years.
But when Butters recently fell sick with an upset stomach, our vet advised us to feed him a bland diet chicken and rice without any kind of seasoning. So thats what we did we poached a chicken, shredded it in a food processor, and mixed in some white rice and fed him this bland diet for 3 days.
Thats when I started to do some research on homemade dog food, and I have been so amazed as to how many different kinds of vegetables dogs can have. And with the help of Balance IT, you can create so many different recipes for your pup!
Now the best part about making homemade dog food just like making anything at home is that you know exactly what is going into the dog bowl, and not any of that questionable gelatinous gunk from the canned food.
But its important to note that dogs have different nutrient requirements than humans for their proportional body size, such as:
Now this recipe here has a balance of 50% protein, 25% veggies and 25% grains, but the ratios can easily be adjusted to suit your pups breed and/or needs.
Stick To A Feeding Schedule
While were on the subject, most dogs are okay with just two meals a day. If your dog hasnt touched his food for more than 30 minutes, remove the bowl until the next feeding. That way, he will learn that there are certain times when he can eat.
Its also possible that your dog prefers not to eat his breakfast in the morning. This is why I highly suggest giving smaller meals, several times throughout the day. If youre a busy pet parent, an automatic pet feeder is an ideal way to set up feeding schedules and meal portions ahead of time.
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Could Your Dogs Pickiness Be A Sign Of A Health Condition
To rule out a health reason for your dogs refusal to eat, its important to take note of your dogs behaviour. If your dog stopped eating dry food abruptly, there may be cause for concern.
Here are some of the most common medical reasons that a dog stops eating dry food:
1. Dental Issues
If your dog begins to eat but stops, they may be experiencing dental pain or discomfort. Their interest in food suggests they have an appetite, but their pausing points to pain as they try to chew their dry food. If your dog wont eat dry food but eats wet food, this could be the reason.
2. Stress or Anxiety
Some dogs feel nervous or fearful while eating. This can be due to a past experience with other dogs, hesitancy due to a new environment, a storm, or general anxiety. To help determine if this is the reason your dog isnt eating, try isolating your dog in a room. They may eat when left alone. If your dog is refusing to eat during storms, they likely have storm anxiety.
3. Nausea
Like us, dogs sometimes get upset stomachs. This could be caused by many different things, including eating something they shouldnt have, anxiety, intestinal parasites, or a more serious internal issue. If your dog simply has a temporary tummy ache, they will likely begin eating the next day. Another sign that your dogs lack of appetite is stress-related is they are drinking plenty of water. Dogs that dont regain their appetite need to visit the vet.
4. Arthritis
Stay Positive And Patient
Your dog may be responding to your behavioral cues during mealtimes. Or he may be enjoying the attention given when he doesnt eat his food, reinforcing the bad behavior. By keeping feeding time positive, the overall experience will also provide positive reinforcement for your dog. Praise your dog when he eats his food, and give him attention only after the meal is gone.
Staying out of the area while your dog eats and giving him a quiet, safe place to eat alone, away from distractions or competition from other pets, may be helpful. Offer his food for a short period of time and then take it away. This will teach your dog to eat at certain regular times and will provide a comforting routine that the dog can rely on.
Above all, be patient with your dog and watch him closely for signs of illness. Work with your veterinarian or a dog behaviorist if you are concerned about his health. Time, self-discipline and consistency will do much to cure a finicky eater. Eventually “my dog won’t eat” will become a thing of the past!
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Get Food Amounts Right And Exercise Regularly
If your pet is otherwise healthy, seems in high spirits, and has energy, try adjusting the amount of food that your dog eats in a day. Fully grown dogs, and older dogs need fewer calories than puppies at their peak of growing. Your dog might simply not need the food at the moment.
If your dog isnt being exposed to regular exercise, getting them active for at least an hour a day via walks or trips to the dog park can stimulate their appetites.
If youve recently moved into a smaller location that also doesnt provide the yard space that a dog used to have, he or she might also need less food because of their increase in naps and laying around waiting for their next walk.
How To Get Your Dog To Eat Dog Food Again
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Sometimes it seems as though your dog can eat anythingexcept his own food.
A lot of owners think that their dog stopped eating his dry food because hes bored with it, or that hes looking for more diversity in his diet. This is simply not true.
The truth is that dogs are certainly capable of eating the same food every day, provided that its tasty and fulfills their nutritional needs. However, when your dog is given table scraps, or too many treats, it not only increases his chances of developing obesity, but it also makes him a picky eater.
Fortunately, you can eliminate your dogs tendency to display finicky eating behaviors, but keep in mind that there are several different methods for doing this and some will work better than others.
In this post, Ill teach you how to get your dog to eat dog food again. In fact, Ive personally tried some of these ways in order to combat my own dogs picky eating.
Ill also talk about why your dog might not want to eat, including potential health issues that you should be aware of.
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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!
Dog Food Choices And Feeding Methods
Check the dog food you are offering to make sure its not spoiled or out of date. This may be a reason why your dog suddenly doesnt want to eat his food. Make sure the food you are offering is safe, nutritious, and consistent. Dont keep changing the food constantly because this can upset your dogs digestive system. If you do want to try a different flavor or dog food brand, make the switch gradually and mix some of the old food with the new food over time until he is only eating all new food. A new flavor might just be enough to stimulate appetite.
If your dog wont eat dry dog food no matter what, there are a few tricks to try that might entice him to eat. You can try another brand or flavor of food that might taste better. Mixing in a tablespoon or two of canned food to dry kibbles may provide a flavor boost. Canned food can be warmed slightly in the microwave, or warm water or chicken broth can be spooned over dry food to give it some warmth and extra aroma.
Taking your dog for a good walk before mealtime can also help increase his appetite. If you can schedule a daily walk around a regular feeding time, this will help your dog to associate the walk with the upcoming mealtime.
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Tip #2 Dont Eat In Front Of Your Dog
Try scheduling your dogs breakfast and dinner either an hour earlier or an hour after you intend to be eating.
Many times, dogs will often ignore the food you set for them to eat if they notice the entire family gathering around the dinner table eating lamb chops. I mean, wouldnt you do the same if you were a dog?
Dogs will disregard their kibble crunch bites and outrage in jealousy and disbelief if you are 5-star dining right in their presence. How rude!
This is where the whining comes in. Oh boy! If you have a dog that whines and begs for your food, be sure to read this article how to get your dog to stop whining.
What Can I Add To My Dog Food To Make Him Eat It
These foods are called food toppers, you will remove a little bit of your dogs food and then pour a little bit of topper on it to entice the dog to start eating and hope that he will follow up with his usual food at the bottom of the bowl, his dry food.
Here is the list of food toppers that you can use as appetizers for your dog:
- Just ¼ cup of hot water for some dogs.
- Low-sodium Bone broth
- Goats milk or plain yogurt
- His favorite vegetables steamed or boiled and diced.
- Yams and green veggies like chopped raw kale or parsley
- Peanut butter , just a little in some warm water before adding it
- Peas and green beans and some cooked rice
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How Much And When Should You Feed Your Dog
This will vary from dog to dog, but a general rule of thumb is for every 10 lbs your dog weighs they should be fed roughly 1 cup of prepared food.
For our 80 lb Hooch, that means 2 meals a day each containing 4 cups of food. It is important to note that, dogs with kidney problems often feel better when fed several small meals throughout the dayrather than just one or two large meals, so you may find that you need to adjust your feeding schedule as time goes on accordingly to keep your pup comfy!
What Are The Healthiest Foods For My Dog
Dog foods are designed to get your dog the nutrients it needs, but there are some human foods that can be very healthy for dogs as well. Here are a few of these healthy options::
- Cooked eggs are a good source of calcium, antioxidants, protein, and several vitamins.
- Omega-3s are also good for dog joint health.
- Mushrooms are filled with vitamins and nutrients that are good for your dog as well.
You should consult with your veterinarian before introducing any new foods into their diet.
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Try Some Chicken Broth
Most dogs, sick or otherwise, love chicken broth. Do not feed them the store brought stuff- use home cooked broth only. Commercially prepared broth often contains onions and garlic along with preservatives that are not safe for dogs and could further impact their health. You can present them the bowl of broth and also cook something tasty in the kitchen. The cooking smells along with warm broth can help stimulate appetite in dogs.
Give Your Dog A Treat
If your dog hasnt been feeling well, you could try treating your dog with food they dont normally get. Human food like chicken or even baby food may be so irresistible that your dog will actually eat something. Try just a small amount of human food at first to see if they will eat. If not, try adding a bit more.
You should mix this in with their existing dry food to encourage them to eat their normal diet along with the treat. Just be sure not to overindulge your dog in these treats as it can negatively affect their health.
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I Worry That My Dog Isnt Getting Enough Calories Can I Supplement His Dog Food With Table Scraps
One important consideration in dealing with a canine picky eater is to resist the temptation to begin feeding human food willy-nilly from the table. These are dogs that are even more difficult to transition back to balanced dog foods. It is actually quite difficult to balance a dog’s long-term food ration when feeding them home-prepared food. Over time, taste preferences may emerge that lead to deficiencies of particular nutrients. Also, there are no commercially prepared supplements for dogs that are proven to provide the balance necessary for home-cooked meals.
“Resist the temptation to begin feeding human food willy-nilly from the table.”
While relying only on human food for your dogs nutrition is not a good idea, there are some human food options that can increase the appeal of a dog’s meal and encourage your dog to eat the food with the preferred nutrient profile. Be sure to check with your veterinarian to determine if any of these suggestions are suitable for your dog, and to verify how much you can add in a day without risking weight gain.
- No-salt-added chicken or vegetable broth.
- Fresh or frozen water-based vegetables .
- The occasional dry-scrambled egg.
- Air popped popcorn .