Why doesn't my Peekepoo eat?I've tried IAMS and two other dog foods and she just won't eat them.?

Question

She only weighs 8 pounds and she can go two days with only a couple of small treats as reward for being good with her bathroom jobs. She will come over to her dish and smell it and walk away. We tried some of the IAMS liquid to add and that worked only once. Someone said heat it up and that only worked a little. I know I'm starting a terrible precedent, but she will eat if I scramble the food up in and egg. I just worry that she will get sick from lack of food.

Answer 1

It isn't the food, it is you. If you keep giving her stuff to get her to eat, you are training her not to eat without a whole lot of prodding. If she doesn't eat, you will give her something else. Soon you will be like my mother-in-law who has rat dogs that will only eat if she sits on the couch and holds them in her lap and feeds them by hand.
You need to take a firm stand. Pick a kibble and then put it down for 15 min twice a day with whatever you are going to normally put on it. If she doesn't eat it, pick it up. Try again at the next meal. Make sure she is getting LOTS of exercise and mental stimulation also. Do not over load her with treats either.
If it makes you feel better, give her a vitamin tablet that you can get at the pet stores. Then she is getting her vitamins and minerals. Make sure you do not focus on her while should be eating. It should be matter-of-fact. Only make a fuss if she eats, then keep it short and sweet.
Time to take control!!!!!!! Think of the mother-in-law!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

So your Peekapoo is 8 pounds, not a puppy anymore. Yet you still "reward" her for what should be routine at this point. Now she won't eat her kibble. Well, think about it. Those small treats you give her as a reward for not going into septic shock sure do smell and taste better than kibble. They may be small, but for a dog that weighs eight pounds, they pack a whole lot of fat and preservatives and other crap that she will hold out for the next time around. Think McDonald's and the youth of our Nation.
Your dog will not go on a hunger strike on principal. She will eat if you allow her to get hungry enough. You MUST change YOUR routine for her best interest. This situation is your fault. Accept this. Stop with the beggin strips or whatever treat you give her when she poops. Give her a piece of kibble and a lot of praise. If she doesn't eat the kibble piece, no big deal. Then when you feed her, put the bowl down for 15-20 minutes tops. If she doesn't eat, PICK IT BACK UP, seal it in a zip-top bag and DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, GIVE HER ONE SINGLE TIDBIT OR TREAT. Put her bowl of kibble back down at the next feeding time. She will try to test your will. Do not fold. The idea is for her to understand that the kibble is her reward on a schedule. All other rewards are through love and praise.

Answer 3

I had a small dog, 8 pounds who also wouldn't eat her Iams. One day there was some on the floor and I stepped on it, she came over to it and ate it up. I then took the Iams, put it in a food processor, to make it smaller and she ate it. I don't know if it was too big for her mouth or what, but it worked and I never again worried about her not eating. Also, cut out the eggs in the food, she will expect it all the time. With my dog, I would give her either a scrambled egg or chicken livers about once every 6-8 weeks for variety. Good luck and take care of your dog.

Answer 4

I have a 9 pound Tzu. She can get pretty finicky with her food too. I used to cook stuff for her. She always ate that up. I got tired of cooking and bought BilJack(freezer section PetSmart or Publix) she ate that the first couple of days then started walking away from her plate like your dog. That was 2 years ago. To this day when we eat dinner I put her BilJack in her plate before I eat. She sits at our feet (hoping for a hand out) thru the entire meal. We ignore her. When we are finished and start doing dishes she goes and eats her dog food. I'll admit she didn't eat for a few days but I stood my ground. The vet told me she would not starve herself to death and he was right. So hang in there and stand your ground. And try the BilJack. It has to be kept refrigerated and it comes in a bag size that lasts about 10 days for our size dogs. Under 3 bucks. Rarely do I give mine treats. This food really regulates them(every morning) and it is not loose.

Answer 5

Read the label on the food. Meat should be the first or second ingredient.
You are setting a bad example. You should put her food down and if she does not eat, do not let her have anything else. Dogs will not starve to death. They will eat. This is called tough love. Eggs are not a balanced diet so you are not helping her there. Don't know what you are using for treats, but is it enough to fill her up so she's not hungry? If so, get smaller treats.

Answer 6

I don't like any food with by products - Iams and Eukanuba charge big bucks for stuff you would throw out rather than give to the dog if you saw it.

First, get her teeth checked by a vet. Accumulations of tartar or bad teeth can make chewing painful.
Stop adding flavors and table scraps to their food - constantly changing flavors will make a dog picky. Semi-moist foods like Gaines burgers are like candy for kids - of course that's what they want to eat if they have a choice, but it's not good for them. No between meal treats or snacks and don't cook for them either. Put down a bowl of good quality dry food (like Nutro - no by products!) and either leave it down all the time or pick it up after 15 minutes - your choice. If she doesn't eat, then she can try again at the next mealtime. I've never known a Peke to starve itself - they tend to get too fat! Ask you vet about her condition - he can tell you if she's over or underweight. Take her for a daily thirty minute walk - nothing stimulates a healthy appetite better than exercise in the fresh air!

Answer 7

I read somewhere that if you can buy a bag of dogfood in a regular store you should not be feeding it to your dog. I have switched to Canidae with excellent results. Your dog will not starve to death. If she does not eat at mealtime, pick the bowl up and do not feed her anything until the next meal. When she's hungry enough, she will eat. Just make sure you do not give treats or people food to her between or during meals.

Answer 8

Don't feed her people food. Some pet stores have serving size foods that you can get and try to see if she will eat them. When my dogs as puppies wouldn't eat their food, i'd set down their bowls for 30 mins. After the 30 mins, i'd pick it up and they didn't get anything else until the next feeding time. After two days, they ate the dog food any I haven't had an issue since. Good luck.

Answer 9

my dogs are very picky eaters the dog food they like the most is bill jack refrigerated, they will eat the dry but prefer the refrigerated

Answer 10

if ur dog wont eat it dont give it to him/her my dog was the same buyu it a small portion and if he/she likes it, buy more my dog eats puppy chow but not unless it has cesar chicken on it or try hand fedding