How do I get myh dog to eat?

Question

My dog has developed a very picky appitite. I know she isn't sick, bc she eats anything but her dry dog food. How do I get her to eat it. She eats chicken mixed w/ it, but she leaves most of the dry food. She eats wet food, and same thing, she leaves most of the dry food. And she is still very active, she isn't lathargic at all. She \just seems not to like her dog food anymore. She used to eat like there was no food left. But now she wont touch the stuff. Should I switch her dry food? But she has a sensitive stomach, and the dry food she is on now, she can handle, I am affraid anything else will just give her diarrhea. What should I do?

Answer 1

Try Baby Food or mix it in with dry food

Answer 2

I totally agree with Sophylakes--dogs will not starve themselves unless they are seriously ill.

Continue to feed dry only on a regular schedule; when she refuses it, pick it up right away. Nothing else but water until the next mealtime. She'll eat, but if she goes a prolonged period of time (I would say, more than 5 days) with absolutely no food, she may in fact have something wrong with her, and she should be seen by a vet ASAP.

Once you establish that it's "dry or nothing", you could try mixing the dry food with a little warm water to soften the food up and make a little gravy for some variety--my great danes love it!

Answer 3

Dogs go through phases and just don't like the hard food. I always find once I introduce wet food to my dogs its what the prefer i don't know if it is bc it goes down the hatch easier or what. Sometimes I either sprinkle some cheese on the food or a little olive oil ( which is good for their coats. Let it sit a minute and then it seems to soak in and work.

Answer 4

If she's doing well on that food, there's no need to change it.

I agree with those who have asked if you've had her teeth checked recently. Gum disease caused by dirty teeth makes kibble painful to eat.

To get her to eat without adding table food or canned, try adding a little warm water. The warmth and moisture make the dogfood taste and smell better. If you add broth, be sure to use a sodium free brand so you don't overload your dog's kidneys.

Answer 5

you didn't give your dogs age or breed it might have a dental problem where dry food hurts to eat or dog is picky because of all the other junk you give it. most dogs will eat when it is hungry if no other problems don't feed anything but dry food don't worry if fido doesn't eat for 1-2 days unless something is wrong fido will eat

Answer 6

I give my dog meat and dry food. I use the dry food as treats aswell. I suggest you get your dog to sit, stay etc. and then feed the dog dry food. One buscuit at time.
Eventually your dog will start to enjoy the dry food. I would also say that organic dry food is best.

Answer 7

Try coating the dry food with a little chicken broth. It will give it that chicken taste but won't allow her to pick only the yummie pieces.

Answer 8

first of all, your dog will not starve herself.. YOU NEED to stop training her to eat other stuff, NO CANNED NO PEOPLE FOOD etc. Put her dry food down at feeding time. as soon as she walks away - pick up the food and do not offer it again till the NEXT feeding time.. 3 days of this and she should be cured. Remember no in between snacks of any kind.. and do not put anything else in her kibble. and remember she won't starve...

Answer 9

take her to the vet she might have something wrong with one or more of her teeth if she's all of a sudden refusing dry food and ate it well before. the hard kibble could be causing her pain. a vet will be able to help you and tell you if it's behavioral or something that needs to be treated.

Answer 10

Don't give any food for a reasonable long time and when he shows signs of hungriness feed him. It works every time.