my dog wont eat her dog food unless it has the canned stuff mixed in it. how do i get her to get back to eating just the dry. my thinking is we lost our male lab mix about 5 months ago could she be depressed they were together everyday for 7 years if so how do we help her adjust.
2007-01-28 04:38:12 · 16 answers · asked by tjhooey 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
It sounds like she really misses her companion. For 7 years, she had someone to play with and to keep her company, and now they are suddenly gone. She's probably really depressed, and confused about why she's not around anymore. Have you considered, getting her another playmate? I know that does wonders for a dog, in situations like this one. She will come out of her shell and bond with another friend, and that should bring her back to normal. What you can try with her food is, keep mixing dry food and wet food together, and then slowly, add more dry food than wet food, until she's only eating dry food. I hope this helps a little! Good Luck!
2007-01-28 06:27:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You created the problem without realizing it so now you have to take steps to fix it. What is the worst that will happen if you do not add can food to the dry; she will stop eating, but not forever hunger is a powerful motivator. What you should do is set the food down and walk away, give your dog 10 minutes to eat and if she does not eat pick it up and wait until the next meal and try again. Repeat this until she eats, and she will eventually eat (within days). You may want to offer food 3x a day but she will get the point and she will not starve to death. Good luck !!
The dog missing a few meals is harder on the owner than it is on the dog so do not give in by adding things to the dry food.
2007-01-28 13:09:39 · answer #2 · answered by Shepherdgirl § 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the dog won't eat then there really is nothing you can do about it. Leave the dry dog food out in a clean dish, make sure to change the food every day, or the dog won't eat it.
If the dog doesn't start eating after 3 days contact your vet, make sure the dog doesn't have access to any other food.
Whatever you do, DON'T beat the dog! What is wrong with you people! That will definately make the dog unwilling to eat!
2007-01-28 13:08:55 · answer #3 · answered by Dawn B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dry food goes down the same time every day. In 15 minutes it is picked up. If she ate, fine, if not she can wait till the next day. No dog has ever starved to death when offered food. When she is hungry she will eat. Stop spoiling the dog and her teeth by giving her can food. She does not need it.
2007-01-28 12:59:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The dog has become spoiled. I would try giving her less and less canned food mixed with her dry food until she gets used to it.
She may not like the idea of eating dry food alone but she will get used to it. If she won't eat for a few days don't panic, she'll eat the dry food when she gets hungry enough.
2007-01-28 12:45:49 · answer #5 · answered by mgrenia 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You could give her wet food with dry food. And then the next time you feed her give her a little less wet food. And then just keep lessening the wet food until there is no more wet food. It probably wont work, but im just trying to help. Maybe you can get her a different kind of dry food instead.
2007-01-28 12:45:17 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Put the food down (dry only) for 15 min. in the morning. No matter how much is left, pick it up and either throw it away, or put it back in the bag. Then repeat at night. DO NOT GIVE HER ANYTHING ELSE TO EAT!
Do not wory about her starving, she will not starve herself, trust me. It may be hard, but if you're consistant she will eventually give in.
Sorry greekman: I wasn't copying you, promise, Your post wasnt there yet when I hit "answer question" Weren't you the one that asked abouut copying "real dog peoples" questions anyway?
2007-01-28 13:01:48 · answer #7 · answered by Nurse Autumn Intactivist NFP 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Leave the dry dog food available all the time. Feed the canned food at the regular times that you and your dog has gotten used to. That will not fill him up so when he is hungery he will eat the dry food. It is just a matter of recontioning him and his feeding routine.
2007-01-28 12:47:22 · answer #8 · answered by bluebonnetgranny 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
putting the warm water with it might work. but yes, some dogs will starve to death over a lost love. the reason l know this is by ,my brother died when we were all young and no matter how hard we try the dog would not eat and it grieved itself to death over my brother. may be you need to get it a new play mate.good luck and try the warm water any way.
2007-01-28 13:12:14 · answer #9 · answered by Star-Dust 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want her to eat the hard food you are just going to have to eliminate the soft food completely. i know it will bother you to see her not eat, but give it time because when she is hungry enough she will start eating. Hard food is better for their teeth anyhow. If she still refuses, you could buy dog "gravy". they sell it at all pet stores, just pour it over her food, it might work. good luck
2007-01-28 13:07:36 · answer #10 · answered by Heather0925 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋