Dog does not eat dog food?

Question

When I first got my chihuahua he was 2 months old he was fed properly and giving the appropriate dog food. Now that he is a year old, he has stopped eating dog food, i must have bought all kinds of brands to get him to eat dog food again but nothing.. so of course i gave in a gave him human food because he was getting very skinny from not eating enough. what can i do to get him back on track?

Answer 1

Stop giving him people food!!!! He will get hungry and he will eat the dog food. Have you tried adding water to soften up the food for him? Maybe his teeth hurt when he eats the hard food.

Answer 2

If your dog is getting noticeably skinny due to not eating, you may want to consult your vet to see if there is a medical issue that is contributing to his loss of appetite. A friend of mine recently brought her 12 year old basset hound to the vet when her appetite dropped off, only to learn that she had a broken tooth, which the vet knew about for over a year but "forgot to tell her." Sometimes tooth problems, gum sensitivity, hormonal imbalance or intestinal blockages can hinder a dog's appetite, so be sure to ask your vet his opinion first.

If you can rule out any medical issues, you may truly just have a case of a picky pup. I know that lots of people suggest mixing the food with broth or gravy or people food, but unless you intend to do that for the rest of his life, I wouldn't start doing it now. Dogs need a consistent diet; if you keep changing what he eats, his system will never 'settle', and he'll be more prone to upset stomach, diahrrea and vomiting.

I would heed the advice of another poster who suggested a higher-quality dry kibble, to maximize the nutrients he will retain from his food, and stick wth it. My female Dane is not very interested in food, and even at 4 years old, still goes days at a time without eating. We mix Nutro kibble with hot water and let it sit for a minute or two, then put it down for her. The dish stays down for 10 minutes; if she doesn't eat, we pick it up again, and don't offer her food until the next mealtime. Eventually, when she's hungry, she eats, and we move on. At times when she's not eating her kibble, we don't give her treats, either.

Our vet keeps telling us that healthy dogs will not starve themselves, and this has proven true with our Dane. If you have any hope of getting your dog back on regular food, you've got to start now. Good luck!

Answer 3

Just leave only door food out. We had this problem with our dog and found that after awhile the dog will get hungry and eat. Or try talking to you Vet if you are worried about the weight problem. Normally it takes awhile but you can get a dog back on track. We got a new puppy and only feed him dry dog food so out other dog did not get a choice anymore and after awhile started to eat dry dog food and not people food. So maybe a second dog would help.

Answer 4

Well there is your problem. If you start to give him people food then that will be all he wants to eat. Show some tough love and dont feed him people food. Just leave his dog food out and he will eventually eat it, he is not gonna starve himself to death......if that doesnt work then try mixing some wet dog food with the dry food to get him eating solid dog food again and slowily wing him off the wet food.

Answer 5

Wean him off people food by mixing it with dog food. Each time you prepare a bowl for him, mix in less people food and more dog food, until he's eating 100% dog food. If he doesn't like it when it's 100% dog food, don't worry - He'll eat it when he's hungry! And don't give him ANY people food when you get him back on dog food, otherwise, that's all he's going to want again.

Answer 6

Um, did you slowly transfer him between foods? here is some great info...
How to Change Your Dog's Diet:
Dogs act like they have have the mythical "cast-iron stomach" most times, eating objects and substances that make us shudder in disgust. And while it's true that dogs can consume these things blithely, it's also true that a sudden change of a dog's primary diet can be hard on both their stomachs and their eating habits. Changing the main ingredient of your dog's diet (eg: brand of dry dog food) should be done gradually and over a period of at least four days (preferably longer).

How gradual is gradual?
On the first day of change, you should have plenty of the old dog food left. Add three quarters of their old food, and one quarter of the new food. You should do this for at least two days. After two days or so, add in another quarter, so you have half old food, half new food.

Diet for Dogs with Cancer: (Not for you but may help other people on here)
Diet is one of the most important things you can do for cancer dogs. Again, keep it at this level for another two days or so. Then add in a third quarter (one quarter old, three quarters new), and finally you can phase out the old food completely.

What happens if you don't do it gradually?
Stomach Cramps
Heartburn
Indigestion
Diarrhea
Vomitting
Refusal to Eat- this may be whats happening to your dog

On Presenting Your Dog With a Menu of Many Choices:
I'm not talking about raw feeding here, and I'm not discussing home-cooked meals. This refers to a habit some dog owners have developed of having an array of dry dog food choices, or of buying whatever is on sale that week to the feed the dog and save money. Here's a little tip: It may save you a few dollars, and it may be convenient for you, but you are hurting your dog. Chronic indigestion, finicky eating habits, and chronic diarrhea are just three common things that will happen if you like to switch your dog's foods constantly.

I recommend a high protein diet for a while to get some weight back on your Chihuahua. Check the back of dog food bags for it. What are you feeding\have you fed your dog? Try asking the stores associates for help reading the back of bags for high protein foods and what brands they recommend. After the desired weight is reached on the dog, get on a regular adult formula. Remember to change over gradually! I like to buy a dog food brand brand, buy a canned wet food to match it, and mix it in once a week like on the weekend, and my dogs look forward to this and eat their food. This also helps finiky eaters like your dog adjust to their food. Remember to check the back of the cans for amount to feed and adjust accordingly, so your dog doesn't end up with an upset stomach. I feed my dogs twice day so they think they are getting a treat And if I have to leave my house they are less likely to suffer from seperation anxiety because they are full. I just split the recommended amount according to their weight ( check on the back of the bag), and I actually feed a little less than recommended since they aren't out running a field all day and getting a lot of exercise. I hope this helps! Good Luck getting your dog to eat!

Answer 7

Pick a high quality well balanced kibble and stick to it. Offer it at scheduled meal times and give your dog 20 minutes to eat. If he hasn't eaten by then pick it up and don't offer ANY food until the next meal. Your dog will learn to eat what is presented when its presented. A dog will not starve itself. Good luck

Answer 8

First mistake was giving him human food. I know you were just trying to get him to eat.

I would just give him dog chow. He will eat when he is hungry. If you have to (which you will) put only a little bit of humane food ontop of his chow.

Otherwise, seek a vet for help. Humane food is not good for pets.

Answer 9

Try heating up the dog food in the microwave.
Maybe your pooch would like it's food warm or hot?

Answer 10

my dog eats cat food and he loves it (better then dog food, so I just gave up)