How To Get Your Picky Dog To Eat

All pet parents know that the way to a dog’s heart is through their stomach, but what do you do if you have a picky eater?  First, it’s important to rule out any health issues that may be affecting your dog’s appetite. Sore teeth and gums, allergies, and stomach problems could be keeping your dog from enjoying their food. If your normally voracious dog is suddenly picky, a trip to the vet might be in order.

When is lack of appetite normal?

There are times when a poor appetite can be expected. Female dogs in heat as well as the male dogs nearby frequently lose their appetite for a time. However, inappetence following a heat cycle can be a sign of pyometra, which requires an immediate vet visit. Pyometra is a uterine disease that occurs most often in intact (not spayed) female dogs six years or older that have never been pregnant.

Adolescent puppies, especially of some larger breeds, are notorious for alternating between being extra-hungry and skipping meals. Younger puppies may be reluctant to eat because of teething pain (soft food and chewing on something cold can help in this case).

Hot weather can make a dog want to eat less. Some dogs prefer eating at certain times of day and may turn down food offered at other times.

Some older dogs have a decreased appetite and decreased digestive-absorptive ability, resulting in a loss of body weight. These pets should be fed a palatable high-calorie diet intended for the older dog at frequent intervals. With aging, the senses of smell and taste are diminished. These conditions reduce food intake so that it may be necessary to feed canned or moistened dry food, warmed, so that the odor is enhanced. Because they are less active, older pets require fewer calories. Because of changes in smell, taste, the oral cavity and digestive system, the food offered to older dogs should be appetizing and easily digestible.

Additives such as supplements and some foods may cause your dog to turn away from his meals. If your dog doesn’t like supplements added to his food, try giving them in pill form instead. Many dogs refuse to eat vegetables, and so may turn down meals if there are any mixed in. Other foods that your dog dislikes may also cause him to turn away if they are added to his meals.

Dogs who are fed too much may also be picky about their meals. If you have a picky dog who is overweight, look at how much you’re feeding, both at mealtime and in between, to see if the problem isn’t related to too many snacks and treats. Try reducing the amount you feed by 10 percent at a time to see if you can get your dog to begin to slowly lose weight, along with being hungrier at mealtime.

Some dogs have problems with bile if their stomachs are empty for too long. This can lead to vomiting of yellow liquid in the early morning hours, often accompanied by nausea and lack of appetite. In this case, feeding a late-night snack before bed can help.

Causes of Picky Eating in Dogs

But what do you do if you’ve ruled out all health issues and your dog is still leaving food in the bowl?  Potential causes for pickiness include:

• Too many treats. The prospect of mouthwatering human food could be causing your dog to turn up their nose at dinner. Keep handouts to a minimum to encourage them to enjoy their meals. And remember, some human food is dangerous to dogs. Please see my article Foods That Are Harmful To Your Pets for more information.
• Boredom. Your dog craves variety, just like you. If they’ve eaten too much of the same thing, it might be time to carefully switch to another flavor of kibble, adding some wet food to their diet or even making your own dog food.
• Feeding too much. As your dog grows older, her dietary needs change. A growing puppy needs a different amount of food than an adult or elderly dog. Make sure you’ve measured out portions according to weight and age.
• Feeding area problems. Is your dog’s bowl in a busy hallway or loud kitchen? Find a quiet place for your dog to eat where no one will bother her.

Many pet parents become concerned that their fussy-eater will go hungry or will not receive the proper nutrition necessary to be healthy. There are many reasons why dogs turn their nose up at the food bowl, and there is unfortunately no ‘trick’ to feeding a fussy pup; however here are some tips on how you can encourage your picky eater to dine.                        

Before you try any of these methods, if your dog has only recently become fussy about her food or her appetite suddenly changes, this could indicate illness and maybe even disease. In this situation, it is strongly recommended that you take your dog for a veterinary check-up immediately.

Some Tips To Start

• Do not stay with your dog after her food is offered.  Many dog owners unknowingly have established a history of supervised eating. Since early puppy hood, your dog may have learned the essence of community, social eating. Most likely, she was used to always eating in the kitchen with you standing by her side at all times. It may have happened that if you left the room, you noticed your dog didn’t eat but rather followed you, so you came back right away and made sure you would be always with her so she could hurry and finish her food.
• Petting, in conjunction with vocal reassurance, may be all that is necessary to induce eating.
• Mixing a highly appetizing canned food with their usual food will often increase palatability enough to induce eating.
• Warming the food to body temperature will enhance the aroma of the food and also directly improve the flavor. Warming dry food for a few minutes on low heat in an oven or warming wet food in a microwave (6-10secs) will help. Do not over heat the food as you can “zap” away the essential nutrients.
• Feed often – Try feeding smaller amounts of her regular food three or four times a day.
• Trying different foods may also be helpful. Some dogs prefer a dry food or a canned premium food.
• Most dogs can be enticed with a good quality cat food (this is only a short-term alternative as the protein levels found in cat food are too high for dogs).
• A pet that will not eat from a bowl may take food from your hand, and once they begin eating, they will usually continue voluntarily (from their bowl).
• Place the food in a “happy environment” that is in a quiet, traffic free area of the house or yard.

More Tips for Helping a Picky Dog

Here are a few more tips and tricks to get picky eaters to clean their plates. Encourage your dog to eat by:

• Eliminating table scraps from their diet; be strict about this until their picky eating subsides.
• Making mealtimes the same time every day.
• Creating a fun, yet predictable routine around food. For example, asking your dog to perform a trick before eating makes mealtime more of a reward!
• Putting the food up when your dog walks away from the bowl. Free feeding can encourage picky eaters. Limiting the time in which your dog can eat will help them eat more readily.
• Using a puzzle toy. Dogs love to play, and using a food-dispensing puzzle toy is a great way to stimulate your dog’s mind while filling their stomachs.
• Adding healthy snacks to your dog’s bowl. Some chopped carrot or a handful of peas are a great way to get your dog interested in food without sacrificing their health.

Stay Positive and Patient

Your dog may be responding to your behavioral cues during mealtimes. Or she may be enjoying the attention given when she doesn’t eat her food, which is then reinforcing the bad behavior. By keeping feeding time positive, the overall experience will also provide positive reinforcement for your dog. Praise your dog when she eats her food, and give her attention only after the meal is gone.

Staying out of the area while your dog eats and giving her a quiet, safe place to eat alone, away from distractions or competition from other pets, may be helpful. Offer her 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 her closely for signs of illness. Work with your veterinarian if you are concerned about her 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!