I have a picky eater so believe me when I tell you, I feel your pain. How frustrating is it when your dog turns his nose up at absolutely everything you give him! Sometimes he’ll eat the same thing for a few days maybe longer, other times he’ll sniff the bowl like it was filled with poison, stare at you like “what in the world are you trying to do to me?” and look for a way to escape. Okay I’m describing my dog now.

Make his dog food more interesting by adding things like: boiled chicken breast, white fish, boiled sweet potatoes, boiled squash, cooked green beans, quinoa and low fat/no fat cottage cheese to name a few. Don’t add them all at once! What about canned food if he only eats dry?  

Is Your Dog Picky or Not Feeling Well?

It’s really important to figure this out, so here are some questions to help you do just that.

♦ Has your dog always been fussy, or is this a recent behavior?

♦ Is he drinking more? Peeing more?

♦ Does he have diarrhea after eating?

♦ Does he try and eat but spits it out/falls out of his mouth – this could be a sign of nausea or dental disease

♦ Has he become restless? Read this ⇒ “Why Your Dog is Restless at Night“

♦ Have you changed his food lately? Maybe you bought something you believed to be better quality, but he’s not a fan or it’s upsetting his stomach

♦ Is he still going for walks or is he less interested?

♦ Any other changes in behavior lately?

♦ Any recent changes in his environment? Have you moved homes? Welcomed a new 2 or 4 legged creature?

♦ Did you previously work from home and are now going off to work? 

♦ Has your dog recently lose a doggy friend? Depression can be a cause

♦ Your dog is finally protesting after eating nothing but dry kibble forever!

What do you think? Have you seen a pattern? Is it possible your dog’s fussiness is a sign of a medical issue? If the answer is yes, or even just a possibility, it’s best to be cautious and speak to your vet as soon as possible. Use these questions as a guide, and write down your answers. Make note of everything you can think of and bring it with you to your appointment. It will not only reduce the chance of you forgetting to mention something, it will be a helpful diagnostic tool as well.

When is Picky Eating a Problem?

If your dog is picky but he’s acting normal, is alert, his coat looks good and he’s maintaining his weight, it’s less of a concern than if he starts losing weight and vitality. That’s when it is possible to be health related as we discussed above.

Can a Picky Dog Starve?

Dogs don’t let themselves starve. If a dog is healthy but just being picky, he will eventually eat. However, if you have an old dog who is being fussy that is a lot more worrisome, and should be taken to a vet right away.

Fussy Eaters are Made Not Born

♦ Have you been feeding your dog scraps from the table? It’s no wonder he’s gong to avoid his dog food while he waits for the good stuff!

♦ You may have encouraged his fussiness by constantly buying another type of dog food when he seems to lose interest in one.

♦ It’s one thing to give treats for training, another to do it just because you think he’s looking particularly cute in that moment.

♦ Dogs are very smart, and if they see they’re getting a lot more attention for not eating well, even getting hand fed, that’s a behavior they’re going to want to repeat. They know if they go on strike long enough, you’re going to cave!

Are You Sure He’s Not Eating Out?

Has your dog been visiting the neighbor lately for some dining out? Maybe he has play dates and in addition to some fun he’s getting food. How about friendly people in the park giving him treats because he begs so nicely? These could explain your dog’s lack of interest in his own food, when he’s getting such delicious meals elsewhere.

Maybe He Doesn’t Like the Brand, Type or Flavor

If it seems like your dog is being fussy, but you’ve only ever tried one brand of food and one flavor, it’s quite possible he just doesn’t like it. Try another flavor and see what happens. If you’ve been feeding him dry, try wet. What about dehydrated or freeze dried? If you’ve had the same experience with 2 or 3 different brands, he’s picky.

Tricks to Get a Picky Dog to Eat

♦ This tip has worked very well for my dog Jack. I used to mix the various foods for each meal and put it in one bowl. When he decided he no longer liked that, I bought a kid’s plate with sections and put something different in each one. That’s the picture above, I apologize if it’s a bit blurry. 

♦ Leave your dog’s food out for a set time – 15 minutes should do. If he doesn’t eat in that time, pick up the bowl and do the same thing for his next meal.

♦ Make his dog food more interesting by adding things like:

• Boiled chicken
• Boiled green beans
• Cooked carrots
• Cooked sweet potatoes
• Broccoli
• Rice
• Quinoa
• A bit of grated cheese
• Scrambled eggs (no oil) or hard boiled egg
• Sardines
• Turkey
• Liver
• Peas
• Tuna packed in water
• Cod
• Add freeze dried meal toppers

…and the list goes on. If your dog has health issues, find out from your vet if there are any foods off limits.

♦ Don’t feed your dog from the table…ever.

♦ Cut down on the number of treats he gets a day, let him be hungry for his meals. If you’re training then treats are important, but check the quality. Use small pieces of boiled chicken or cooked carrots for example.

♦ Get your dog to work for his food. How about having him perform a trick or do some refresher training? Use his meal as a reward.

♦ If his meal space has gotten noisier and more hectic, keep away when he’s eating or move his bowl to a quieter location.

♦ Every once in a while put some, or all of your dog’s meal in a Kong or puzzle toy for a change.

♦ If you leave his food out all the time, perhaps he’s not eating well because it’s spoiled.

♦ Buy a new bowl – yes that does sometimes make a difference!

♦ Feed him in a different location. Instead of the kitchen how about the back deck or dining room?

♦ Maybe his second meal is too late in the day, or his first too early. Consider making a change to see if that helps.

♦ Warm the food in the microwave, it might make it more palatable. It certainly works in my house!

♦ If your old dog seems to be getting picky, he may be having trouble reaching down to his bowl. Achy joints are just one reason, so elevate his bowl by holding it for him, buying a raised feeder or turning a casserole dish upside down and putting it on that. Keep an eye on how much water he’s drinking, and think of elevating that one as well.

♦ Don’t feed your dog the same food every day, week after week, month after month. Change it before he gets fussy. When making a change do it gradually so it doesn’t upset his stomach. Each meal add a bit more of new food to the old until it’s completely switched. This is an interesting article and one worth taking the time to read “Why You Should Switch Dog Foods Frequently.”

♦ Add warm water to dry food to make a gravy.

♦ Maybe he’s not fussy, maybe you’re over feeding him. Take him to the vet for a weigh in, and if the number is high it’s likely he just can’t eat as much as you’re giving him, so cut it down a little.

♦ Have you recently started adding medication to his food? That could easily explain his fussiness. Put the medication in cream cheese, spray cheese, deli meat… If you’re having trouble giving your dog his pills, this article will help ⇒ “How to Give Your Dog Medication“

♦ If he’s not getting enough exercise and bored out of his mind, it could certainly explain his apathy. Exercise stimulates appetite so go for a walk, swim or a hike before meals.

♦ Put the food on the floor. Yep, not in the bowl but directly on the floor. This works with many dogs!

I hope you’ve found this post helpful. Do you know what your pup is so fussy? What have you done to get him to eat? Sharing helps others so leave your tips in the comments section below. 

 

I help senior dog parents struggling with anticipatory grief and quality of life issues by offering practical tips, advice and one on one support. I am also a Certified Pet Loss Grief Support Coach, helping you navigate through your pet loss journey.

Visit my services page to book a FREE 20 minute discovery call, or email me (Hindy) at hpearson141@gmail.com if you have any questions.