Refusing dry food - YorkieTalk.com Forums

sjmarsha · 09-19-2008, 07:26 AM

My new little guy we just got night before last (3 year old, was out on the streets and attacked by a large dog, then sent to high kill shelter before a rescue org got him, then we adopted him) is refusing the dry food we have and will only eat our cat's canned food. I did not realize until reading this board all day yesterday that the dry food we have is bad, so I will be heading out tomorrow to buy him some better dry food, but now I'm not even sure he will eat that. I'd noticed he hadn't eaten, but I thought it was because he was new and stressed out, but he went crazy when the cat got a can of food and took it from him and ate it. He also whines like crazy when we eat, acting like he is starving, begging us to throw him food. I assume somewhere along the way he was fed table scraps and canned food, but how do I break this habit without starving him?

TLC · 09-19-2008, 07:31 AM

YAY ~ Thank you for saving him....

Now, he is 3 y/o old, so it's going to take a good amount of time to understand him and train him to your house, etc....Remember that the first 3 years of his life are pretty much a mystery, and I am sure it wasn't a very good 3 years. But thankfully he is going to have nothing but love and comfort from here on out.

1. What food are you currently feeding him?

I would suggest the Merrick Dog Food. I would get both dry and wet. Dry I would get Grandma's Pot Pie and the wet I would get Winglin' - This is a very good brand, the wet has actual veggies, and a whole cooked chicken wing (you have to smash up the bone though) - BUT I bet he would be in pure heaven with the wet and I would mix some of the dry into the wet.

Best of Luck - keep us posted

chachi · 09-19-2008, 07:33 AM

Cat food is bad for him it has too much fat. Why not try canned dog food. Canned dog food is less processed than the dry and is actually better for them

sjmarsha · 09-19-2008, 07:45 AM

Oh I didn't buy the canned cat food for him to eat, my husband was just feeding our cat and the new guy (as of yet unnamed) ate it instead. There is a pet store close by (actually a groomer who also sells food and treats) that has good quality food. I will look and see if they have the Merrick. I know they have Nature's Variety and Wellness because I looked those up yesterday after reading here.

LunasMomma · 09-19-2008, 07:46 AM

Since his first few years of life sound like they weren't very good, his teeth may be in poor shape

Have you been able to look in his mouth? He may not be able to chew the kibble.

I recommend the Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance kibbles, as they are a round flat shape and easier for them to chew. My little Luna's mouth is so tiny she has a hard time with most kibbles, even the tinier ones, but the DVP she chews right up

Congrats on your new baby!

sjmarsha · 09-19-2008, 07:52 AM

I know he must've had a family at one point, because he will come up to me, bark at me until I get up, then he'll go wait by the front door for me to take him out. He also does this when its time for his walk. He also 'sits pretty' for his bathing and grooming, even turning sides and lifting his head for me to get all the good spots. I just wish I knew what happened in between that time and when he was found in the mouth of a big dog, with his hair matted up, dirty and underweight. I haven't had a real good look in his mouth, but his teeth appeared fine in the glimpses I've gotten. I'll see if he'll allow me to take a better look.

ARCHIE · 09-19-2008, 07:56 AM

To entice him to eat the dry food I would add some chicken breast to it.
Boil some boneless chicken breasts for about 20mins. Keep frozen and just
take one out as needed. Slice into tiny pieces and add veggies, green beans, peas, carrots to
will help and it's all so full of nutrition.
Good luck and thank you for giving this guy another chance.

iLuv Reeses · 09-19-2008, 06:25 PM

You can also add a bit of yogurt to the dry kibbles.

cat food has too much protein in it and it's not advisable for dogs... even adult and big ones... since cats and dogs have their own nutritional needs.

Missiemiss · 09-20-2008, 03:16 AM

Congrats to you! You saved another precious one!

Let me know and I can send you some samples of Life's Abundance. You can offer it to him to see. My finicky dogs LOVE it!

sjmarsha · 09-21-2008, 10:51 AM

I went last night and bought some Wellness brand dry food, but hubby said it was already too expensive to buy expensive canned food on top of it, so I ended up getting little cans of the cheaper canned food (pedigree) to mix into it. I mixed just a bit of the wet food, enough to coat the dry and gave it to him. He actually licked the wet food off and left the dry in the bowl

Ashley V · 09-21-2008, 12:18 PM

Maybe try mixing the dry kibble with water and mush it all up. Use the same consistency for a week or so, then use a little less water. Use that same consistency, then use even a little less water... so on and so forth until you have him eating the food completely dry.

You can also buy a higher quality wet food and let him eat that for a few weeks, then slowly introduce dry food. We had to do this with Chip when we first brought him home. The only difference is that he was a puppy.

Good luck!

mscat · 09-21-2008, 01:18 PM

Have you looked at his teeth? This may explain why he won't eat the dry food. yorkie;s are prone to dental problems, especially if they have not had good health care.

sjmarsha · 09-22-2008, 03:21 AM

It doesn't seem to be his teeth because he got ahold of some rib bones and ate them, plus he would get the odd dry kibble as he was trying to lick the wet food off and he could eat it fine. The rescue org had taken him to the vet just prior to us getting him and she said he checked out just fine, only a bit malnourished from being on the streets and the wounds from where he was bitten (which are healing nicely).

09-19-2008, 07:26 AM	#1
sjmarsha Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 15	Refusing dry food My new little guy we just got night before last (3 year old, was out on the streets and attacked by a large dog, then sent to high kill shelter before a rescue org got him, then we adopted him) is refusing the dry food we have and will only eat our cat's canned food. I did not realize until reading this board all day yesterday that the dry food we have is bad, so I will be heading out tomorrow to buy him some better dry food, but now I'm not even sure he will eat that. I'd noticed he hadn't eaten, but I thought it was because he was new and stressed out, but he went crazy when the cat got a can of food and took it from him and ate it. He also whines like crazy when we eat, acting like he is starving, begging us to throw him food. I assume somewhere along the way he was fed table scraps and canned food, but how do I break this habit without starving him?

09-19-2008, 07:31 AM	#2
TLC Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island Posts: 7,247	YAY ~ Thank you for saving him.... Now, he is 3 y/o old, so it's going to take a good amount of time to understand him and train him to your house, etc....Remember that the first 3 years of his life are pretty much a mystery, and I am sure it wasn't a very good 3 years. But thankfully he is going to have nothing but love and comfort from here on out. 1. What food are you currently feeding him? I would suggest the Merrick Dog Food. I would get both dry and wet. Dry I would get Grandma's Pot Pie and the wet I would get Winglin' - This is a very good brand, the wet has actual veggies, and a whole cooked chicken wing (you have to smash up the bone though) - BUT I bet he would be in pure heaven with the wet and I would mix some of the dry into the wet. Best of Luck - keep us posted __________________ Adopt Donate Foster www.yorkie911rescue.com Last edited by TLC; 09-19-2008 at 07:35 AM.

09-19-2008, 07:33 AM	#3
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	Cat food is bad for him it has too much fat. Why not try canned dog food. Canned dog food is less processed than the dry and is actually better for them __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

09-19-2008, 07:46 AM	#5
LunasMomma Izzy's Momma Too! Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Stuart, Florida Posts: 8,799	Since his first few years of life sound like they weren't very good, his teeth may be in poor shape Have you been able to look in his mouth? He may not be able to chew the kibble. I recommend the Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance kibbles, as they are a round flat shape and easier for them to chew. My little Luna's mouth is so tiny she has a hard time with most kibbles, even the tinier ones, but the DVP she chews right up Congrats on your new baby! __________________ Tracy, Mom to Izzy and Luna

09-19-2008, 06:25 PM	#8
iLuv Reeses Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: noCali Posts: 114 Blog Entries: 1	You can also add a bit of yogurt to the dry kibbles. cat food has too much protein in it and it's not advisable for dogs... even adult and big ones... since cats and dogs have their own nutritional needs. __________________ all my love for my baby boy Reeses & my baby girl Twix

09-19-2008, 07:45 AM	#4
sjmarsha Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 15	Oh I didn't buy the canned cat food for him to eat, my husband was just feeding our cat and the new guy (as of yet unnamed) ate it instead. There is a pet store close by (actually a groomer who also sells food and treats) that has good quality food. I will look and see if they have the Merrick. I know they have Nature's Variety and Wellness because I looked those up yesterday after reading here.

09-19-2008, 07:52 AM	#6
sjmarsha Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 15	I know he must've had a family at one point, because he will come up to me, bark at me until I get up, then he'll go wait by the front door for me to take him out. He also does this when its time for his walk. He also 'sits pretty' for his bathing and grooming, even turning sides and lifting his head for me to get all the good spots. I just wish I knew what happened in between that time and when he was found in the mouth of a big dog, with his hair matted up, dirty and underweight. I haven't had a real good look in his mouth, but his teeth appeared fine in the glimpses I've gotten. I'll see if he'll allow me to take a better look.

09-19-2008, 07:56 AM	#7
ARCHIE No Longer A Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 16,218	To entice him to eat the dry food I would add some chicken breast to it. Boil some boneless chicken breasts for about 20mins. Keep frozen and just take one out as needed. Slice into tiny pieces and add veggies, green beans, peas, carrots to will help and it's all so full of nutrition. Good luck and thank you for giving this guy another chance.

09-20-2008, 03:16 AM	#9
Missiemiss Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 651	Congrats to you! You saved another precious one! Let me know and I can send you some samples of Life's Abundance. You can offer it to him to see. My finicky dogs LOVE it! __________________ Gracie Froto Blair and RIP Bear-Bear 12/31/08 & RIP Roscoe 06/12/08 Free Samples! All-Natural, High-quality Pet food for your Furbaby! http://www.trilogyonline.com/missiemiss

09-21-2008, 10:51 AM	#10
sjmarsha Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 15	I went last night and bought some Wellness brand dry food, but hubby said it was already too expensive to buy expensive canned food on top of it, so I ended up getting little cans of the cheaper canned food (pedigree) to mix into it. I mixed just a bit of the wet food, enough to coat the dry and gave it to him. He actually licked the wet food off and left the dry in the bowl

09-21-2008, 12:18 PM	#11
Ashley V ♥ Chip ♥ Smokey ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Leesburg Posts: 3,835	Maybe try mixing the dry kibble with water and mush it all up. Use the same consistency for a week or so, then use a little less water. Use that same consistency, then use even a little less water... so on and so forth until you have him eating the food completely dry. You can also buy a higher quality wet food and let him eat that for a few weeks, then slowly introduce dry food. We had to do this with Chip when we first brought him home. The only difference is that he was a puppy. Good luck! __________________ ~~ Chip ~~ Smokey ~*~ My heart is wrapped around their little paws Karley Marissa born 1/20/12 weighing 8 lbs 11 oz and 21.5 inches long

09-21-2008, 01:18 PM	#12
mscat YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hanford, CA Posts: 4,895	Have you looked at his teeth? This may explain why he won't eat the dry food. yorkie;s are prone to dental problems, especially if they have not had good health care. __________________ "No matter how little money & how few possessions, you own, having a dog makes you rich."

09-22-2008, 03:21 AM	#13
sjmarsha Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 15	It doesn't seem to be his teeth because he got ahold of some rib bones and ate them, plus he would get the odd dry kibble as he was trying to lick the wet food off and he could eat it fine. The rescue org had taken him to the vet just prior to us getting him and she said he checked out just fine, only a bit malnourished from being on the streets and the wounds from where he was bitten (which are healing nicely).