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03-04-2006, 11:33 AM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Missouri
Posts: 7
| Another Yorkie on a Hunger Strike Hello, my name is Jen, this is my first post here. I have a male Yorkie named Joey . And as it seems most owners do, I am having a lot of trouble getting him to eat his food. Here are the details: We've been through roughly seven types of dog food since we got him (about a year ago), everything from the cheap to the popular and expensive, both canned and dry. Some he'll tolerate for a while and then turn his nose up at, others he simply refuses to touch. We've tried mixing the food with other types, heating it, chilling it, adding juices, vegetables, anything we can think of. He's not really accustomed to table scraps, he gets what falls on the floor (mostly because he reaches it before we do, he's a quick little thing). I know a lot of people say that he'll eat when he gets hungry enough, but he's really beginning to starve himself, and it's got me wondering if he's just picky or if there's something physically wrong, like a sensitive stomach, etc... I read on a site that some people have tried adding a bit of garlic powder to their dogs food, so if anyone's heard of or tried that, I'd appreciate some feedback on that as well. I've also read that dogs can eat cat food (though the reverse is not true), and the only real risk is a possibility of getting fat if they don't have enough exercise. So if that's true, should I just give him cat food? I know he likes it. Um... extra information that might be handy... he's roughly 4 years old, been pretty much an indoor dog with the exception of daily walks... he's still active and playful, loves to chew on his toys. He did have a problem with his teeth and ear mites. The teeth are improving, the ear mites occasionally reappear. I don't know if they could affect his appetite or not, but I thought it worth mentioning. Thank you very much for any help! -Jen |
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03-04-2006, 12:20 PM | #2 |
Princess Poop A Lot Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado
Posts: 6,728
| Hey Jen, Boy I feel your pain. What have you tried? I find that mine do the same thing so I have to rotate but if they just won't eat then I am boiling chicken breast for them and then slowly start bringing the wet and dry together.
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03-04-2006, 01:37 PM | #3 |
I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 37,147
| When mine wont eat I mix their food with cottage cheese and they eat it. Or I make them chicken and rice.
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03-04-2006, 03:43 PM | #4 |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA
Posts: 2,992
| I know for a fact that dogs can eat cat food - I contacted the vet at the Purina Animal food Company. He said they could (but as you said - cats should not eat dog food). He also said as you mentioned that it is richer than dog food and causes some dogs to gain too much weigh. My dogs don't like dog food. They just don't!!! The only success I have with dog food is - giving them some Premium wet food in the morning when they get up (because they are hungry then.) I also leave dry dog food out all the time - especially when I'm at work. They eat some of this - but, I'm sure they need to get hungry first. Other than this, I am guilty of feeding them people food and leftovers ..evenings. They get chicken, other meats, rice, carrots, eggs, cheese....whatever - but I do try to give them healthy food...no junk food. Ironically - I am eating better and healthier myself - because I shop for food for me that is healthy for my dogs. I do know how you feel - it is very frustrating at times trying to get dogs to eat dog food. I know a lot of them gobble it up - but mine never have. At 8-weeks of age (when I first got my pup and it had never tasted people food in its life), it jumped on my lap, grabbed my sandwich, jumped off the davenport and ran behind it to eat my sandwich - all of this before I even realized what was happening. Something about my tuna fish sandwich turned my little pup into ravenous little thief -who would have fought to death to keep and eat my sandwich. Good luck! Carol Jean |
03-04-2006, 04:23 PM | #5 |
YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Irving, TX
Posts: 252
| This is so easy but few people follow this advice. But your dog will eat what you give him, simply put. He can go 4 days without eating as long as he has water. This is what you do. Put the food out and put him in the room with it for 10 minutes, whether he eats it or not pick it up after 10 minutes. Do this twice a day and he will get the message. If he doesn't eat a day or two that is perfectly fine, he will not starve himself to death, trust me and he will eventually start to inhale the same food he refused to eat before. We did this with my dog and we have no problems with her eating. It took her one day of not eating to realize if she didn't eat when the food was down she wasn't going to eat. We would still continue this but 10 minutes is about 8 minutes too long because the food is gone in 2. So buying 7 different foods and giving him human was a mistake. But a very correctable one. Don't give him any treats and try your best to never give him human food because that encourages begging. 10 minutes twice a day with the food you want him to eat and he will eat. The problem arrises when a dog doesn't eat one meal and the owner panics thinknig somehow he will die. Trust me, he will be just fine, even if he goes a few days without eating, but I bet it never comes to that.
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03-04-2006, 10:10 PM | #6 | |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Missouri
Posts: 7
| Quote:
We don't actually -give- him human food. If it falls from our plates or something, he's there before we can get to it. As far as the 7 foods thing, we were kind've at a loss. He's gone at least three days without eating before. Your suggestion to take away the food may or may not work. Once he discovers that he doesn't like what we've given him, he doesn't go near it for the rest of the day, I'm not sure he'd even be aware that we threw it out. :/ | |
03-05-2006, 01:14 AM | #7 |
YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Zealand
Posts: 370
| I can understand how anxious you must be.Have you had him checked at the vets for worms,teeth issues etc. to see if there could be a medical reason? When my new pup wouldn't eat I went through the same process as you,but someone told me to wet the kibble with warm water or broth,which brings out the smell.This worked for a bit for me and then we found Royal Canin,which she will eat and also raw chicken necks, a little cooked chicken and little bits of cooked liver.She is still picky,but will eat now.If he doesn't eat much,it is important that what he does eat is good quality.I leave kibble down all day for her to help herself and feed other things in the evening.She will also eat kibble on long walks as rewards. My Holly eats better if I feed her with the cat,as he provides a bit of competition. Hope this helps. Last edited by sandraj; 03-05-2006 at 01:17 AM. |
03-05-2006, 01:21 AM | #8 |
YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Zealand
Posts: 370
| To add to my earlier post,my pup eats cat kibble too,as it is there for the cats.I make sure it's a good one,but try to get her to eat her own.I don't stress too much if she eats the cats' at times. |
03-05-2006, 10:56 AM | #9 |
Luv My Bug! Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: california
Posts: 1,573
| Hello And Welcome To Yt! Bugaboo says "Joey! EAT YOUR FOOD!" Bugaboo should talk he's no chow hound either!
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03-05-2006, 07:21 PM | #10 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Missouri
Posts: 7
| *chuckles* Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone, I'll give them a try. If you come up with anything else, feel free to let me know! |
03-21-2006, 08:08 PM | #11 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Seattle
Posts: 8
| Have you tried Flint River? Smoochie is very picky about his food. I've almost exhausted all the sample foods that were out there, but couldnt find one that he really liked. Most of the times he just sniffed at them and walked away. Then I read one thread about Flint River on YT, it solved a picky eater dilemma. I can vouch for Flint River, I think they have one of the best ingredients out there, and smoochie cant seem to get enough of it. The downside is it's not easily available at pet stores, but you can order it online and it ships free too. It's cheaper to buy it from FR distributor (www.flintriver.com), but if you prefer to buy it straight from the producer, this is the website www.frrco.com. Hope this helps! |
03-22-2006, 02:48 AM | #12 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Mbabane, Swaziland
Posts: 77
| My boy doesn't eat much either. I worry cause he is pretty small. if I don't watch them, his sister will eat the food. Last night I scambled an egg in the microwave and split it between the 2 mixed real good with science diet puppy food wet and dry and he chowed it. But tonight he may not like eggs again. Such a pain.
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