Our Mitzi is a picky eater too. I think dogs actually know instictively what they need. I also think that we are coaxed a little into feed our dogs only dog food. I'm 55 and had dogs all my life (my baby carriage was pulled by a German Sheppard). When I was growing up there was no such thing as dog food in Germany. We were happy to have enough people food. So our dogs always got poeple food and they grew old, very, very old and I can't remember them being sick. Even though they were also pure beards: German Sheppard, Giant Schnauzer, Beagle, Dachshound and Leonberger (my Leonberger Inka was allergic to dog food and I fed her rice with oatmeal, tuna, cottage cheese, big bones to chew on, apples, carrots and broccoli all her life and she died with almost 14 years having all her teeth and never being sick.)
Mitzi is 9 years old / 5 1/2 lbs and still likes to be handfed. We also have a little game, where I pretend I'm going to steal her food. She waits for that little ritual and doesn't touch her food until I attacked it.
Did you ever try tuna? Mitzi loves it but not everyday. Also a hard boiled egg might be good. Our vet gave his o.k. to Mitzis diet with rice, oatmeal, tuna, cottage cheese, ground turkey, fish, apples, carrots, broccoli and once in while an oxtail bone to chew on.
By the way... if your dog has a lot of gas give him "Beano" drops. Just squeeze a little bit in his mouth. That helps. (o.k. by the vet!) They taste a little sweet so he'll like them. Mitzi has gas once in a while and she gets really scared. Before I discovered the Beano drops I was often up all night and carried her around like a baby.
Hopefully your little guy is doing better soon and don't give up on him. Dogs are like children, they are not all alike and if he doesn't meet a standard that doesn't mean he is sick or "not normal". As long as he looks healthy, plays, doesn't throw up a lot and his stool is normal, don't worry. Trust him, he knows what's good for him. |