Sounds like you're doing the right thing in handfeeding him. Sometimes for picky eaters I just throw a bunch of dry kibbles on the living room floor and they eat it better that way than out of the bowl. I wouldn't do the treats you are just exchanging one bad habit for another. It's hard switching to dry when you've been giving can, but it does happen. If you don't mind the inconvenience of giving can and you brush his teeth, just buy a better quality can food with no meat by-products, no corn, and very little grains, if any.
I have three and one just gave birth so she was getting canned so everybody was getting canned and they very quickly all stopped eating their dry food so I am going through the same thing, but I usually have to do it every time my Mom comes to visit with her malteses because she "spoils" mine, right along with hers so I know it doesn't take that long to return to good habits. Since yours has never eaten dry exclusively you might try adding a small amount of chicken broth (organic kind with low sodium) over the dry. |