Who has finicky eaters? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

KFG · 07-06-2006, 07:48 AM

Oliver came home on Sunday night and everything has been great. Potty training is going well, he is happy, well-adjusted, and playful. He willingly goes into his crate at night and doesn't cry during the night.

The one thing that is driving me crazy is his eating! He is so darn finicky!! I cna't stand it! He doesn't eat a bite of dry food. The wet food he eats a few bites. Even his favorites (scrambled egg and turkey) are not getting him to eat anymore. I bought some Natual Balance to mix into the wet food my breeder was feeding him and he seems to like that a little bit more. He weighed 1 pound 4 ounces yesterday at the vet (lost a few ounces since he came home, but vet said that is normal) and is only 11 1/2 weeks old so I worry about hypoglycemia. Good thing he likes Nutri-cal!

Anyone else have finicky eaters? Do they drive you crazy?

chachi · 07-06-2006, 08:14 AM

Yes mine drive me crazy. They will only eat Royal Canin and Lil caesars. The Lil Caesars isnt the best food but Its the only moist food they will eat. I sometimes mix cottage cheese in their food to get them to eat it

candybaby · 07-06-2006, 08:16 AM

I found my dog love Royal Canin too, it is a very good food. She would not eat anything else until I changed her to Royal Canin. Definatley keep that Nutri-cal on hand it comes in handy with the tinies.

gutu28 · 07-06-2006, 09:13 AM

Cali was finicky with the Natural Choice, but then I changed it to Chicken Soup and she looooves it! I feed her that with Merrick's wet. Try mixing it with a little bit of shredded cheese or moistening the dry a little bit to get the smell out..I warm up Cali's food..so maybe try that too? Good luck!

Oscar's Mummy · 07-06-2006, 10:17 AM

I had this same problem when Oscar first came home - lasted about 4-6 weeks actually. Seemed one day he would eat his dry food, then the next day turn his nose up at it. So, I tried everything - mixing wet food with dry, adding water to the dry, blah blah blah. Finally I found a combo he liked - BABY FOOD and kibble. On days that he was being REALLY finicky and wouldn't even eat THAT, I'd give him just plain old baby food just to get SOMETHING in his tummy. I got him the meat flavored baby foods and he loved it up! I never tried cottage cheese, but knowing how much pup's LOVE cheese, I would think that would be a favorite! Oh, I also give Oscar low fat yogurt and he loves that! Now Oscar eats the dry food on its own.

Good luck with your new baby - I'm sure he'll adjust!

Lexi Rae · 07-06-2006, 10:37 AM

i guess lexi is cause she only eats human food...so far all the dry food i have bought for her, i gave away, she wont touch it...so what do i do???????

LuvtheCooper · 07-06-2006, 11:04 AM

Yes, Yes and Yes. Cooper will eat something for a while, and then he won't. So far we have fed Canidae, Merrick, and Chicken Soup. We are now on Royal Cannin. He eats it for a while, and then just won't. We also buy him turkey, chicken and meat sticks in the baby food jars. He will eat those. He gets scrambled eggs and cottage cheese once a week. He is also picky on treats...won't eat any of the little package one, like puperoni, or beggin' strips or those type things. He does love the merrick flossies though. I also keep cooked chicken for him (I freeze it). I think food just isn't that important to Cooper, he eats when he is hungry and is very healthy, so I just quit worrying about it. I also use Missing Link on his food.

KFG · 07-06-2006, 12:45 PM

Hopefully it won't take 4-6 weeks for Oliver to settle into an eating pattern. I will absolutely LOSE my mind! He eats so little but then again he IS so little. Maybe warming up his food would help. He doesn't seem to like the egg so much when it is cold from the fridge. I should go to the store to get him some cottage cheese. How much should I give him?

KFG · 07-06-2006, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexi Rae

i guess lexi is cause she only eats human food...so far all the dry food i have bought for her, i gave away, she wont touch it...so what do i do???????

Have you tried wet food?

Patti · 07-06-2006, 03:42 PM

Cali has been a very picky eater. She now eats chicken with a little Cesars mixed in and missing link supplement. Because she had so many health issues I had to feed her whatever she would eat. I have tried at least 8 types of dog food and had no luck.

KFG · 07-06-2006, 04:10 PM

I started thinking today... How much does Oliver really NEED to be eating? I mean he only weighs 1 pound 4 oz. I know the can I use says that a 5 pound dog should eat a can a day. My poor guy has eaten a little less than a can in 4 days. Does that sound right? Or should I be concerned that he's not eating more?

Chanda Taneile · 07-06-2006, 05:03 PM

Peaches eats the Science Diet Small bites... but she sometimes wont eat unless my mom hand feeds it to her

michiko · 07-06-2006, 05:45 PM

Congrats!!!! about Oliver!! I am very happy for you!!

ANd welcome to my world!! I have been commuting to petsmart to buy a different wet food.. to see if Haruka will eat any of them.... She is definitely picky eater... she is now.. looking at me.. saying.. "this is not hot enough.." to my grilled chicken!!!

Anyway. I am working on that... so we try our best and we will see

Michiko

candybaby · 07-06-2006, 06:09 PM

The main thing is a yorkie is so cute that everyone tends to spoil them rotten and that is not good when it comes to food. Once a dog gets a taste of human food that is all they will want especially the yorkie. Yorkies need to be kept on dog food it provides them with the correct nutrients to keep them healthy. Since your yorkie has already eaten human food you need to get a good dog food (22-27 percent protein and 16 percent fat) as they get older its better to get one with a little less protein because too much protein can destroy a yorkies kidneys. Anyhow, mix the dog food (preferably dry) and put a small amount of boiled chicken breast. Chop it up real fine and mix it real good and gradually put less and less chicken until completly on dog food only. Afterall, thats why they make dog food so your dog will stay healthy. Human food by no means is a healthy diet for your yorkie, so PLEASE get him/her on dog food. Do not feed human food, its not good for them.

And don't worry about him not eating he will eat when he gets hungry, and buy some Nutri-Cal while you switch him over to dog food incase he don't eat that much, he will get all his nutrients he needs with Nutri-Cal.

KFG · 07-07-2006, 05:41 AM

Well Oliver officially likes his food a little warmer. He didn't eat breakfast yesterday and ate very little for lunch. But for dinner he really chowed down. Now this morning I gave him less food, but warmed it up and he ate just about all of it. Hopefully this will continue. He is finally pooping more regularly so that is great! If only I could get him to drink more water...

Thanks for all your suggestions!

07-06-2006, 07:48 AM	#1
KFG Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 109	Who has finicky eaters? Oliver came home on Sunday night and everything has been great. Potty training is going well, he is happy, well-adjusted, and playful. He willingly goes into his crate at night and doesn't cry during the night. The one thing that is driving me crazy is his eating! He is so darn finicky!! I cna't stand it! He doesn't eat a bite of dry food. The wet food he eats a few bites. Even his favorites (scrambled egg and turkey) are not getting him to eat anymore. I bought some Natual Balance to mix into the wet food my breeder was feeding him and he seems to like that a little bit more. He weighed 1 pound 4 ounces yesterday at the vet (lost a few ounces since he came home, but vet said that is normal) and is only 11 1/2 weeks old so I worry about hypoglycemia. Good thing he likes Nutri-cal! Anyone else have finicky eaters? Do they drive you crazy?

07-06-2006, 08:14 AM	#2
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	Yes mine drive me crazy. They will only eat Royal Canin and Lil caesars. The Lil Caesars isnt the best food but Its the only moist food they will eat. I sometimes mix cottage cheese in their food to get them to eat it __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

07-06-2006, 08:16 AM	#3
candybaby Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: N. California Posts: 1,316	I found my dog love Royal Canin too, it is a very good food. She would not eat anything else until I changed her to Royal Canin. Definatley keep that Nutri-cal on hand it comes in handy with the tinies. __________________ Candee, Bear, Daizy (in spirit, R.I.P) and Pepsi's mommy

07-06-2006, 09:13 AM	#4
gutu28 Lovin' the Cali kisses! Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Lawrenceville, Georgia Posts: 2,990	Cali was finicky with the Natural Choice, but then I changed it to Chicken Soup and she looooves it! I feed her that with Merrick's wet. Try mixing it with a little bit of shredded cheese or moistening the dry a little bit to get the smell out..I warm up Cali's food..so maybe try that too? Good luck! __________________ Larissa and Cali Let's go Georgia Bulldogs!

07-06-2006, 10:17 AM	#5
Oscar's Mummy Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,275	I had this same problem when Oscar first came home - lasted about 4-6 weeks actually. Seemed one day he would eat his dry food, then the next day turn his nose up at it. So, I tried everything - mixing wet food with dry, adding water to the dry, blah blah blah. Finally I found a combo he liked - BABY FOOD and kibble. On days that he was being REALLY finicky and wouldn't even eat THAT, I'd give him just plain old baby food just to get SOMETHING in his tummy. I got him the meat flavored baby foods and he loved it up! I never tried cottage cheese, but knowing how much pup's LOVE cheese, I would think that would be a favorite! Oh, I also give Oscar low fat yogurt and he loves that! Now Oscar eats the dry food on its own. Good luck with your new baby - I'm sure he'll adjust! __________________ Janice, Oscar and Baby Ruth "The more people I meet, the more I love my dog."

07-06-2006, 10:37 AM	#6
Lexi Rae Gina, (Lexi's Mommy) Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: LONG ISLAND,NY Posts: 10,455	i guess lexi is cause she only eats human food...so far all the dry food i have bought for her, i gave away, she wont touch it...so what do i do??????? __________________ Gina & Lexi CLICK HERE for our Photo Album ...

07-06-2006, 11:04 AM	#7
LuvtheCooper & LuvtheCarley too! Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wa State/Texas Posts: 1,625	Yes, Yes and Yes. Cooper will eat something for a while, and then he won't. So far we have fed Canidae, Merrick, and Chicken Soup. We are now on Royal Cannin. He eats it for a while, and then just won't. We also buy him turkey, chicken and meat sticks in the baby food jars. He will eat those. He gets scrambled eggs and cottage cheese once a week. He is also picky on treats...won't eat any of the little package one, like puperoni, or beggin' strips or those type things. He does love the merrick flossies though. I also keep cooked chicken for him (I freeze it). I think food just isn't that important to Cooper, he eats when he is hungry and is very healthy, so I just quit worrying about it. I also use Missing Link on his food. __________________ Delaina Cooper & Carley

07-06-2006, 12:45 PM	#8
KFG Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 109	Hopefully it won't take 4-6 weeks for Oliver to settle into an eating pattern. I will absolutely LOSE my mind! He eats so little but then again he IS so little. Maybe warming up his food would help. He doesn't seem to like the egg so much when it is cold from the fridge. I should go to the store to get him some cottage cheese. How much should I give him?

07-06-2006, 03:42 PM	#10
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	Cali has been a very picky eater. She now eats chicken with a little Cesars mixed in and missing link supplement. Because she had so many health issues I had to feed her whatever she would eat. I have tried at least 8 types of dog food and had no luck. __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

07-06-2006, 04:10 PM	#11
KFG Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 109	I started thinking today... How much does Oliver really NEED to be eating? I mean he only weighs 1 pound 4 oz. I know the can I use says that a 5 pound dog should eat a can a day. My poor guy has eaten a little less than a can in 4 days. Does that sound right? Or should I be concerned that he's not eating more?

07-06-2006, 05:03 PM	#12
Chanda Taneile Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pa Posts: 37	Peaches eats the Science Diet Small bites... but she sometimes wont eat unless my mom hand feeds it to her

07-06-2006, 05:45 PM	#13
michiko The Yorkie Sitter Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 2,350	Congrats!!!! about Oliver!! I am very happy for you!! ANd welcome to my world!! I have been commuting to petsmart to buy a different wet food.. to see if Haruka will eat any of them.... She is definitely picky eater... she is now.. looking at me.. saying.. "this is not hot enough.." to my grilled chicken!!! Anyway. I am working on that... so we try our best and we will see Michiko __________________ Michiko (Ethicist) and Haruka(Fragrance of Spring Flowers) [/URL][/COLOR]

07-06-2006, 06:09 PM	#14
candybaby Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: N. California Posts: 1,316	The main thing is a yorkie is so cute that everyone tends to spoil them rotten and that is not good when it comes to food. Once a dog gets a taste of human food that is all they will want especially the yorkie. Yorkies need to be kept on dog food it provides them with the correct nutrients to keep them healthy. Since your yorkie has already eaten human food you need to get a good dog food (22-27 percent protein and 16 percent fat) as they get older its better to get one with a little less protein because too much protein can destroy a yorkies kidneys. Anyhow, mix the dog food (preferably dry) and put a small amount of boiled chicken breast. Chop it up real fine and mix it real good and gradually put less and less chicken until completly on dog food only. Afterall, thats why they make dog food so your dog will stay healthy. Human food by no means is a healthy diet for your yorkie, so PLEASE get him/her on dog food. Do not feed human food, its not good for them. And don't worry about him not eating he will eat when he gets hungry, and buy some Nutri-Cal while you switch him over to dog food incase he don't eat that much, he will get all his nutrients he needs with Nutri-Cal. __________________ Candee, Bear, Daizy (in spirit, R.I.P) and Pepsi's mommy

07-07-2006, 05:41 AM	#15
KFG Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 109	Well Oliver officially likes his food a little warmer. He didn't eat breakfast yesterday and ate very little for lunch. But for dinner he really chowed down. Now this morning I gave him less food, but warmed it up and he ate just about all of it. Hopefully this will continue. He is finally pooping more regularly so that is great! If only I could get him to drink more water... Thanks for all your suggestions!