Cry for help... Ready to give up....

[txrosegirl]

oh gosh, i feel your pain..one of my kids did the same thing but would only like a food for about 1 meal and if i was lucky, one whole day

i was able to finally find something she will consistently eat but it was a challenge trying to find something...and expensive!! and actually, i am worried she is getting bored again lol

i also tried adding in all the suggested items (cheese, parmesan cheese, yogurt, egg, chicken, etc) and NOTHING worked with her for more than one meal

i hope you find a solution quick as i understand how frustrating this is

[rebecca127]

Originally Posted by Ladym

HI,
My guy did the same thing. I was buying so many different bags of food. Then I decided to mix them together in a gallon food bag. A cup of each. He can then pick what he likes from each one from his bowl. I mix a little wet food in his bowl and I also mix in a little yogurt or low fat cottage cheese. Now he cleans his bowl. Good luck with yours.

I actually did that.. I mixed the Innova Dry, Royal Canin and the Prarie Dry all together and guess what... she walked away...

She REFUSES to eat mix with wet... since she was a puppy...

Oh yeah and when on this site that the first thing i did mix yogurt and cottage cheese ... didnt even touch it....

[rebecca127]

Oh yeah, no grumbling noises, regular hard poop and no gas....

[Lynn WDW]

Baxter has food out all the time. He will gobble food one day and the next eat very little. Does she ever do that? He is on Chicken Soup (which my husband says smells so bad the people who make it out to have to eat it). He likes it. We had to do several different foods due to stomach upset. When I have to get him to eat at a certain time, like he can't have anything after 7, he will eat out of my hand. We were out of town and he was with my sister and wouldn't eat and my brother-in-law got him to eat out of his hand. Another trick that I have used is putting the kibble in his Kong. He will eat anything in the Kong. Doesn't matter what it is. Good luck - I know the frustration.
Also - do you keep the other food and rotate it? Maybe you could jsut get 2 kinds and switch every few days.

[Potter]

Most Yorkies are known to be picky but there are some that are really picky. I have one like that. Pao is a good 10 pounds but he picks. I have tried kibbles from Innova, Canidae, Wellness, Blue Buffalo, Solid Gold, Royal Canin, Acana, Orijen. Acana and Orijen had his interest for a little longer than the others but not for long. I also tried canned-Canidae, Merrick's, Dick van Pattern, Cesar, even Ol' Roy and so many others that I don't even recall anymore and a commercial cooked called Human Grade Doggie Cuisine. I also tried the prey model raw once and he wouldn't eat it, he would just walk around the house to find places to hide it and it'll just stay at the hiding spot! If I pen him with the raw, he wouldn't eat at all and barks to be let out.
I have not tried the raw medallions though.

He is now on homecooking, I have gotten some recipes from a good website and he still picks but is eating better. I know he loves chicken and turkey and does not like beef so I stick to what he likes but I do stick to the recipe and the supplements. The only thing different that I do now is adding half of a Merrick's sausages that comes in different flavours and I rotate the flavours (French Country Cafe, Grammy's Pot Pie, New Zealand Summer, Cowboy Cookout, Thanksgiving, Venison) each time and so far, he has been doing good on it for the past month. Is there something that she particularly like from a meat source? Chicken, turkey, beef, lamb? Or vege that she likes? Mix vege?

I can understand how frustrating it can be. I hope you'll be able to find something that she likes. Oh...I also bought the Tripett canned lamb tripe again and gave him some of that. He used to eat it as a puppy so maybe you'd want to try that? It used to be really smelly but this time that I bought it, it smells okay not too bad.

[rebecca127]

Hey Potter:

I have actually tried home cooking and did the supplements. I have at least 7 books on homecooking and i would prepare all my meals on the weekends and feed her 2 different things everyday so she would nto get bored. And she just didnt want to eat it anymore.

She does love chcken. I have tried frying, sauteeing it, boiling it and anything else you can do to chicken but she will get tired of it the 3rd day and not eat it. I cant be giving her chciken every day of her life and she hates it when i put vitamins or supplements.

Oh and the Merricks, I did that sausage thing in her food and i would try all of the variations they have and her favorite was the wingaling and she would gobble that down. She ate that for 2 months i think and that was it.

I tried mixing the wingaling sauce with teh chicken bone in the innova kibble and that was a waste cause she wouldnt even touch it.

I am seriously going to go insane....

Halo will be my last resort I think...

And for the ppl who are pming me saying they would love to take my dog... I am not gonna giver her away just like that either... Thanks for caring tho...

[tumismom]

people are pming you and wanting to take your dog? wow, i just don't get some people.

[YoRkiE Te aMo]

we have been successful with homecooking..our little one eats what we eat ..when we eat...real food ...no preservatives, fresh foods...several times a day...and there is no begging going on, as he is buzy eating too...they like variation and it is good as per the nutrients they need...
he gets a little of this and that it adds up to about half a cup of food a day..
snax are fruits...blueberrie, cherrie, apple, orange, tangerine..not alot just a little ...
yogurt and cheese but not processed cheese ...
even a little milk is better than an empty stomach on these little ones...

morning : a one inch peice of precooked beef chopped up with a small spoon of yogurt and a couple of blueberries..

lunch : half inch peice of riccota cheese or a boccincini cheese ball with a one inch square of bran bread

dinner :
chicken breast, beef (no fat) very lean ground meat (nothing fried)fish,tuna,salmon and a shrimp or two...

rice or pasta or potatoes or yams..
ours can not tolerate potatoe ( many are allergic to them )

veggies: tomatoes, broccoli, kale,snow peas, green beans, red cabbage, bok choy,zuccini, peas.

herbs: Parsley(great for nice white teeth) oregano, sage, rosemary .just a touch of some or each (we only use the rosemary occassionally) but the others daily..

the ratio is one third of each... for dinner depending on the size of ur little one ..about one eighth to a quarter cup of the mix...

for digestive problems and the best poops ..home style bran bread is great make little squares as a treat with a dap of butter..
a friend had a dog with colitis and needed meds..well those were replaced with the bran bread treats and he did great..better than the meds and no side effects

i was given this information by a vet in France ...
In Italy the dog food is a bag of pasta with the meat sauce dried and u add water and cook it and voila ! the dogs love it ...

now that is what our dog eats and he loves it and is healthy at 11 years and we also eat this...we cook for us and he gets too...
who could look at a bag of dry kibble and think that is edible?
so why would u think ur little one would !

[bchgirl]

Originally Posted by rebecca127

I have tried pieces of boiled chicken...

She does not have liver shut or anything like that... She has had her tests done.. my best friend is a vet tech so she does all those tests for me..

Yes I have done the "leave the kibble on the floor for 30 min and if she doesnt eat it I take it back and give it back to her at her next meal time" Guess what she won't eat it... but i will tell you this I KNOW she is hungry because while my mom is cooking she will stand right there in the kitchen and wait for SOMEONE to give her SOMETHING. I was eating dinner and she was literally just pouncing on me to give her something so I know she is hungry but she just wont eat dog food consistently.

She has hardly eaten anything in 2 days cause i am doing the tough love with Solid Gold Wee bits with halo dream coat on it....

Her coat is brittle and its falling out because she doesnt have a consistent diet so I really am losing my mind.

She eats the food with enthusiasm for 3 or 4 days and then she just sniffs it and just walks away...

HELP!

So does she get fed then?

Personally I think the constant switching of her foods is adding to the problem.

Dogs will not starve themselves...she may be waiting for mommy to offer something better...but if you consistently offer only one food...no treats, no table scraps...she will eventually eat.

[rebecca127]

Originally Posted by YoRkiE Te aMo

we have been successful with homecooking..our little one eats what we eat ..when we eat...real food ...no preservatives, fresh foods...several times a day...and there is no begging going on, as he is buzy eating too...they like variation and it is good as per the nutrients they need...
he gets a little of this and that it adds up to about half a cup of food a day..
snax are fruits...blueberrie, cherrie, apple, orange, tangerine..not alot just a little ...
yogurt and cheese but not processed cheese ...
even a little milk is better than an empty stomach on these little ones...

morning : a one inch peice of precooked beef chopped up with a small spoon of yogurt and a couple of blueberries..

lunch : half inch peice of riccota cheese or a boccincini cheese ball with a one inch square of bran bread

dinner :
chicken breast, beef (no fat) very lean ground meat (nothing fried)fish,tuna,salmon and a shrimp or two...

rice or pasta or potatoes or yams..
ours can not tolerate potatoe ( many are allergic to them )

veggies: tomatoes, broccoli, kale,snow peas, green beans, red cabbage, bok choy,zuccini, peas.

herbs: Parsley(great for nice white teeth) oregano, sage, rosemary .just a touch of some or each (we only use the rosemary occassionally) but the others daily..

the ratio is one third of each... for dinner depending on the size of ur little one ..about one eighth to a quarter cup of the mix...

for digestive problems and the best poops ..home style bran bread is great make little squares as a treat with a dap of butter..
a friend had a dog with colitis and needed meds..well those were replaced with the bran bread treats and he did great..better than the meds and no side effects

i was given this information by a vet in France ...
In Italy the dog food is a bag of pasta with the meat sauce dried and u add water and cook it and voila ! the dogs love it ...

now that is what our dog eats and he loves it and is healthy at 11 years and we also eat this...we cook for us and he gets too...
who could look at a bag of dry kibble and think that is edible?
so why would u think ur little one would !

** She gets diaherria if she eats Pasta**

She loves fruits and carrots. But the prob no one is home during the day to give her that. My mom is the one that fills her up with fruits when she gets home. But my thing is she needs to eat in the morning before i leave to work and when i come from work.

Plus home cooking everyday is not good because by the time i finish its like 7 pm and that is a long time for her to wait (i get home at 6:15)... Plus her tummy doesnt take to reheated food... I always get the runny poop a couple of hours later... That is why if i do homecook i make it fresh...

[mscat]

I leave Kibble down all the time for Suzi. Sometimes she will eat very well for a few days then taper off. But, I will not switch her diet. I also give her wet food that is by the same company once in A while. i think all dogs will beg for human food, and once given they will develop the habit of wanting more . Human food can be benificial only if it is the right kind, and in small amounts.
With your little one , switching all the time is what is making her extra picky. If a dog is really very hungry then Yet they will eat! They will not starve themselves. Suzi is a late night eater , and often times I hear her eating after midnight. Sometimes they don't liked to be watched when eating. I know that Suzi stops eating if there is someone right at her bowl too, or even walking by. I give her space, and she eats better! That seems funny, but that is how she is!
I also think that they pick up on our anxiety , and the behave accordingly. Mom's upset, every time I try and eat, so I won't eat because it makes her "mad" If they think they are in trouble or being disapproved at, then it will turn them off.
PLUS, changing foods every time she does not eat teaches them that they will get a new food every time they turn their noses up.
These little yorkies are smart.... Soon they OWN US, and we don't own them anymore.. They are in charge and we better do what they want, or else they turn into little boogers, LOL .
Best wishes to you. Try not to keep switching foods all the time.

[ARCHIE]

Oh my how frustrating.
I have read that a dog will not starve itself to death. I think she is playing
with your head. Pick a food and stick with it. If she's hungary she'll eat.
Don't switch. It sounds like there is nothing left to do for this stinker.
Maybe add some vitimins also since her coat is thin.
As long as illness has been ruled out I would stop going nuts and put
food down and if she eats she eats if not she will when she realizes
this is it.
Good luck,

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

. .

Personally I think the constant switching of her foods is adding to the problem.

Dogs will not starve themselves...she may be waiting for mommy to offer something better...but if you consistently offer only one food...no treats, no table scraps...she will eventually eat.

I can understand when they just won't eat something from the beginning, but if she will eat it for three days, and then get finicky, so what? She just isn't that hungry. Cut the snacks out, and don't give any human foods, she'll eat the dog food when she's hungry.

Haven't you ever seen a mom on one of those talk shows who say their children will only eat McDonald's Mcnuggets? You don't want to become one of them, do you?

[QuickSilver]

I agree that you should cut out all human food. She needs to focus on her kibble.

Also, since you have all these different dog foods, I would just switch them out every few days. Maybe she just really needs the variety. Maybe alternate between two different types of food. Or have two bowls down and she can pick which one she feels like eating.

If she needs to gain weight, maybe just put a teaspoon of vegetable oil on each one of her meals.

Ultimately, unless she has a health problem, she will eat and continue eating. She won't starve herself.

I started free feeding Thor because he only eats his kibble very occasionally. He's maintaining his weight and when he gets the urge to eat a few pieces, it's there.

[Potter]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I can understand when they just won't eat something from the beginning, but if she will eat it for three days, and then get finicky, so what? She just isn't that hungry. Cut the snacks out, and don't give any human foods, she'll eat the dog food when she's hungry.

Haven't you ever seen a mom on one of those talk shows who say their children will only eat McDonald's Mcnuggets? You don't want to become one of them, do you?

I too think she could be playing with your head..she probably is that smart and wants to get the best out of her food since she knows if she doesn't eat, she gets food rotated. Pao doesn't like the supplement and vitamins in his food either but he gets it every meal now and he KNOWS he doesn't have a choice. Eat the chicken and the rest of homecooking with the supplement or don't eat at all. Some dogs also might like vege/fruits more than meat and my sister's Maltese is like that. She loves fruits and vege every type of it and when it comes to meat, its a so so. Maybe incorporate whatever fruits and vege she likes into her food and stick to it? Monitor her when she doesn't eat and if she seems fine, just let her be. Just offer her the same food that you want to stick to frequently and see how she does.

I don't know what else to say and extreme pickyness can be very frustrating. I am just glad it is over for mine for now.