Please help with my picky eater!!!

[Kaytee1006]

Hey everyone! I haven’t been on here in awhile but I have a question about Mandie being such a picky eater!!

I feel like I have tried every food out there to try to get her to eat something. Finally I found Halo, the canned version in beef and chicken. Well this works sometimes. I do leave her dry dog food down for her all day so she can nibble at that whenever she wants, but usually there is the same amount there when I get home from when I left in the morning, so she is not eating that. She is a very playful 1 ½ year old now, so she should be hungry, I would think. I’m not used to not having a dog that will NOT eat her dog food. Sometimes, I give in and feed her off of a fork, just to get her to eat, but even this doesn’t always work. I am wondering if it is the dog food, or is it just her??

And on the dry dog food, when she does decide to eat it, it usually has to be a game between me and her, where I will toss her a piece, otherwise she won’t eat that either. And to tell you have even more picky she is, if the bowl, or plate is in the kitchen on the tile floor, she will wait until you move it into the living room on the carpet before she will come near it… I haven’t figured this one out yet…?

[Britster]

Jackson is 1 1/2 and pretty picky. He has never eaten his food when he's home alone, it's never touched, even though it's out for him all day. He literally just sleeps when nobody is home. He's never had an accident, or chewed, or played with toys, or anything when we're not home. It's not until someone gets home that he will chew his bones, eat his food, etc.

My picky boy loves his Acana and Nature's Variety Instinct. Those are the 2 foods that have worked best for us and that he loves the most He will usually go over and munch on dry food around lunchtime and for dinner (around 6pm) I give him some of his dry food mixed in with wet food and he eats the whole thing up!

[cj125]

My Mia was extremely picky when we first got her, too. We used to free feed because she was so little and so picky but we have found that both of ours eat better when we don't free feed. (of course they're older now) We feed them twice a day and we put it down and if they don't eat it within 20 minutes we pick it up. This was they are hungry and will eat when it's time.

We tried a lot of different foods but it's really what works best for you and your dog. IMO hard food is necessary. Good for the teeth and the bowels. Wet food is optional. Again, just my opinion.

Oh and I agree - neither one of our dogs eat while we're gone. So, as long as you're there for her regular mealtime it won't hurt picking it up so she doesn't have access to it until the next meal.

Oh one more thing. Do you give her a lot of treats through out the day? That can make them full.

Good Luck and let us know how she's doing.

[Kaytee1006]

Thanks for your replies.

No she doesn't get too many treats throughout the day.

I try to feed her around 6pm, because I am usually home around this time everynight. I have tried just hard food, but she will maybe eat 10 little pieces of it. I am worried that isn't enough. That is why I have given her the Halo canned food. And the only way I can get her to eat the hard food in the first place is if I am "playing" with her, by throwing her a piece here and there. I don't think I should have to play with her to get her to eat. I would think she would be hungry. (I do play with her during the day, she runs around the house all the time...so she is very energetic!!!)

[cj125]

Originally Posted by Kaytee1006

Thanks for your replies.

No she doesn't get too many treats throughout the day.

I try to feed her around 6pm, because I am usually home around this time everynight. I have tried just hard food, but she will maybe eat 10 little pieces of it. I am worried that isn't enough. That is why I have given her the Halo canned food. And the only way I can get her to eat the hard food in the first place is if I am "playing" with her, by throwing her a piece here and there. I don't think I should have to play with her to get her to eat. I would think she would be hungry. (I do play with her during the day, she runs around the house all the time...so she is very energetic!!!)

I know - we were really worried about her not getting enough to eat, too, but it does work. If they are older - they won't starve themselves. I wouldn't suggest this on a puppy, tho.

We did do the game thing with Mia (and still do once in a while ) but maybe try just throwing a few pieces and then leave it for her to come and eat the rest - if she doesn't - pick it up. They are stubborn (especially the females) but she will be ok.

[penpen7073]

Originally Posted by Kaytee1006

Hey everyone! I haven’t been on here in awhile but I have a question about Mandie being such a picky eater!!

I feel like I have tried every food out there to try to get her to eat something. Finally I found Halo, the canned version in beef and chicken. Well this works sometimes. I do leave her dry dog food down for her all day so she can nibble at that whenever she wants, but usually there is the same amount there when I get home from when I left in the morning, so she is not eating that. She is a very playful 1 ½ year old now, so she should be hungry, I would think. I’m not used to not having a dog that will NOT eat her dog food. Sometimes, I give in and feed her off of a fork, just to get her to eat, but even this doesn’t always work. I am wondering if it is the dog food, or is it just her??

And on the dry dog food, when she does decide to eat it, it usually has to be a game between me and her, where I will toss her a piece, otherwise she won’t eat that either. And to tell you have even more picky she is, if the bowl, or plate is in the kitchen on the tile floor, she will wait until you move it into the living room on the carpet before she will come near it… I haven’t figured this one out yet…?

good luck i have picky eater 2 ... and we have tried everything i now give her chicken mostly she eats dry dog food but she don't like it but she dose love her chicken .... good luck hope you find something she will eat

[Kaytee1006]

Thanks!!

I just noticed last night when I was looking at her teeth that one of her back big molars if thats what they are called in dogs, is loose. I thought she already lost all of her baby teeth, but maybe not??? Maybe this is why we are having the problem of her not wanting to eat!

I guess my next question would be about the tooth: Will it fall out on its own, because it seems really loose???

[cj125]

Hmm - I think at 1 1/2 yrs old that she should have lost all that she was going to loose - but I could be wrong. I think I would call the vet and just pose the question to them. If it's not normal I'm sure they'll want you to come in. Yes, it could be a reason she's not eating hard food.

[cj125]

I guess I should have mentioned that Yorkies are known for having bad teeth. So it something you have to keep on top of.

[BaxtersMommy]

There was another thread about picky eaters and I commented that I would send samples of Lifes Abundance. It is very fresh food created by a Vet, Jane Bicks.

Commercial brand dog foods can sit on a truck for up to a year before it even makes it to a store.

This food is made fresh weekly! I have never seen a dog turn it down. I have never seen runny stool when swtiching to t his food & I have seen tear stains gone!

If anyone would like samples, let me know. I am getting more on Friday and would be happy to send you some. Just PM your address.

[BaxtersMommy]

Originally Posted by BaxtersMommy

There was another thread about picky eaters and I commented that I would send samples of Lifes Abundance. It is very fresh food created by a Vet, Jane Bicks.

Commercial brand dog foods can sit on a truck for up to a year before it even makes it to a store.

This food is made fresh weekly! I have never seen a dog turn it down. I have never seen runny stool when swtiching to t his food & I have seen tear stains gone!

If anyone would like samples, let me know. I am getting more on Friday and would be happy to send you some. Just PM your address.

I forgot to attach my website.
Welcome to TrilogyOnline Pets

[TaylorWoods]

I'm very interested in this post! I have the same problem with my 7 month old puppy. last night was the first time she ate ANYTHING in 48 hours and she is not sick at all. She had just been to the vet to be checked out and he said she is fine but she weighs 200g less than she did a week and a half ago!

I also come home to a full bowl, which in turn goes soft and then I have to give her more.

I find that she gets ALL excited about something like chicken once or twice and then turns her nose up after that. Tinned food upsets her tummy so I only feed Royal Canin. I have started to give her some peas, green peas or another veg because she loves her veggies and then she tends to eat some of the kibble mixed in with it. I have never spoiled her and she has always LOVED her kibble! But i try to give her something different each day to excite her appetite. I know she's hungry because she is right ther begging while WE eat!

Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of something yummy over the top of her food to get her eating! I just feel like she is losing weight because she is so active and fit and never stops running around. She also has some extra canine teeth that havent fallen out but the vet said he would see when she is spayed if they need to be taken out and that they are not causing her discomfort at the moment.

Is it just a Yorkie thing that they are fussy? because when i got her the vet told me to feed her kiblle but not be surprised when i start feeding her chicken and other treats!

[OwnedByJezebel]

Are you in a position to try a raw diet? Dogs rarely turn that down.

I just started (on Monday) giving my dogs raw for their morning feeding. I knew my Yorkie would like it, she seems to like every food she tries. My picky eater, a Maltese, is more difficult and grazes all day long. A few pieces of kibble now, a few pieces later, never really eats a full meal all at once. Well, she LOVES the raw, finishes it right away, and stands there staring at me wanting more after it is finished.

[Cerise]

Originally Posted by Kaytee1006

Hey everyone! I haven’t been on here in awhile but I have a question about Mandie being such a picky eater!!

I feel like I have tried every food out there to try to get her to eat something. Finally I found Halo, the canned version in beef and chicken. Well this works sometimes. I do leave her dry dog food down for her all day so she can nibble at that whenever she wants, but usually there is the same amount there when I get home from when I left in the morning, so she is not eating that. She is a very playful 1 ½ year old now, so she should be hungry, I would think. I’m not used to not having a dog that will NOT eat her dog food. Sometimes, I give in and feed her off of a fork, just to get her to eat, but even this doesn’t always work. I am wondering if it is the dog food, or is it just her??

And on the dry dog food, when she does decide to eat it, it usually has to be a game between me and her, where I will toss her a piece, otherwise she won’t eat that either. And to tell you have even more picky she is, if the bowl, or plate is in the kitchen on the tile floor, she will wait until you move it into the living room on the carpet before she will come near it… I haven’t figured this one out yet…?

LOL! Welcome to my world! Cerise is almost 9 months and has been the same way since I got her. So I bought her a placemat and put her food plate and water cup down on it in the living room. Do you eat in the living room? I do and I think this is why Cerise refuse to eat out of her plate in the kitchen. She will eat a snack in the kitchen only if I'm in there with her but not a regular meal

Since she is a picky eater and I'm a picky person I home cook for her. It does take some planning and one day out of my week towards cooking a large amount to freeze, but works wonders