Help Needed: Confused & Not Happy
 

I went to the Vet for my Yorkie's yearly checkup & also told them of his recent diarreha and nausea problems. They gave me a free 5 lb bag of "Iam's Low Residue" food. He's been on "Blue Buffalo" and I was concerned with the high protein, as someone mentioned here about it. They told me that they have seen numerous of dogs with G.I. problems that ate these holistic types of foods, like Blue Buffalo. I pointed out the bad ingredients on the bag, and each time they had a good reason or an answer for each thing I pointed out. I also was given other food choices as Eukanuba and Science Diet. I know all of these foods aren't high quality, so I am confused why they think their food choices are. I know they get kick backs for the food they sell at the Vet's office too.

My little guy won't eat the "Blue Buffalo" chicken. I've tried the Turkey and Fish, and he definitely won't eat those. I've even tried the Eukanuba as they suggested, and he won't touch that. He's eating the "Blue Buffalo" mixed with "Iam's Low Residue", but not much of it.

I've read the ingredients of all the brands the Vet suggested, but they all have similar ingredients but flipped around. I don't know which food to try since he's been thru numerous of brands since a puppy. He's been finikey since a puppy too. I need some suggestions of what to do since I am not happy with Iam's and he's not eating when I put the food down like most dogs. Any suggestions are appreciated.

The only foods my dogs will consistently eat (& finish the entire bag) is Royal Canin. Regardless of what brands I try to switch to they like Royal Canin, thus I decided that's what they'll eat. They seemed to be thriving so I don't see the need to switch back and forth, some foods might be better, but some are worse. I think people can make themselves crazy over trying to find 'just the right food', if they eat it and are healthy that's what matters.
---- of course this is coming from someone who use to eat soy everything, exercise like crazy and woke up one day and thought life is too short not to eat cheeseburgers!
Kendra

Thanks for your reply. My little guy use to be on "Royal Cainine", but he got tired of this and that is when I switched him to "Blue". I heard that RC was geared to specific breeds that are finiky or need certain ingredients. After a few bags plus and months, he sniffed and walked away to the point of not eating. He would hold out, literally. This is the issues. Anyways, maybe I will go back to trying that again. Thanks.

I might add I treat my dogs like my kids (!) --- and my response at dinner time is: "you have two choices for dinner: take it or leave it"

except for Gracie as she's a little beggar and I give in to her, so I'm not so tough after all --- we eat a lot of chicken and she loves her chicken, so can't help but give 'em some of that too.

and of course they all split their watermelon flavored candy cane this morning. Life's too short not to indulge once in awhile - what's a candy cane in the grand scheme of things??!! lol
Hope you find him a food that works - maybe find one he seems to prefer and stick with it, and buy it in small bags so it's fresh and just give him that. I do know when I've been low on food and only had the other brands (when I was trying to switch 'em to the "health-ier" stuff) they didn't like it but I had to leave them something so I'd put some in their dish and get home from work and it'd be gone...so if he's hungry he'll eat. He won't starve without food for a day or two. But he will eat after going a day or two without food. Good Luck
Kendra

Bridget was the pickiest eater ever and I tried every food there was - good and bad (but mostly the good stuff). She would eat the cat food but not the dog food. I tried two things at once so I'm not sure which was the answer. I bought a bag of Holistic Select (Sardine and Anchovie) and someone on here (Sorry - I can't remember who - I've gotten so much good advice) to try to sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top. Well something worked, because she has no problem eating ever since.
Good luck - I know how frustrating it can be.

How about Stella and Chewy's. My poor Odey has had bad IBS since he was two, has been on the RC but just stopped eating the wet food. So, I mix the Stella and Chewy's with the dry IVD and he seems to be doing ok, he also has to have tylen powder in his food to stop the "runs"...I also give him Canine Comfort. Hope maybe this helps

I feed Rylie Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet Potato & Duck Formula Small Breed Bites. She does really well on it (I also feed the same brand to my cat). It is grain free and high quality ingredients and the protein is lower than BB. Check out their website!

Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Potato & Duck Formula

If you go to Contact Us in the upper right hand corner and e-mail asking for free samples they will gladly mail some to you! You can see if your baby likes it without spending any money. I hope this helps!

You've been given some great advice in your recent threads-
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...diet-dogs.html
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...e-buffalo.html
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...ired-food.html
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...-wet-food.html
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...lo-issues.html
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...-dog-food.html

Wow... that's a lot of threads. Well you can tell she really cares about her pup!

Love your post! Mine will pick out those tiny Royal Canin kibble no matter what I mix it with. They love the stuff! It is not that bad. Some say they don't like it but I do believe it is a good food. Like you said, maybe not the best, but then I am not eating the very ultimate mix of food myself. I know my dogs are healthy. I get asked what they eat to make them shine like they do so I think some Royal Canin is not going to hurt. I also have fed Canidae which they all did extremely well on. I liked the "All Life Stage" concept as I had a senior, adults & puppies. I have been thinking about changing them again -- to maybe a non-grain or a "raw" diet. I cannot stomach the idea of a total raw diet but thought I might be able to do some of the prepared "raw" diets. Still -- why fight it? My dogs are doing well on the Royal Canin and they love it. My dachshund lived to be 17 1/2 (and she was started on Alpo & Pedigree before I knew better than that) -- so maybe we are all taking this food thing a little too seriously. I don't want to feed by-products or any chemical that has been deemed harmful. But beyond that -- I think there are plenty of good foods that are good enough. :)

My girls eat Wellness , small breed, without any problems. I have not ever had any of them turn down a high quality , canned food either. They love the Organic canned made by Wellness. It is loaded with protein though so I do not give it to them everyday. or all the time. There was other good brands as awell , like By Nature, Nature's variety , and Taste Of the wild.

I am convinced that NO puppy is going to starve himself when perfectly good dog food is available. The thing is they are more stubborn than most of us owners. They hold out a little while and we give in and feed them something special. So, we TEACH them to be finicky eaters. All they have to do is not eat the dog food and they have us bending over backwards trying to find ways to make it more appealing, giving them human food, or trying all sorts of new food brands. I say pick out 3 brands that you are happy with -- good history of quality and nutritional value. Then give him 3 bowls, one brand in each. Do not feed anything else for a few days -- no treats, no people food, no gravy toppers or food additives. Let him show you which of the 3 he likes the best by whichone he eats the most of. Then go with that food! Dogs are just like children -- they will have days they don't eat very well. Do not confuse a few days of not eating much with them not liking a food they have always eaten well before. They may just not feel like eating that much on those days. You might want to pick th efood they liked second best and use that as a switch after a few months for a little variety -- but know the variety is usually more for the owner than the dog. They are happy to eat the same thing every day. Some of us even use the kibble for training treats -- all in presentation! ;)

I am convinced that NO puppy is going to starve himself when perfectly good dog food is available. The thing is they are more stubborn than most of us owners. They hold out a little while and we give in and feed them something special. So, we TEACH them to be finicky eaters. All they have to do is not eat the dog food and they have us bending over backwards trying to find ways to make it more appealing, giving them human food, or trying all sorts of new food brands. I say pick out 3 brands that you are happy with -- good history of quality and nutritional value. Then give him 3 bowls, one brand in each. Do not feed anything else for a few days -- no treats, no people food, no gravy toppers or food additives. Let him show you which of the 3 he likes the best by whichone he eats the most of. Then go with that food! Dogs are just like children -- they will have days they don't eat very well. Do not confuse a few days of not eating much with them not liking a food they have always eaten well before. They may just not feel like eating that much on those days. You might want to pick the food they liked second best and use that as a switch after a few months for a little variety -- but know the variety is usually more for the owner than the dog. They are happy to eat the same thing every day. Some of us even use the kibble for training treats -- all in presentation! ;) Stick with it -- he won't starve himself to death!

:thumbup:

Thanks to all with the kind replies. I don't know what else to say, but probably not much else since some people don't appreciate me posting questions (Britster). I might as well give up this board if people like that seem to attack me here~!


In regards to trying a few brands in each bowl, I have tried recently giving him a few kibbles of "Blue Buffalo" chicken, turkey, fish, Eukanuba and the Iam's. What did he go for....the Iam's. I was happy he found what he liked, but he's not eating much of anything lately. I am mixing the "Blue" chicken and the Iam's, but he's hardly eating it. If I put "Blue" chicken & Eukanuba next to each other, he goes for the "Blue". I hardly give him treats and never give him broth or toppings as you mentioned. I've mixed the wet dog food in his dish and he will eat both the wet and dry together for a while. After a while, he will only eat the wet and not the dry. He may not starve, but he does a good job of it when he can.

Don't be discouraged. Britster has a big heart and is passionate about the topic of dog food. I'm quite sure she wants to help you and did not intend her post as an attack.

May I ask why you are continuing with Blue Buffalo products?

I agree with Debra's great advice about how to overcome picky eating.

My younger boy has a sensitive system and he does really well on Go! Grain Free Endurance formula. It's tasty stuff.

Woah! Wasn't attacking you -- I was simply linking you back to some of your threads where you've asked the same/similar questions before. You've gotten a ton of great answers. I'm not sure what else we can give you. I love YT because of the fact that everyone is so helpful and willing to answer questions, myself included, no need to give up this board? I think you're taking it way too personal.

:thumbup:

Pick one food and stick with it. If he is having GI issues, then it may need to be an rx food. I'm not into forcing dogs to eat something they don't like, but imo way too many foods have been tried and that in itself could have enhanced this issue. How about a canned rx diet? One food that he at least shows some interest in - then stick wth it. If he holds out for too long, then the vet needs to be involved.

Wow. I would like to add as well that lately I have used cottage cheese on top of my dogs food so that she will eat it.
Works great! Gives her added calcium too.

I have the trouble with getting her to eat a decent kibble which I free feed her (I cook for her)

I dislike the wheat and corn gluten in the Royal Canin. I feel that my girl was getting allergies and that those could of been the culprit. I love my dog and did the Royal Canin to begin with because I thought it was one of the best choices. Since I have learned that there are some fillers that could be causing her some problems. No matter what, she always goes back to her Royal Canin. I just wish I could get her on something else. She did the Blue Buffalo for awhile but stopped after three days. I freeze the canned Blue Buffalo in ice cube trays, then wrap individually. Sometimes when she appears not interested in her meal I will carve some off and toss it in. She eats it up!
No problems. In the beginning however, the Blue Buffalo wet was giving her diarrhea Not any more. Not problems for the past year. I don't give it too her that often though. It makes for a nice diversion for her and is what I feel is a great blend of foods.
It can make us crazy trying to find the perfect food for our loved ones. I keep at it, insistent to find the healthiest dry food that I can find. No fillers, no sunthetic preservatives, no wheat or corn anything and no un named animal by product or meal.
Then find one that she will eat!! No wonder I cook for her. Much easier, one would think.
I would like her on the EVO but again, the protein seems high.
Not sure where to turn either. I just stay at it, hours, days, weeks of reading and talking with others. I will find something. Eventually. Until then the majority of her meal is home made of 40% protien 30% Vegetable 30% grain.

Ok maybe you need to start from square 1 again.. But since he has tummy trouble I would try L.I.D food from Natural Balance... It has one simple protien and 1 simple carb.. grain free... they even have it in wet food too.. try i kind they he has never had... maybe like the one with Sweet potato & Bison or the Sweet potato and Venison... Don't give any treats.. just offer him food... sooner or later he will eat it :)

Hi. Did your vet do any bloodwork for the nausea/ vomiting/lack of appetitie? How old is your little one? Has he ever been BAT tested? Seems to me you've tried just about everything out there... maybe the problem isn't so much the food but could be something going on with him. Just a couple things to consider also: I keep mine on Probiotics/digestive enzymes to help their digestion and to head off any temporary/intermittant problems... And mine eat a lot better after a walk throught the neighborhood...

Digestive Enzymes
 

kjc; may I ask what brand of digestive enzymes that you use?
Roxy is on Pro Biotics that I sprinkle on her food once a day.
I do cook for her and am concerned that I may need to add some digestive enzymes, short of giving her nuts and seeds as well as fresh raw vegetables to snack on.
I have also added a bit of calcium by way of cottage cheese which she really likes.
When it comes to digestive enzymes, I see several choices locally but since I know nothing about this, yet.. I haven't introduced any yet.
I would be interested in reading what brand you use and why you chose that one over any other.
All input from other members who use digestive enzymes would be much appreciated.
Knowledge Rules and I am rather ignorant to this topic at this time.