Should I consider changing foods

[Ellie May]

Is he rapidly losing weight because of not eating? If yes, then I'd talk to the vet about how long they want you to hold out for. Otherwise, one food and one food only. Put it down, pick it up. No treats or edible chews or he will just hold out for that. If he needs treats, then he can have pieces of the kibble that he isn't eating.

I think it's better for the dog to hold out one time while they realize this is all they are getting rather than giving in over and over. In a case like that thye eat for a few days, then stop for a day while owner runs to the store like a good servant and gets something else. Then repeat over and over. They will lose weight this way and it's a concern that a dog is dictating what will and won't happen like that. Now if they don't eat for a certain number of days (determined by your vet) or only eat a little bit daily for weeks, then the vet needs to be involved and decide what is medically and nutritionally apropriate for the dog.

Put the Pro Plan down with nothing on it and no treats of any kind and see what you get.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by hugz4all4

Do you still rotate now that he has been sick? I have Tucker on boiled rice/hamburg in the a.m..(he liked it so much that I continued this instead of the canned i/d) and he had has dry I/D down at all times. He is thriving, his coat looks good, no runny eyes, no gas, vomiting, itchness etc all issues he had on other foods.. so I wont mess with a good thing.... but I was just curious what you thought about it?

Just a thought. Too much human food for too long. The breakfast needs to be balanced or he will be at risk for more health issues.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by hugz4all4

Do you still rotate now that he has been sick? I have Tucker on boiled rice/hamburg in the a.m..(he liked it so much that I continued this instead of the canned i/d) and he had has dry I/D down at all times. He is thriving, his coat looks good, no runny eyes, no gas, vomiting, itchness etc all issues he had on other foods.. so I wont mess with a good thing.... but I was just curious what you thought about it?

Yup, I do. He was not sick from dog food, but from way over-doing it on the people food, and vet was okay with him being back on a regular diet, just watching the fat levels. He never had stomach issues in the past and he hasn't yet since his sickness incident, so I just keep a close eye.

[hugz4all4]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Just a thought. Too much human food for too long. The breakfast needs to be balanced or he will be at risk for more health issues.

Thanks for the advice. I do add pettab vitamins to it and he doesnt get alot of it. He wouldnt touch the I/D canned (oddly enough) and because my dogs are so used to getting some kind of canned in the a.m, I felt that this was the best way to go. He eats his dry I/D too so I *thought* he was getting all he needed from that??

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by hugz4all4

Thanks for the advice. I do add pettab vitamins to it and he doesnt get alot of it. He wouldnt touch the I/D canned (oddly enough) and because my dogs are so used to getting some kind of canned in the a.m, I felt that this was the best way to go. He eats his dry I/D too so I *thought* he was getting all he needed from that??

It depends how much of that and how much of a balanced food he gets daily. If it's exceeded 10% dry matter, i wouldn't do it long term.

Pet Tabs don't balance homecooked meals and aren't needed for kibble fed dogs. Honestly, I wouldn't open my wallet for anything like that.

You could just feed a very small amount of the homecooked daily or just give dry food which is absolutely fine or find a canned that he likes and can have (EN maybe?).

[hugz4all4]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

It depends how much of that and how much of a balanced food he gets daily. If it's exceeded 10% dry matter, i wouldn't do it long term.

Pet Tabs don't balance homecooked meals and aren't needed for kibble fed dogs. Honestly, I wouldn't open my wallet for anything like that.

You could just feed a very small amount of the homecooked daily or just give dry food which is absolutely fine or find a canned that he likes and can have (EN maybe?).

thanks again...

[veggienut]

He's been eating fine today without any issues. I guess he just has days he doesn't want to eat, or eat much....like we do.

[Ringo1]

Lucy gets bored with her food from time to time so I 'rotate' it after a couple of bags.

She is right now loving Wellness Senior -Small Breed. The kibbles are tiny with the 'life bits' in them so she thinks she is getting the same food as Ringo - always a contest.

She was sick as a puppy so I probably did create a picky eater. Some days, she just doesn't eat as much as others. She is a healthy weight so I try not to stress over it too much.

Since we have Ringo, a much larger dog, we cannot free feed because he would eat all the food. They get their meals at set times.

Good Luck!

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by veggienut

He's been eating fine today without any issues. I guess he just has days he doesn't want to eat, or eat much....like we do.

Callie is very much like that

[ladyjane]

The only thing I can add here is for you to google Merrick FDA before feeding any of their foods again.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

The only thing I can add here is for you to google Merrick FDA before feeding any of their foods again.

Merrick scares me now!