Archive for the ‘Dog Food’ Category

When Your Dog Is a Picky Eater: How to Make Mealtime Fun Again

Posted on: May 11th, 2023 by Asia
Is Your Dog a Picky Eater?

As a dog owner, it can be frustrating and concerning when your dog is a picky eater and turns its nose up at mealtime – don’t worry because you’re not alone.

Did you know that over 50% of dogs are picky eaters, and in most cases, their caring owners don’t know why?

That’s right, half of our furry friends refuse to eat their food or need coaxing to do so.

But before you start doctoring their food or free feeding, let’s dive into the truth about picky eaters and how to handle the situation without creating unhealthy habits.

As a dog lover myself, I understand the desire to spoil our pets with tasty treats and table scraps, however, the truth is that picky eating in dogs can lead to behavioral issues and even malnutrition.

In this article, I will explore the common causes of picky eating, the role of taste and smell, the importance of finding the right food for your pup and how not listening to what your dog is telling you may have contributed to picky eating.

So, if you’re ready to learn how to encourage your dog to eat without resorting to unhealthy habits, let’s dive in

Common Causes Your Dog is a Picky Eater

There are a few common causes to consider.

First, it could be a matter of smell.

Dogs have a much stronger sense of smell than humans, and if their food doesn’t smell appetizing, they may not want to eat it.

Secondly, it could be a matter of taste.

Dogs, like humans, have taste preferences when it comes to their food.

They may not like the texture, flavor, or even the brand.

Finally, it could be a matter of health.

  • Your dog knows instinctively what they need to eat to be healthy; or
  • If your dog is feeling unwell, it may not feel like eating.

So, what can you do if your dog is a picky eater?

Firstly, don’t panic. Your dog will not starve themselves to death.

Secondly, ask yourself if your dog is eating the best food for their health.

Consider different types (raw, freeze-dried, dehydrated, dry kibble) brands, textures, and flavors.

Many dogs have food allergies, and your dog may know better than you that the food you are offering them is not the best for their health.

If you are already feeding a highly nutritious food, you can try adding some healthy toppers, such as cooked chicken, vegetables, or a splash of unsalted, organic bone broth.

You may be feeding too much, or giving too many treats during the day, so your dog is simply not hungry at mealtimes or prefers to wait for more treats they know will soon be coming.

Finally, try to establish a feeding routine, and if they’ve shown no interest within 20 minutes, remove the food and try again at the next feeding time.

They may be more interested in eating if they understand they have a window of opportunity.

Feeding them at the same time every day can help regulate their appetite and ensure they are hungry at mealtime.

If you are concerned that there may be underlying medical conditions causing them to refuse their food, it’s important to consult with your veterinarian.

The Role of Smell and Taste in Dog Food

When a dog is first born, they rely on their sense of smell before anything else, therefore, when it comes to smell and taste, it’s easy to understand why some foods are more appealing than others.

While it’s frustrating when your dog turns their nose up at their usual food, it’s important to understand that there may be simple reasons for this.

If your dog has always been a picky eater, it may simply be a matter of taste preference.

Are you feeding dry kibble? Did you taste it yourself?

Most of these types of food have a minimal smell and little taste.

Consider that if first the food has little enticing smell, and then the taste is also less than appealing, what’s in the food bowl is offering very little incentive unless the dog is really hungry.

In other words, if you want them to enjoy eating their food, it’s important to find the food that your dog finds appealing.

However, always keeps in mind that if your dog has suddenly become a picky eater, and has refused their food for more than 2 or 3 days, this could be a sign of an underlying health issue.

Finding the Right Food for Your Pup

It’s essential to discover the ideal food for your furry friend to ensure they’re getting the proper nutrition they need.

If your dog is all of a sudden being a picky eater, it’s crucial to evaluate its current diet.

Perhaps it’s time to switch things up and find a new type of food that will entice them.

Here are three things to consider when finding the right food for your picky pup:

1. Age: If you have a young puppy who’s a picky eater, it could be a sign of a more significant problem.

A six-month-old puppy that has become a picky eater may need to see a vet to rule out any underlying health concerns.

2. Size: What to feed a picky small dog may differ from what you would feed a larger breed dog.

Small dogs or older dogs may need smaller pieces of kibble or softer food to help them chew and digest their meals.

3. Ingredients: When looking for new food for your furry friend, it’s essential to read the label and really understand the ingredients.

Dogs may have allergies or preferences for certain flavors, so it’s crucial to find a food that works for them.

Tips for Encouraging Your Dog to Eat

Encouraging a pup to eat can be a tricky task, but there are ways to make mealtime more enticing and enjoyable for them.

If your dog is being a picky eater all of a sudden or has always been one, there are a few things you can try.

First, consider changing their diet.

Look for high-quality dog food that is made with real meat and doesn’t contain fillers or artificial preservatives.

Consider a raw food diet that is naturally what they would eat in the wild and has been proven to extend the life of our fur friends.

You can also try adding some wet food or a topper to dry food to make it more appetizing.

If your puppy is a picky eater, try feeding them smaller meals more often throughout the day.

This can help them maintain their weight and keep their energy levels up.

You can also try hand-feeding them their meals to get them more excited about eating.

Another trick is to feed them in a separate room away from the distractions of other pets or people.

And if your picky eater needs to gain weight, consider adding healthy supplements to their meals, such as canned pumpkin or boiled chicken.

If your dog’s picky eating habits persist or are accompanied by other symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea, it’s important to take them to the vet for an exam.

More often than not, a dog becomes a picky eater simply because they do not like the food you have chosen to feed them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I change up my dog’s food to avoid picky eating habits?

I’ve learned that once you find the right food for your dog, no matter their size, so long as you are not over-feeding or giving too many treats and they are receiving adequate exercise throughout their day, they will no longer be picky eaters.

Dogs thrive on routine and familiarity, so focus on finding a high-quality food that your dog enjoys and stick with it.

Remember that dogs won’t starve themselves, and a little competition or hand-feeding can often improve their appetite.

Should I be concerned if my dog regularly skips meals?

As a dog owner, I’ve often wondered if I should be concerned when my furry friend skips meals.

Relax, because dogs won’t let themselves starve, even if they’re picky eaters.

As humans, we tend to fall into the trap of treating our pets like small children who need to eat three meals a day to grow big and strong, but that’s not the case in the dog world.

In fact, free feeding (leaving food out all day as you would for a cat) is not natural for a dog and can actually create behavioral issues.

Hand feeding is another way to show your dog that you are really in control of their food.

If your dog is a picky eater and regularly skips meals, don’t worry too much and trust that they won’t let themselves starve.

Are there any specific breeds that are more prone to picky eating?

I’ve always been curious about whether there are certain breeds that are more prone to picky eating.

While it seems that smaller breeds may be more discerning about their food than others, ultimately any dog can become a picky eater.

Often, we are helping to create a picky eater by free feeding, rather than setting regular food times, feeding too many treats throughout the day, not providing enough daily exercise, or not choosing the right food for our dog.

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you to understand why dogs may become picky eaters.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of constantly doctoring their food or worrying they aren’t getting enough nutrients, when the truth is often as simple as the dog telling us that they don’t like the food in their bowl, by refusing to eat it.

While they won’t starve themselves to death if there is nothing offered that they actually want to eat (like people) dogs know what they like.

By understanding the common causes of picky eating, such as smell and taste preferences, and finding the right food for your pup, you can encourage them to eat without resorting to unhealthy habits.

With a little patience and understanding of what your dog is trying to tell you when they refuse the food you are offering, you can help them develop healthy eating habits for a happy, long life.

– Asia
Dog Whispering for 40+ years – Dog Training in Victoria
© K-9SuperHeroesDogWhispering.com Since 2008

Resource: Newsweek

Are You Making Your Dog Fat?

Posted on: February 26th, 2013 by Asia
Are Your Making Your Dog Fat?

Is your dog fat? Unfortunately, many of our beloved pets are, like their human counterparts, unhealthily overweight.

If your dog is fat, chances are that you could lose a few pounds yourself because a fat dog doesn’t just happen from over-feeding – it’s also because of under-exercising.

Are You Making Your Dog Fat?

Chances are that if your dog is overweight, it means that you’re not giving your best friend enough daily exercise.

Have you taken into consideration the real exercise needs of your dog? Is your best friend naturally energetic, are they a working class of dog, or a breed that requires little exercise to stay healthy?

All dogs are amazing athletes who need to move to be healthy. Interestingly enough, we humans also need to move to be healthy which means for all us dog lovers, that we already have everything we need to shed some excess poundage.

Your dog is there, ready and waiting to go walking and help you both accomplish a healthy weight.

How Can You Tell if Fido is Fat?

There’s a simple test you can do to determine whether your dog is overweight and whether he or she needs to shed a few pounds.

All you need to do is feel around their ribs and spine. If you are unable to easily locate both with only a thin layer of fat between the skin and bones, you have an overweight dog.

Fat Like Us Humans

Sadly, our dogs are following in our footsteps as humanity rushes down that unhealthy path of being overweight or obese.

Make sure you know what your dog’s optimal weight will be once he or she reaches maturity, and check their weight regularly, because, for a dog, just 15% above that ideal weight means your dog is not just fat, it’s obese.

Anything up to a 15% increase means your dog is overweight, and sadly,  according to a 2011 study, more than half of our best friends (53%) are overweight or obese.

Of course, this is a direct reflection on how little we humans are getting out there to exercise with our dogs because generally speaking, if Fido or Fifi is overweight, so are you.

Is It Genetic?

While some dog breeds do tend to gain weight more easily, this just means that these breeds require much more exercise in order to maintain a healthy weight, and humans should take this into consideration when deciding to share their homes with these breeds.

Simply because a certain breed may have tendencies to gain weight more quickly than others, is not a good excuse for allowing this to happen because you are ultimately responsible for making your dog fat.

Which Breeds Can Be Prone to Obesity?

While we know that some breeds are known for being typically slim, such as Yorkshire Terriers, Greyhounds, Whippets, and German Shepherds, there are other breeds that can be prone to obesity, including Cairn Terriers, Bulldogs, Dachshunds, Scottish Terriers, Spaniels, Beagles, Basset Hounds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Shar-Peis, Rottweilers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Newfoundlands, and St. Bernards.

If you share your home with one of the breeds that may have a tendency to be overweight or obese, you need to get out there and exercise with your best friend that much more often and/or strenuously.

You’ll both be healthier for it.

Are You Overindulging Your Dog?

Many owners, for many reasons, may be overindulging their dogs by over-feeding them at meal times, or more likely with treats, snacks, or sharing unhealthy people’s food and these habits have created many a fat dog.

You’ve heard the saying, “Food is love” and many people over-feed their dogs because they believe that it makes them happy.

Unfortunately, many of our fur friends just don’t have any natural portion control, are very practiced and fixated on food and appear to be “starved” all the time, and will literally eat themselves to death if you let them.

Are You Feeding the Right Portions?

It’s important to make sure that you know the correct serving size of food for your dog so that he or she does not become overweight in the first place, or if this has already happened, to know how to exercise the right portion control to help your best friend shed the extra poundage.

You need to take into consideration your dog’s age and metabolism, and how much your dog is exercising, not just what it says to feed on the label, because feeding the suggested amount when your dog doesn’t get proper or enough exercise will make your dog fat.

 Obesity-Related Problems

Just as being obese can seriously affect our human health, obesity can seriously affect our dog’s health in many the same ways.

When your dog is overweight, he or she could suffer from diabetes mellitus, joint damage, bone and ligament damage, heart disease, high blood pressure, eye problems, difficulty breathing, decreased stamina, decreased liver function, digestive disorders, skin and coat problems, increased risk of cancer, reproductive problems and surgical and anesthetic risk.

Just as being overweight and/or obese will shorten our human lives, there is absolutely no doubt that obesity can and will have adverse effects on your best friend’s quality and length of life.

What Causes Dog Obesity?

Of course, just like us humans, the primary causes of a fat dog are simply feeding them too much food and/or the wrong kind of food, combined with a sedentary lifestyle without the exercise they need to be healthy.

If your dog is taking in more calories than he or she is burning up through their daily exercise, they will be overweight.

Something we humans tend to forget as our dogs grow older is that, like us humans, they usually become less active, which means that we need to pay attention and adjust their food intake appropriately so that they can live out their more senior years not as a fat dog, but as a healthy older dog.

Also, when your dog is spayed or neutered, this will also affect its metabolism by slowing it down, which means that it then will require fewer calories to maintain a healthy weight.

Get Moving – Be Healthy

If you’ve been noticing that your best fur friend is getting a little chunky, take a good look at yourself and how sedentary your lifestyle may have become because a fat dog usually means a fat human.

Don’t be cruel to your best friend by shortening their life because you may have allowed him or her to be an unhealthy weight.

You have a dog, which means you have the perfect excuse for keeping both yourself and your dog healthy and fit. Get out there and get moving.

– Asia – Dog Whispering for 40+ years
© K-9SuperHeroesDogWhispering.com [Since 2008]