Feeding Fussy Dogs

A problem that arises for a lot of people is the sudden development of a fussy dog. They may have been eating the same food for months with no issue, then one day they refuse to eat it. There are a huge number of reasons a dog may be off their food. They could be having tummy troubles, or maybe they were given a tasty treat that their dinner just doesn't quite live up to, or they might simply not be hungry. It is hard to be certain of the cause, but one thing is for sure - it is unpleasant to think our dogs are going hungry.

The first question to ask yourself is:

• Is my dog underweight, ill, or recovering from illness/surgery?

If the answer to this question is yes, then a diagnosis with your vet is important. Loss of appetite may result from a tummy bug or conditions like pancreatitis, and finding the cause is key in treating it. If your dog is recovering from surgery, then it's normally a priority to get them eating again (double check with your vet to be certain of any special needs.) We recommend plain, gentle wet foods such as Forthglade Chicken, Arden Grange Sensitive Ocean Fish, or Lily's Kitchen Recovery Recipe. The Recovery Recipe is great for enticing dogs to eat due it's tasty ingredients, including fresh chicken, potato and banana.

• If your dog is fit and healthy...
  
  ...Yet still being finicky with food, the next thing to consider is their diet. Have a look at the ingredients on the back of the food, or speak to one of the nutrionally trained staff at Shoreline. If your dog's diet is not suitable for their individual needs, taking in to account allergies and intolerances, they may show one or more of these signs:

• Itchy, flaky skin
• Overweight/underweight
• Bad breath
• Runny/soft stools
• Unpleasant odours (i.e. from the ears)
• Rumbly tummies & wind

If your dog shows any of these signs, this may mean what you are feeding is causing them discomfort- for example, if the recipe is chicken based, to which they have an allergy, every time they eat it will cause a belly ache or gas. This subsequently puts them off eating as they have a bad association with that particular food.

A lot of the cheaper dog foods are produced with 'off-cut' ingredients, not good quality meats. This means that to make it tasty for the dogs, they have to add things like sugars, flavour enhancers, and E-numbers. Though it can be tempting to give your dog a food they 'love' and eat hungrily, it can sometimes be the equivalent of feeding a McDonalds! Obviously this is not a healthy option in the long run.

When purchasing foods you should be looking for:

• A high quantity of fresh meat (around 45% minimum, unless your dog has meat intolerances)
• No derivatives (meat or vegetable)
• No sugars or artificial preservatives
• Age appropriate food
• Appropriate size of kibble 

With higher quality foods, you genereally do not need to feed as much, so they can be more cost effective than the cheaper 'value' brands. (With hopefully less resulting vet bills too!) They are also a lot more palatable to most dogs, encouraging those fussy pooches to get stuck in!

 

• Is it behavioural?

If your dog is healthy, with no underlying medical issues, and is on a high quality diet, your dog may be testing boundaries! It is very common for dogs to do this between 6-24 months of age.

When a dog that is on a high quality diet and in good health suddenly stops eating, it can be very tempting to give them something new to eat, or top their food with high value treats like cooked chicken, ham, gravy, or cheese. In most cases this can be one of the worst things to do. Not only are these methods often high in fat and salt and completely unbalanced, your dog will learn very quickly that if it says no to one meal, it will be given something new and more interesting! This can become a vicious circle, leaving you frustrated, struggling to find new foods, and creating a lot of waste.

More often than not, it can pay off to be more stubborn than your dog and stick with their current healthy diet. A good way to do this is to put a small amount of food down, and if they don't eat it within 10 minutes, take it away. Place a fresh portion down at the next meal time, following the same principle. Your dog is not going to starve itself, and will probably be eating again within a couple of days! This can save you a lot of time - and money - in the long run!

• Dos and Don'ts...

Do... 

• Feed high quality, natural food
• Be patient
• Determine any allergies and intolerances 

 Don't...

• Hand feed
• Add unhealthy toppers
• Pick the 'easy' unhealthy option
• Change the diet every time they walk away from the food
• Try and encourage your dog to eat (This can confuse them or reinforce their unwanted behaviour!) 

Good luck, and remember that if you require any advice on diets for your dog's individual needs, then please come and speak to one our trained staff - we are always happy to help you and your furry friends!

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