topic Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION in Community Chat

DOG FEEDING QUESTION

12andcounting — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 18:18:59 GMT

I have a one-year-old Schnoodle. She has been extremely picky when it comes to eating just about all of her life. She sometimes will go 3 days without eating a full meal. She does get supplements, so she is not totally without any sustenance. Since February she has lost about 8 ounces, which my vet said is not alarming. My vet told also me that small breed dogs are notorious for being very, very picky eaters -- and that this could be a life-long issue for us.

I have tried countless brands and types of food, but she continues to be a very difficult eater. Does anyone have any suggestions for me that might help increase her appetite or at least make her enjoy food more? I am definitely at my wit's end.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

CamilleP — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 18:39:41 GMT

Assuming your vet has checked her teeth and made sure she does not have dental issues causing pain, such as slab fractures of her carnassials or root abscesses, then a food line to try would be Taste of the Wild. They have several grain-free formulas with different protein sources that are all, so far as I can tell, very palatable to dogs. Another thing to consider, since your dog is a Toy breed size, is a line of freeze-dried raw such as Stella & Chewy's. When I had an elderly and ailing dog a couple of years ago, she would eat the re-hydrated raw Stella & Chewy's patties when she wouldn't touch anything else. For a large dog or multiple dogs buying pre-formulated raw foods is price-prohibitive for many, myself included, but for a single or small dog it might be just the ticket to keep her eating and very healthy!

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

12andcounting — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 18:45:33 GMT

Thanks, CamilleP. We have actually given her Stella & Chewy's. She seemed to love it at first, but then, like everything, she just starts sniffing it and walking away. I feel like we've tried everything, but obviously we haven't. I'll certainly look into the Taste of the Wild you mentioned. Thanks for your response.

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

CamilleP — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 18:50:04 GMT

Wow, if she's turning down Stella & Chewy's, she IS picky. Is her bloodwork good? As a small breed I'd be concerned with the possibility of a liver shunt and early liver failure. If you haven't run recent bloodwork and your vet is amenable, I'd consider that if I were you.

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

12andcounting — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 18:55:33 GMT

Fortunately, she is scheduled for her yearly checkup very soon. Hopefully we can find out if there is any problem, or if she is just plain picky! It's really frustrating. I have tried so hard to find something she will actually enjoy, but to no avail. It breaks my heart to think she may be hungry, but I can't force her to eat.

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

NChgOfMyAttitude — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 19:47:35 GMT

Might try a raw diet. I get it at a grain and feed store. Hero inhales it. Just chicken patties especially for dogs. Gave some to a friend who has a springer who wouldn't eat and she gobbled it up.

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

Tinkrbl44 — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 00:37:33 GMT

Could she possibly have problems with digestion?

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

Lovemyboots — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 05:07:01 GMT

I have a little dog that I think I have tried everything in petsmart on! He is 1 1/2 yrs old. He hasn't went for 3 days ever but he only eats once a day & it is like he is being forced to eat whatever great food I happen to be trying on him! I have also had him checked out. Vet said he wont starve, he will eat when he gets hungry enough. Meantime my husband feels sorry for him so he feeds him whatever he is eating! So I think I am fighting a losing battle. I guess eventually he will pick a food! My husband says maybe I should try the cheaper foods just to see if he will eat that. But I just cant bring myself to go with the cheap ones. I keep holding out hoping that he will eventually give in! Good luck with your little one!

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

12andcounting — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 17:18:58 GMT

Henny, sounds like we have the same problem with our dogs. It is very frustrating. I haven't given mine human food because I fear she will NEVER eat dog food if I do that. However, I won't say I haven't been tempted to do so. I'm with you on the cheap food -- I haven't gone that route. Thanks for your good wishes. Good luck to you, too!!

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

12andcounting — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 17:19:51 GMT

On 6/4/2014 Tinkrbl44 said:
Could she possibly have problems with digestion?

Tinkrbl44, I just don't know. I have wondered the same thing. She goes for her yearly checkup soon, so I hope we can figure out if there is something wrong or if she's just plain old picky.

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

mousiegirl — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 19:28:18 GMT

My male was picky. I began adding pumpkin to his raw diet for his a--l g---d issue, and he loved it. After a year of that, I have recently dropped the pumpkin, and am adding Halo dry dog food to both dog's wet food, only feeding the wet once a day now adding the dry, and only dry in the morning Both dogs love it, and it takes care of his other issue also.

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

Shaunac — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 23:09:16 GMT

Why not try home cooking? Rice, veggies, low fat beef, chicken, fruit.

I've been home cooking for my 19.5 year old doxi for more than 4 years. Would never go back to traditional dog food for this or any other dog I have in the future.

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

12andcounting — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 18:55:08 GMT

On 6/5/2014 Shaunac said:
Why not try home cooking? Rice, veggies, low fat beef, chicken, fruit.

I've been home cooking for my 19.5 year old doxi for more than 4 years. Would never go back to traditional dog food for this or any other dog I have in the future.

I guess I thought maybe home-cooking wasn't a good thing to start. Have still been hoping that I would magically find a dog food she likes. Sounds like you've had very good luck with the home cooking. Maybe it's something I should consider. Thanks for your input.

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

kittyloo — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 16:32:23 GMT

I do dog fostering. when we have a sick kiddo, we feed boiled burger, mixed with cooked rice and cottage cheese. dogs can't resist it.

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

jaxs mom — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 19:05:47 GMT

Wow, turned down Stella and Chewy's? Even my totally picky chihuahua loves her Stella and Chewy's. Was it the freeze dried or the frozen raw? Mine loves the freeze dried but won't eat the frozen raw. She gets fresh prey model raw ( that is all our other dogs eat) which we do ourselves for one meal and Stella and Chewey's freeze dried for the the other. Was it just one "flavor"? We alternate between the lamb and rabbit because she gets chicken for her fresh raw.

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

12andcounting — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 16:47:39 GMT

On 6/8/2014 jaxs mom said:
Wow, turned down Stella and Chewy's? Even my totally picky chihuahua loves her Stella and Chewy's. Was it the freeze dried or the frozen raw? Mine loves the freeze dried but won't eat the frozen raw. She gets fresh prey model raw ( that is all our other dogs eat) which we do ourselves for one meal and Stella and Chewey's freeze dried for the the other. Was it just one "flavor"? We alternate between the lamb and rabbit because she gets chicken for her fresh raw.

Hard to believe, isn't it? She actually started with frozen raw food, but seemed to not enjoy the texture. So we switched to Stella & Chewy's freeze-dried raw. She LOVED it at first. We did alternate flavors. But after a while she just stopped wanting it. She goes to food, sniffs it and walks away most of the time. I have tried every flavor they have and was able to determine which were definitely NOT her favorites before she started turning her nose up at all of them for the most part. But she just doesn't seem to want to eat most of the time. It is very worrisome.

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

jaxs mom — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 02:46:25 GMT

Are you feeding the freeze dried reconstituted with water or just ""dry""? I feed it right out of the bag but break it up into pieces since I'm feeding a chihuahua and the patty is big for her.

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

12andcounting — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 20:32:57 GMT

On 6/9/2014 jaxs mom said:
Are you feeding the freeze dried reconstituted with water or just "dry"? I feed it right out of the bag but break it up into pieces since I'm feeding a chihuahua and the patty is big for her.

I've fed her both ways -- with water and without. Another thing I've noticed about her is if she needs to poop (which I don't always know is going to be the case at the moment I'm trying to feed her) she doesn't seem to want to eat. I guess her stomach is just too full at those times. But, that's certainly not the case every time I try to feed her.

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

Houck Jason — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 08:42:14 GMT

Hey thanks for telling that about small dogs. I wish to buy a poodle but my mom doesn't allow me to have one. I never knew they were choosey about their meals.!!

Re: DOG FEEDING QUESTION

Another new name Sue — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 14:54:29 GMT

If your dog only wants to eat once a day, that's fine. Are you over-feeding her, too much food and too many treats? (I believe treats are really unnecessary unless as reward for behavior or training.) Is she getting plenty of exercise, then feed after exercising, walking, playing, fetch or whatever? If she isn't getting out and being active, she won't work up much of an appetite.

I personally would never feed raw, and even tho' another poster has been feeding her dog homemade for years, you cannot be sure if you are making a recipe balanced for dogs. To say nothing that you might lose interest in time.

We don't know what your dog weighs, but obviously don't worry if the vet says 8 oz. loss is ok, but continue to monitor the dog's weight to see if any further changes take place. Is she overweight?