Pet Lovers

[eddyandme]

My Shadow-Jaden has suddenly become a picky eater.  He no longer wants to eat his kibble.  I had been giving him Wilderness as that is what was sent here when he first came to me.  I realize I have contributed, probably caused, the problem.  Because of the abuse he suffered, I try to pump vitamins and protein into his diet.  Have been giving him a medley of fruits and vegetables, plus eggs and occasionally meat, along with basmati brown rice.  I switched to another kibble, thinking he was sick of the same-o, same-o, which he savored at first.  Now, find myself having to mix veggies, fruits, etc., into the kibble or he just doesn't want it, although hungry.  If I hand feed the kibble to him, he eats it (I know, bad habit).  Anyways, while I'll keep adding the extras into his diet from time to time, I don't want him to not eat the plain kibble, too.

So, was wondering if you have any suggestions as to how I should handle this?  Should I just leave out the plain kibble and give him nothing else?  Or is there a way to encourage him to eat as he used to before living here?  Shall I cut out all treats if he doesn't eat his kibble?

Thanks for your suggestions!

OT:  During these hot days, we often treat our furbabies to a cold treat.  Doggie ice cream, imo, is grossly overpriced.  Regular ice cream is too fattening.  So, I got the Chillfactor Yotub from QVC and I highly recommend it.  I put greek yogurt with fruit and some milk in it and it makes a nice yogurt soft-serve.  It's delicious for us and also I can attest Shad loves this better than regular yogurt!  It's also much cheaper 'cause yogurt is always on sale; and, much lower in calories! 

[lolakimono]

@eddyandme

How about putting the kibble into a treat ball or Kong, to give some novelty to it?

[jackthebear]

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@eddyandme wrote:

My Shadow-Jaden has suddenly become a picky eater.  He no longer wants to eat his kibble.  I had been giving him Wilderness as that is what was sent here when he first came to me.  I realize I have contributed, probably caused, the problem.  Because of the abuse he suffered, I try to pump vitamins and protein into his diet.  Have been giving him a medley of fruits and vegetables, plus eggs and occasionally meat, along with basmati brown rice.  I switched to another kibble, thinking he was sick of the same-o, same-o, which he savored at first.  Now, find myself having to mix veggies, fruits, etc., into the kibble or he just doesn't want it, although hungry.  If I hand feed the kibble to him, he eats it (I know, bad habit).  Anyways, while I'll keep adding the extras into his diet from time to time, I don't want him to not eat the plain kibble, too.

So, was wondering if you have any suggestions as to how I should handle this?  Should I just leave out the plain kibble and give him nothing else?  Or is there a way to encourage him to eat as he used to before living here?  Shall I cut out all treats if he doesn't eat his kibble?

Thanks for your suggestions!

OT:  During these hot days, we often treat our furbabies to a cold treat.  Doggie ice cream, imo, is grossly overpriced.  Regular ice cream is too fattening.  So, I got the Chillfactor Yotub from QVC and I highly recommend it.  I put greek yogurt with fruit and some milk in it and it makes a nice yogurt soft-serve.  It's delicious for us and also I can attest Shad loves this better than regular yogurt!  It's also much cheaper 'cause yogurt is always on sale; and, much lower in calories! 

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I have only had cats, so don't from dogs, but they pretty much like all food don't they?

[eddyandme]

Good idea!  Never thought of that 'cause usually fill kongs with cookies, but this is much better and would eliminate a cookie treat.  Thanx, gonna try it for lunch (he eats three meals a day).

[Venezia]

I vote for just putting the plain kibble down.  When he's truly hungry, he'll eat (just like we humans do).  You just have to be strong and not give in, if he doesn't eat straight away.  He's in a loving home now; he'll do just fine.

The idea of putting some kibble in a Kong toy is a good one, too.

The only time I'd worry is if he wouldn't eat anything at all (kibble or treats) for days.  Then I'd see a vet, but for now, I suspect he's just being a picky eater, as you said.

[eddyandme]

@jackthebear

Not really.  My friend's cat will only eat a certain brand of salmon - nothing else!  She has to order it by the case!  And, he doesn't eat treats!

My Jade broke me into her ideal menu when I adopted her.  I tried all kinds of kibbles and canned foods 'til I got it right.  And, she'd only eat Friendlys ice cream (a brand in the NE, yet she was rescued from Puerto Rico). 

And, Shad, as we as Jade had done have gotten me to feed them three meals a day as well as three snacks a day.  Jade only like certain cookie; Shad is more open to various treats, but if I hand him one type and he wants a different one, he'll let me know.

So, guess some eat all the time often and anything and others are pretty picky.  Just like us, I guess:  I'm pretty picky and will go without if nothing I feel like is in the house at the time.

[eddyandme]

@Venezia

He loves to eat - basically his meals and treats and some of mine, too!

Thanks.

[Mustang Shar]

My cavalier is a picky eater, but doesn't get people food. I may start giving her a scrambled egg though. She does get an organic grass fed raw ground beef meatball to take her medicine.

I have a little rubber thing that I put her dry kibble into when she's not eating her kibble. She will go for that 95% of the time and then g back to her food dish and finish.

Sometimes, she won't eat all day. Not in any distress at all, but then she will have a lovely breakfast . I would just freak out if she wouldn't eat all day, but now I don't worry about it. 

Chloe is only 10 months old, she just went through a growth spurt and was eating a lot! Then all of a sudden...not eating much. We feed twice a day.  I agree with the other poster, wait it out. They will eat. LOL 🐾🐾👀❤️

[PinkyPetunia]

@eddyandme   How much does the dog in question weigh?  Is he in good health?  I don't know the animal but 3 meals and 3 treats is too much emphasis on eating IMO.  If he doesn't like the treat offered, don't give anything else.  I'm sure your intentions are the best, but it sounds like you may be causing the picky eating.

Just offer what you think is appropriate and don't offer substitutes.  The dog will love you all the same.

[Kachina624]

If I was a dog and someone gave me a bowl of kibble, I wouldn't eat it either if I knew something better might be forthcoming.  Your dog doesn't need all the supplemental junk you are giving him.  Unless he's a working dog herding sheep or doing rigorous activity, he doesn't need extra protein.   It will eventually cause weight gain.

I would just give him kibble maybe with a spoonful of canned dog food to make it more palatable,  period.  No people food at all.

Dogs don't tire of flavors of dog food.  You could give him the exact same thing every day of his life and he wouldn't tire of it.

You've fostered some very bad eating habits in your dog.