Picky picky eater! update page 2

colliehauler wrote:

Deb and Ed M wrote:
Assuming that the food he needs tastes like crud....LOL!...then spice it up! Ike wasn't a picky eater - he just needed to eat more. I found that heating his dry food for 15 seconds in the microwave, to bring out the "aroma", helped.... but if Andy likes people food, then make his taste more "seasoned". Add a pinch of garlic powder or seasoned salt or boullion or minced table scraps - he's a DOG - he can smell that tiniest addition.

I think your right on the smell. Dogs have a much greater sense of smell and if it don't smell good to them they don't want it.

3 words > Gerber Baby Food
Use the 100% Chicken or Liver ones. No chemicals and most of them are actually organic!!

Just one teaspoon of it mixed into their food. The smell is very strong and they love the taste of it.

I get dogs on their death beds to eat by adding it. And it doesn't come any easier than in those small little glass jars.

Good job; you're doing exactly the right thing! Some dogs are overwhelmed with too much food in the bowl, just as some children are. And yes, many dogs are off-put regarding the taste of the probiotic. My boxer has Digest-All added to his kibble (must have for firm poo - TMI, sorry), and he won't eat it dry - period, but he will eat it with water added just fine.

Well, I've tried a different plan. I measure out a small amount of dry kibble and let him eat that. When the bowl is clean I add another small amount, and wait until he finishes that. I then give a small amount of canned food, and he finishes that. That's all. I measure out about 1/4 cup kibble at a time, and about 2 teaspoons of canned. And no egg today, and no more Probiotic. I think he really didn't like that - must have tasted awful. He gets this amount of food twice a day - no more noon snack and just a small teaspoon full of canned at bedtime to hide his Pepcid AC in. Altogether he's getting about 1 cup of dry kibble and perhaps 1/4 cup canned per day, plus his vitamin and meds. I make sure he eats whatever is in his bowl before I add more. I'll try the egg tomorrow, but with a reduced amount of kibble and no canned at the time he gets his egg. He seems to not have lost weight - though to me he looks skinny - but with his arthritis it's probably better that he's not carrying that extra 5 pounds he had on him last year. And he seems his usual self. Thanks for all the suggestions and good wishes.

Rita

colliehauler wrote:
I think your right on the smell. Dogs have a much greater sense of smell and if it don't smell good to them they don't want it.

And really - if our dogs are used to tasting "human food" - just imagine how bland/blah dog food must taste? Granted, one can say "don't ever let your dog eat human food" - but even if I tried, with 16 dog-adoring grandkids, that would be darn near impossible....

Deb and Ed M wrote:
Assuming that the food he needs tastes like crud....LOL!...then spice it up! Ike wasn't a picky eater - he just needed to eat more. I found that heating his dry food for 15 seconds in the microwave, to bring out the "aroma", helped.... but if Andy likes people food, then make his taste more "seasoned". Add a pinch of garlic powder or seasoned salt or boullion or minced table scraps - he's a DOG - he can smell that tiniest addition.

I think your right on the smell. Dogs have a much greater sense of smell and if it don't smell good to them they don't want it.

Assuming that the food he needs tastes like crud....LOL!...then spice it up! Ike wasn't a picky eater - he just needed to eat more. I found that heating his dry food for 15 seconds in the microwave, to bring out the "aroma", helped.... but if Andy likes people food, then make his taste more "seasoned". Add a pinch of garlic powder or seasoned salt or boullion or minced table scraps - he's a DOG - he can smell that tiniest addition.

I agree with feeding twice a day, unless there's a vet mandated reason for feeding more often (for example, I had to feed my boxer 3-4 small meals a day when I first rescued him b/c he had stress colitis). Also, for a picky eater, no snacks - period, until the dog starts eating his food. The empty calories dulls the appetite for healthier food.

You could also try wetting the food with low sodium, or no salt added chicken broth to enhance its appeal. I have also had luck with making a thin gravy using a spoon full of canned dog food and a little water mixed in with the food. I hope you don't have to keep your dog on the prescription food forever.

My current foster, Hallie, a very picky eater (shih tsu/pekinese?) wouldn't eat any of the kibbles my rescue director had me try: Nature's Recipe (grain inclusive or grain free chicken or salmon), Natural Balance grain free (duck or fish). I'm used to waiting out a picky eater, but she's the worst one I've had - lol. I finally broke down and fed her MY own dog, Maddie's, LID kibble, which she scarfs down: Acana Lamb and Apple. Sigh... Hallie knows the good stuff when she tastes it... I'm glad Hallie's only 12 pounds. I don't even feed this stuff to my own boxer - too pricey for my budget.

Unless there's a medical need to feed him so often, I'd cut back on the number of feedings and see if that makes any difference. I'd give the same amount of food if that's working well for him, but just in fewer feedings. Maybe two meals and a bedtime snack (or whatever you think will work).

I'm not against several feedings per day--my dog eats that way and thrives on it. But since it's not working well for Andy right now it may be a good thing to re-evaluate.

There are also home-made liver diets. That might be something to investigate.

Rita I know you have been following Bud's problems. Bud is a picky eater as well, I just bought some high dollar Taste of Wild and he does not care for it any more then Pedigree. He does the same thing pick the wet out of the dry. Last night I gave him some cooked fresh fish and today he had a grilled hamburger. At this point I just want him to eat. I buy green beans and broccoli to add to there food, he likes fresh tomatoes and cucumbers as well. The other Collies are not picky eaters but like fresh food better then dog food and I can't say that I blame them. Brosted chicken is a favorite as well. I try to make sure lean cuts and no salt.

When Strider had cancer I gave him Sam-E for his liver as well. That may help.

It seems like your post isn't getting a whole lot of response so I'd like to make a further comment. I'm interested because I've been there. I've read your post a couple times and believe your dog's eating problem isn't physical but he thinks you're trying to poison him with Vet food. He likes table scraps etc.. He's hungry.. If I can back up to our Rottie's eating, she can wolf down two cups of food in 50 timed seconds. She won't eat Vet dry or canned food. Have you smelled the food. The stuff I got smelled closer to drain cleaner than dog food. I have most of a bag left and we have coyotes through the yard occasionally so I'm going to see if they will eat it. If I find some dead yodel dogs in the yard I'll know why.
If I had your dog as a foster home, I would feed him twice a day. I would pressure cook skinless chicken quarters until meat & bones could be mashed by hand, about two hours, No chemical ingredients we can't pronounce. (I fry the skins until crispy, add salt, that is a treat for the wife & I. We wouldn't think of giving all that fat to the dogs. :)) That would replace poisonous commercial canned food. He would get 1/3 + - cup of this chicken mixed with a quality dry dog food. The morning meal would include a Sam-e pill wrapped in a small ball of raw burger or any other way to give a pill. The broth from cooking the chicken would be added to the dry food. (It is also used to make us a great batch of chicken soup.)
Anyway, God bless you. You are a rescuer.. But honestly, I think you're trying too hard. Your dog is trying to tell you. He ain't gonna eat that crapola.......... In my opinion... :)