Andy has liver disease and is on a special prescription diet, and lately he has been turning his nose up at it. He picks at his food, especially in the late afternoon, when he gets a larger amount of food. He actually gets fed 4 times a day, 2 small snacks - I mid morning and 1 at bedtime, then 2 other meals of regular kibble mixed with canned. Both are Prescription Diet ID. He also gets an egg once a day, usually in late afternoon. He'll pick around at the kibble and canned food, but loves Cheerios and he'll beg for any type of table food. We only give him cooked carrots or green beans - no salty snacks or sweets. There's not a great variety of canned ID and my vet knows about this problem I'm having, but there's only so much we can do to get him to eat. He has NOT lost weight but this is worrying me. His liver values are slowly creeping up, so I know what the end result is. Andy's about 11 years old - he's a rescue dog so we don't know his exact birthdate. Any suggestions would be appreciated, especially from those who have had similar problems with "picky" eaters.Thanks!Rita

You sure you are not feeding him too much? Or has the vet told you to feed him 4 times a day? Our vet told us to only feed our dogs once a day, at the same time every day. Works.

Terryallan wrote:You sure you are not feeding him too much? Or has the vet told you to feed him 4 times a day? Our vet told us to only feed our dogs once a day, at the same time every day. Works.X2We always fed only once

We feed twice a day, but Ollie does get some of his homemade treats at other times. He is also on a limited ingredient prescription diet while we try to figure out what he is allergic to. We use the dehydrator to make organic sweet potato chips and elk jerky.He is a Labrador, so picky really isn't in his vocabulary.

I think I've been there done that with our Pit depending on the liver problems. Years ago he had a liver imbalance(numbers??) and was put on Sam-e pills. I've continued giving him at a lesser dose of the supplement after he was cured for most of his 12-13 years with no further problems. As per the Vet food, have you read the ingredients? I'm a label reader and Costco has better food. The Vet gave me samples of prescription dry & canned weight loss food that our Rottie wouldn't eat. You have to understand, she will gobble anything that isn't moving, including plastic flowers. How about canned food? IMO, garbage. Again, ingredients. "Tastes like filet magnon"? You can feed him trimmed chicken for less cost, though some cooking time. Feeding him four times a day, no wonder he isn't ready to eat a standard meal. Just my opinion, but if your Vet is treating the liver problem with "prescription" food that he sells, I'd get another vet..In my opinion only.... Good luck.. :)

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... :)

Picky picky eater! update page 2 | Good Sam Community

Jerrybo66
Explorer
Oct 18, 2015
I think I've been there done that with our Pit depending on the liver problems. Years ago he had a liver imbalance(numbers??) and was put on Sam-e pills. I've continued giving him at a lesser dose of the supplement after he was cured for most of his 12-13 years with no further problems. As per the Vet food, have you read the ingredients? I'm a label reader and Costco has better food. The Vet gave me samples of prescription dry & canned weight loss food that our Rottie wouldn't eat. You have to understand, she will gobble anything that isn't moving, including plastic flowers. How about canned food? IMO, garbage. Again, ingredients. "Tastes like filet magnon"? You can feed him trimmed chicken for less cost, though some cooking time. Feeding him four times a day, no wonder he isn't ready to eat a standard meal. Just my opinion, but if your Vet is treating the liver problem with "prescription" food that he sells, I'd get another vet..
In my opinion only.... Good luck.. :)
Murphsmom
Explorer
Oct 17, 2015
We feed twice a day, but Ollie does get some of his homemade treats at other times. He is also on a limited ingredient prescription diet while we try to figure out what he is allergic to. We use the dehydrator to make organic sweet potato chips and elk jerky.

He is a Labrador, so picky really isn't in his vocabulary.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Oct 17, 2015
Terryallan wrote:
You sure you are not feeding him too much? Or has the vet told you to feed him 4 times a day? Our vet told us to only feed our dogs once a day, at the same time every day. Works.

X2

We always fed only once
Terryallan
Explorer II
Oct 17, 2015
You sure you are not feeding him too much? Or has the vet told you to feed him 4 times a day? Our vet told us to only feed our dogs once a day, at the same time every day. Works.

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