Don't leave food out for your dog to graze on — take it back within 10 minutes if it hasn't been eaten to help cement the idea of mealtimes. Use your dog's kibble as treats, and only offer meals for short periods of time. This leaves your dog no choice but to eat their food and hopefully get used to it.
For dogs who are a healthy weight and aren't having accidents in the house, you may be able to use the free-choice feeding method. This means you leave food out all day and let your dog graze. This can be a good method for highly active dogs that are burning more calories than their couch-potato friends.
Throw away any uneaten dog food.
When a dog doesn't eat all of the food in his bowl, many pet parents are tempted to save money by saving the uneaten portion and offering it again at the next feeding. Instead, any uneaten food should be discarded and replaced with fresh food at the next mealtime.
Although it is fine to leave our air dried food out for your pet to graze on during the day, keep in mind that it will be exposed to bacteria so may spoil and become stale the longer it's left out. Therefore we recommend you dispose of any uneaten food in your pets bowl if it's been out for more than 8 hours.
No. Dogs actually have fewer taste receptors compared to humans. That means they have less of an urge to eat something different every day. So your dog will not get bored of eating the same food every day.
Do consider adding water to dry kibble. There are plenty of dogs and cats that love their dry kibble. But if your pet has begun showing less interest in the food, it may be time to add a little "gravy." It's real simple, too.
A healthy dog won't starve himself, no matter how picky he may be. Unless your dog is on a diet, losing weight is likely to be a medical issue that needs addressing. Oh, and as always, any change or addition to your dog's diet should be discussed with your vet before proceeding!
It is common for dogs to not eat their food, but eat treats or table scraps. This is referred to as partial anorexia and it typically occurs because your dog doesn't feel well.
For this reason, at least two meals per day are best for your dog. Imagine if you only got to eat breakfast each day, and that was it! Regular, routine feeding times allow your dog's body to be prepared for the food it will receive. It is not recommended to keep the bowl filled and allow grazing.
Good options are plain chicken, fish or a little low-sodium beef/chicken broth, steamed or boiled butternut squash, sweet potatoes or pumpkin. Just make sure you don't give them any ingredients harmful to dogs, like onion or garlic.
There are some simple homemade choices that you can add to your dog's kibble that may make it more palatable and even healthier. Cut up or puree fruits or vegetables, like carrots, green beans, and apples. Unsweetened canned pumpkin has fiber and may settle an upset stomach.
Anything that can cause a dog to feel ill, such as kidney disease, pancreatitis, intestinal parasites, liver disease, cancer, infection, intestinal obstruction, etc., can lead a dog to refuse food and water. Like humans, dogs cannot go for more than a few days without water, so this should be treated seriously.
You can make his kibble seem more appealing by adding a simple, low-sodium chicken broth to the top of your dog's meal. The extra flavor might turn a ho-hum eater into a kibble fan! Just be sure the broth doesn't contain any ingredients that might be harmful to your dog, like onions, certain herbs, seasonings, etc.
To treat anorexia, veterinarians have several choices:
Warming food. Hand feeding. A diet change to convince patients to eat on their own. Medications that can stimulate your dog's appetite.
Unlike us, our canine pals don't need variety. They're fine eating the same thing all the time. Once you find a food that works well for your dog, stick with it. Changing types or brands of food can make your dog sick.
The kibbles are like little sponges – some more than others. I've noticed when soaking food for various foster puppies that some kibble is more resistant to soaking than others. Neither of my dogs are reluctant or picky eaters, but adding water can definitely increase the palatability of dry food for some dogs.
So, how long should you soak their food? We suggest a minimum 15 minutes in warm water, and no more than an hour at room temperature, to prevent bacterial growth. You can soak overnight in the fridge for maximum water absorption.
Generally, a dog won't refuse food for long unless there is a medical problem. Try not to give in by adding tempting people food. Just stick with the dog food (pick one, or mix the two) and your dog should decide to like it soon.
When a dog suddenly stops eating his food, it might be because they are bored of the food, or it might be for another reason entirely. Some dogs might refuse stale kibbles, preferring kibbles in a newly opened bag, but others lose their appetite as the first sign of illness.
Common Myths about Picky Eating Habits in Dogs
Like humans, most dogs have preferences. For instance, some may prefer fish over chicken. But dogs can eat their favorite food every day for the rest of their lives, and unlike us humans, don't crave for variety. Fussy dogs can't be fixed.
If your dog is quiet, not themselves, or displaying any other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness or lethargy; or has not eaten at all for 2 days then you should seek veterinary attention.
A dog needs continuous access to water to lower the risk of dehydration. Clean, fresh water must be available on demand… anytime the animal's natural urge to drink calls for it.
Some think it goes back to the mammal/wolf instinct of taking food away from the “kill” or to protect their portion from other's stealing it while they are eating. Other owners report that their dogs bring the food out of the bowl away from a hard floor to a softer surface such as carpet or towels.