A friend of mine asked me a curious question last week. "is there something wrong when your dog doesn't wolf down his food? I mean, they must call it 'wolfing down' for a reason; aren't dogs supposed to be ravenous feeders like they are in the wild?"
My friend had a point. When you think about how wolves in the wild eat, there's typically not a lot of hesitation before they dive in and devour their kill. After all, that's how they survive. And a lot of people say that a good appetite is a sign of a healthy dog.
Some dogs do indeed 'wolf' down their food and on occasion, even eat things they shouldn't. Some dogs (not unlike some humans) are naturally picky about what they'll eat. And there's another whole group of dogs that has become finicky because of their owners' unintended actions.
Is your dog a picky eater? Sometimes it's a personality trait that dogs have their entire lives, and sometimes it's a relatively new development. Before I give you some pointers on how to help "fix" your finicky dog, I'm going to ask you to put on your detective hat and look at four things first:
1. Be sure there are no underlying medical issues. Consult your veterinarian about your dog's picky behavior, especially if there is vomiting and/or diarrhea or any other signs of illness present, weight loss, or if the problem has developed suddenly.
2. Check out the food you're feeding your pet. Is it high quality and nutritious? Does it contain wholesome protein sources instead of cheap non-nutritive fillers? It's only natural for a dog to reject inferior food. (It would be like a human eating very low-grade microwave dinners for every meal—eventually they'll get sick of it.) Also, check to ensure that food has not gone stale or rancid as this can also put off your dog's appetite.
3. Do you rotate foods? Many veterinarians recommend feeding only one type of food. Changing your pet's food can create a finicky appetite when he thinks there may be something tastier coming if he doesn't eat. New foods can also cause stomach upset and diarrhea which can discourage eating.
4. Is there anything affecting his appetite for meals? Is your dog stealing food from another pet or trash can? Could a family member be slipping him extra treats or table scraps between meals? Anything that cuts down on his appetite at dinner time can affect whether he eats his regular food.
Surprisingly, how you respond to your dog's finicky eating habits can either help make them or break them.
What do YOU do when your pet refuses to eat? If you do what a lot of pet owners innocently do - pet her, coax her, even try to hand feed her - you're rewarding your dog with positive reinforcement.
Think about it... if your dog gets all that extra, loving attention for NOT eating, imagine what she's likely to do the next time you feed her!
I suggest you try this instead the next time your pet won't eat: Place the food in your dog's bowl and walk away. When your dog is hungry, her body will drive her to eat.
However, I'll be the first to admit that there are situations where this may not be the best approach. These include times when...
My friend had a point. When you think about how wolves in the wild eat, there's typically not a lot of hesitation before they dive in and devour their kill. After all, that's how they survive. And a lot of people say that a good appetite is a sign of a healthy dog.
Some dogs do indeed 'wolf' down their food and on occasion, even eat things they shouldn't. Some dogs (not unlike some humans) are naturally picky about what they'll eat. And there's another whole group of dogs that has become finicky because of their owners' unintended actions.
Is your dog a picky eater? Sometimes it's a personality trait that dogs have their entire lives, and sometimes it's a relatively new development. Before I give you some pointers on how to help "fix" your finicky dog, I'm going to ask you to put on your detective hat and look at four things first:
1. Be sure there are no underlying medical issues. Consult your veterinarian about your dog's picky behavior, especially if there is vomiting and/or diarrhea or any other signs of illness present, weight loss, or if the problem has developed suddenly.
2. Check out the food you're feeding your pet. Is it high quality and nutritious? Does it contain wholesome protein sources instead of cheap non-nutritive fillers? It's only natural for a dog to reject inferior food. (It would be like a human eating very low-grade microwave dinners for every meal—eventually they'll get sick of it.) Also, check to ensure that food has not gone stale or rancid as this can also put off your dog's appetite.
3. Do you rotate foods? Many veterinarians recommend feeding only one type of food. Changing your pet's food can create a finicky appetite when he thinks there may be something tastier coming if he doesn't eat. New foods can also cause stomach upset and diarrhea which can discourage eating.
4. Is there anything affecting his appetite for meals? Is your dog stealing food from another pet or trash can? Could a family member be slipping him extra treats or table scraps between meals? Anything that cuts down on his appetite at dinner time can affect whether he eats his regular food.
Surprisingly, how you respond to your dog's finicky eating habits can either help make them or break them.
What do YOU do when your pet refuses to eat? If you do what a lot of pet owners innocently do - pet her, coax her, even try to hand feed her - you're rewarding your dog with positive reinforcement.
Think about it... if your dog gets all that extra, loving attention for NOT eating, imagine what she's likely to do the next time you feed her!
I suggest you try this instead the next time your pet won't eat: Place the food in your dog's bowl and walk away. When your dog is hungry, her body will drive her to eat.
However, I'll be the first to admit that there are situations where this may not be the best approach. These include times when...
- Your dog needs to consume a special diet that's less than appetizing
- Your dog is growing older and is losing his sense of taste
- Your dog is ill, undergoing therapy, or recovering from surgery and needs to eat for health reasons
My colleague Dr. Debra has found a great solution for these special situations and for when your pet is routinely picky. And here's what I like about it: It's a solution that WON'T encourage your dog's finicky behavior.
Instead, it's an ideal way to add a little extra “burst” of taste and nutrition to your pet's meal. SuperGravy™ was developed as a healthy solution for picky eaters, whether they are young or old, healthy or ailing, and eating any type of food.
SuperGravy™ is an economical way to add the nutritional goodness of concentrated whole superfoods without any artificial flavors, colors, or chemical preservatives to your dog's daily diet.
It's a mixture of some of the healthiest foods available - humanely sourced grass-fed, free-range organ meats (including organic sources), omega-3-rich Aztec "miracle" chia seeds, and phytonutrient-rich organic vegetables like spinach, pumpkin and carrots.
Just sprinkle a small scoop of SuperGravy™ over your pet's food with a little warm water and stir. It instantly adds an inviting brown gravy coating to any food and entices your dog to eat within seconds.
Here's what one veterinarian had to say about SuperGravy™:
"I have had success getting cancer patients to eat, as well as an elderly dog with chronic pancreatitis who was refusing all food, and an elderly cat with debilitating intestinal issues who was refusing his special diet. Adding a small amount of SuperGravy™ got them to eat again without any gastro-intestinal side effects. It has also helped many healthy but picky eating patients. My clients appreciate having something simple, palatable, healthy, and cost effective to stimulate their pets' appetites." - Dr. Stacy Robertson, DVM - South Wilton Veterinary Group, Wilton, Connecticut
I'm confident once your dog tries SuperGravy™, his finicky days may become a thing of the past.
Instead, it's an ideal way to add a little extra “burst” of taste and nutrition to your pet's meal. SuperGravy™ was developed as a healthy solution for picky eaters, whether they are young or old, healthy or ailing, and eating any type of food.
SuperGravy™ is an economical way to add the nutritional goodness of concentrated whole superfoods without any artificial flavors, colors, or chemical preservatives to your dog's daily diet.
It's a mixture of some of the healthiest foods available - humanely sourced grass-fed, free-range organ meats (including organic sources), omega-3-rich Aztec "miracle" chia seeds, and phytonutrient-rich organic vegetables like spinach, pumpkin and carrots.
Just sprinkle a small scoop of SuperGravy™ over your pet's food with a little warm water and stir. It instantly adds an inviting brown gravy coating to any food and entices your dog to eat within seconds.
Here's what one veterinarian had to say about SuperGravy™:
"I have had success getting cancer patients to eat, as well as an elderly dog with chronic pancreatitis who was refusing all food, and an elderly cat with debilitating intestinal issues who was refusing his special diet. Adding a small amount of SuperGravy™ got them to eat again without any gastro-intestinal side effects. It has also helped many healthy but picky eating patients. My clients appreciate having something simple, palatable, healthy, and cost effective to stimulate their pets' appetites." - Dr. Stacy Robertson, DVM - South Wilton Veterinary Group, Wilton, Connecticut
I'm confident once your dog tries SuperGravy™, his finicky days may become a thing of the past.
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