Pet parents often struggle with what to feed a picky dog. Setting a meal schedule helps ensure your pup knows when its feeding time will be and helps alleviate hunger triggers.
Picky eating in dogs may be indicative of an underlying medical issue, so always consult your veterinarian prior to trying anything on your own. But there are a few simple tactics you can use to encourage mealtime excitement for both of you.
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1. Choose a food that isn’t too rich
If your pup’s picky eating is caused by medical or environmental stressors, seeking professional advice should be your first step. Once given clearance from a veterinarian, start exploring ways to make mealtimes more exciting!
One simple approach is limiting their treat intake; this can help your dog feel full and prompt them to return when meal time rolls around.
Add toppings as another incentive for your picky eater to return to his food, such as Parmesan cheese (lower in lactose content) or bone broth powder for flavor and moisture boosts; both are less calorific than most treats and will ensure that his diet remains nutritionally balanced.
2. Try a variety of flavors
If your dog has become finicky about eating, try different flavors until one hits home with them. If chicken hasn’t done the trick, consider switching up fish or beef; adding flavoring such as plain, canned pumpkin (low sodium and rich in vitamins & minerals) might do just the trick!
Just be careful that abrupt dietary changes don’t reinforce picky eating behaviors! Another easy way to add variety and excitement at mealtime is offering food during short bursts of play such as shaking or rolling over. Your pet might think their meal is special treat they won’t get again and may become more eager to eat it! Just don’t make too many sudden shifts!
3. Keep it simple
With such a vast selection of dog food options ranging from dry kibble to canned food and pouches of semi-moist food, pet owners may become over-involved with feeding their pup. Unfortunately, that could make an already picky pooch even fussier!
Abrupt changes in appetite could indicate medical issues; therefore it’s wise to consult your vet immediately if this occurs. But sometimes all it takes to get finicky pups eating again is an extra incentive – like using treats as reward!
Start using the gentle starvation method: drop food off for 30 minutes at a time, and take it away a bit at a time, repeating until hunger wins! Additionally, adding food toppers or treats may give your pet’s meal some added flair and make their kibble more exciting for him/her!
4. Keep it fresh
Dogs may become selective eaters for many different reasons. Some may have developed an affinity for specific foods while others could be experiencing discomfort in their mouths and lips that makes eating difficult. It’s important to maintain a consistent feeding schedule and place in order to prevent sudden change from becoming an issue for picky pups.
Sometimes a picky pup simply wants more flavor from their food, which can easily be resolved by offering different food toppers or gravies. Try Parmesan cheese which is delicious yet low lactose or bone broth powder which adds both moisture and flavor. These tantalizing toppings could help your picky pet change their minds about eating kibble.
5. Keep it fun
Though most dogs will gobble up every morsel they see, other pets may become pickier with their meals and become more picky eaters than expected. Although this can be frustrating for owners, it’s essential that any potential medical conditions be excluded as the cause before making attempts at treating the issue.
Try limiting how long your pup can eat at once and making mealtime more exciting with some tricks like Shake, Roll Over or Down that make mealtime exciting and encourage him to finish eating his meal. Or use a food-dispensing puzzle toy during mealtime to engage his mind while he devours his kibble!
Make sure not to give your pet too many treats or table scraps as this could make him less hungry at mealtime and encourage reliance on these sources of nutrition. Stick with providing him with basic kibble diet combined with nutritious treats for best results.
