Dogs can be picky about what we give them to eat. In fact, some of the most popular hybrid breeds are known specifically because they demonstrate this sort of pickiness when it comes to what they will or won’t eat. You might find yourself saying the same thing so many other owners of picky eaters have: “Why won’t my dog eat?”
If you love to cook and feed your dog wholesome ingredients every day, that might bring on another common reaction: “Why won’t my dog eat?” It’s not just you. Many people discover that their dogs don’t like something they’ve fed them before.
What is Responsible for Food Pickiness in Dogs?
There are several reasons why a dog might be picky about what he eats. The most likely culprit is previous bad experiences with a specific food that have left them with a bad taste in their mouth. In some cases, this might be a food that upset their stomach or caused them to vomit.
You might have noticed this with your dog if they seem to be particularly suspicious of certain types of food. For example, many dogs seem to be wary of chicken, perhaps because so many of them are improperly prepared.
Your dog also has a sense of smell that is far more powerful than ours. This gives them an advantage when it comes to hunting and tracking, but it also makes food that smells even remotely off-putting to them all the more repulsive.
Why Are Some Dogs Fussy Eaters?
Next, we have to consider why your dog might be picky about the food you’re feeding them. In some cases, you might be feeding them too rich or too large a portion, driving them to turn their nose up at their meal. You might also be giving them food that is too old or isn’t appealing to them.
It’s also possible that you’ve given your dog a food type they don’t like, such as a diet that they don’t need based on their health.
Your dog’s diet is tailored toward their age, their exercise level, and their health. If they don’t need a diet that’s high in protein, for example, they might be turning their nose up at it just because they don’t like the flavour.
It can be really tricky to find exactly the right food or diet for your Cockapoo, and it can take a lot of trial and error, so it’s important to be patient with the process and seek advice from your vet if you need to.
What You Can Do About a Fussy Eater
If you know your dog’s pickiness is due to a bad experience or a dislike for the food you’ve chosen for them, you can do a few things to try to make them more likely to eat. The first is to make sure the food is fresh.
Dogs have a much shorter shelf life than we do, and they can get sick from spoiled food.
You also want to serve smaller portions more frequently. We find this works better for us with our Cockapoo. She prefers to eat little and often than less larger meals. This won’t be the same for every Cockapoo, again, it will be a case of trial and error.
This can help to alleviate the risk of your dog getting sick from rich or fatty foods that they have too much of. If your dog still isn’t eating, you may want to consider bringing them to a veterinarian. They might have an underlying health problem that makes it difficult for them to eat.
How to Help Your Dog Eat Healthy
If your dog isn’t sick, but they still aren’t eating, you might want to try changing their diet. You can attempt to change their diet gradually by mixing the old and new foods together to make the transition easier for him.
You can also try switching to a new diet that might be more appealing to your dog. If your dog is eating a high-protein diet, for example, you might want to try a low-protein, high-carbohydrate diet.
These are less likely to upset your dog’s stomach, which might make them more receptive to eating. You also have many different types of food to choose from.
Dogs can eat a wide variety of foods, including grains, fruits, and vegetables, as long as they are balanced properly.
Conclusion
A dog who won’t eat is a dog who is sick. In some cases, they might also be picky. A dog who is picky might simply need help adjusting to their food, or they might be experiencing discomfort that makes eating painful. If your dog is refusing to eat, you should take them to the vet. If they’re simply picky, you can try to help them adjust.
You can also try to change their diet to make it more appealing. In some cases, all it takes is a different kind of food for your dog to happily chow down.
