A Pawrent’s Struggle: Why is my dog a picky eater?
For us, furparents, it is a great relief to find our dog enjoying their meal. As much as we can, we always find time to personally prepare their meals to ensure that they are having the right nutrition. Of course, we love seeing them healthy and well. However, there are times that our dog’s situations raise red flags such as when our dog who has been a great eater before is now becoming a fussy eater or just refuses to eat their food.
There are many factors that can contribute to a lack of enthusiasm during mealtime and here’s the three possible reasons of your dog’s picky eating behavior:
It may be due to a health condition.
Margaret Hoppe, DVM, of the Abingdon Square Veterinary Clinic in New York's Greenwich Village points out: “If you have a dog who is a regular eater that suddenly stops, that can be a sign something is wrong. Picky eating is one symptom.” A change in your dog’s eating habits or a loss in appetite is often considered as one of the signs of sickness.
Your dog may be suffering from oral injury or dental disease.
A sensitive and painful mouth may be the cause of your dog’s lack of enthusiasm in food which may be due to poor dental hygiene over time or playing with something that has sharp edges. If you suspect any of these to be the cause, it is necessary to seek medical help.
The changes at home that leads to anxiety and other stressors for your dogs.
Some dogs express their emotions through the changes in eating habits. It may be because of continuously changing its dog food, they are served in an unfamiliar environment, or they have seen harassment from other pets. Making your dog feel safe, secure, and comfortable will keep them open-minded to trying to eat.
Although most dogs can go without food with no significant bad effects, it is still best to address the problems as early as possible. So, here’s what you can do to your picky eater pooch:
Seek for professional help
You may need to seek veterinary attention to determine if the decline in its appetite is due to significant illness. According to Mason Romero, DVM, and veterinary advisor for Better Pet, the list of potential medical causes of picky eating is long, and can range from serious illnesses like cancer, kidney or liver issues, and pyometra (an infection of a female dog’s reproductive tract) to dental complications, pain, or gastrointestinal disorders.
Have a feeding routine.
To avoid picky eating behavior, Dr. Klein, a Chief Veterinary Officer of the American Kennel Club, recommends creating a consistent feeding routine as follows:
- Set and stick to a mealtime schedule to the degree possible.
- Leave food out for no longer than 15 to 20 minutes.
- If your dog doesn’t eat anything, take the bowls away.
- Don’t give your pet any more food or treats until their next scheduled feeding time.
Serve different variants of dog food
Even us hoomans don’t want to eat the same food all over again, so let your dog try different food as well. Try to look for fresh and all-natural home-made dog food that contains recipes that meet the nutritional needs of your pooch. Let them choose what tastes best. Serving them an organic and nutritious meal can lead to a healthy and balanced diet.