Picky eater !
Hello I'm new to the forum. Just got a concern with my Bull Terrier puppy. His name is Benny. Got him in December as a Christmas gift from my wife since I always wanted one. When I first got him he was really energetic and will eat his food with no problem. Now he's 6 months old and he started ignoring his food and there's even been days where he hasn't even touched his food. Tried changing the food and still the same thing. I have gotten to eat all his food and fast if I add canned food to his dried kibble. He devours it all quick. Is this ok ? Or should I be worried and take him to see the vet for this ?
The foods that he's been eating are BB wilderness chicken and rice and Taste of the Wild.
The foods that he's been eating are BB wilderness chicken and rice and Taste of the Wild.
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Comments
Switching foods is probably an option, but there are also other alternatives such as sprinkling the kibble just a little (not soaking) with
- salmon oil (which is healthy and recommended anyway)
- a small amount of unsalted veggie or chicken/beef broth
- a teaspoon full of cottage cheese or jogurt (if your dog tolerated dairy products)
- a raw egg now and then
- some small pieces of banana or a few dark berries in pieces (raspberries, strawberries or blackberries)
- herbs such as basil, thyme or oregano (they also work anti inflammatory and aid digestion)
- some small pieces of cooked veggies, such as carrots or broccoli for example.
I've read that adding veggies to either one kibble or raw is not a problem (see below). Some fruits, such as apple are better fed separately.
Here are some other side notes I just want to give you as input regarding nutrition in general - that has nothing to do with the picky eating. But you asked about mixing for example. It is also not expert advice, just things I have read on the internet, because I am doing a lot of research about nutrition:
1. I've just learned myself WHY it is not recommended to feed dry and wet together. It's better to alternate it (for example dry in the morning and wet in the evening)
Dry food (kibble) takes much longer to be digested and processed by the body (about 12 hrs. as I read). Raw or wet food only takes about 6 hrs.
Both foods start different fermenting processes in the GI tract that interfere when mixing.
Mixing both can promote pancreatitis, gas, upset stomach and intolerances.
2. Raw is always a better choice than canned, and most of the time not much more expensive.
Just do a little research, if you are thinking about supplementing with wet/raw food to make sure your dog gets all the nutrients needed.
Another thought, because your dog is a picky eater: Feeding raw beef, chicken (cooked!), fish (cooked!) and other animal protein sources along with bone or bone meal for calcium, some healthy veggies (cooked!), such as broccoli and carrots, potato or sweet potato (if he doesn't have any yeast issues), eggs and cottage cheese - just put together in a list real quick for you to evaluate may help your dog develop more appetite. There are some dogs who do not even like fresh meats. But the majority will not refuse a yummy fresh and raw diet.
Also if you are not feeding a supplement already, originally I would recommend NuVet, because of the quality.
Yet, in your case NuPro may be worth giving a try. While NuVet comes as wafers, NuPro is a powder that mixes into a gravy-like fluid with water. Many dogs love it and the quality is also very good. It's great to spill over kibble in order to enhance the flavor. If he likes a little wet on his kibble, maybe this works.
Of course there's no guarantee that your little one will love it. Luckily they offer small sizes, if you want to give the supplement a try. It's a healthy addition for your dog anyway.
Tell me about it!
Sometimes I am even annoying myself with all the digging and researching, assembling and adjusting.
I think we've only switched roles, because in our household hubby is just the far better cook than I am. So much for my qualities as a housewife.
But our EBT's are fragile creatures, no matter how strong they seem. It's a good thing to take real good care of them ... and then eat JUST AS GOOD as they do ourselves or develop a "human" food aggression.
I tried some of the suggestions I was given here. He loves the Merricks Puppy Plate. I also started mixing salmon oil into the Taste of the wild dry kibble and he loves that too. Also I mix a raw egg in there twice a week and give him fresh fruits and he doing much better with his appetite !