Pickey about food-AGAIN!

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Okay, so I thought I'd found a food that Hot Rod and Maggie liked. Well, he's gotten tired of Natural Balance Rolls now. Maggie eats a little better than he does; she will eat when she's hungry where as he will go for 2 days without. *Sigh*.

He seems to like "gravy" on his food. What I mean is the juices from foods,not gravy with the flour added or anything like that. I've tried adding a few shredded pieces of chicken/fish and cheese and the little buggers will eat that out of their food and leave everything else.

I was looking at "vitagravy" at petsmart. Has anyone tried that? Or does anyone have any suggestions? Help!

[Ellie May]

Could you blend their food with some chicken in it? That way they can't pick it out? Have you tried canned food? Did you try mixing it with cottage cheese or mashed potato? That has got to be frustrating. I know so many people like the, "They won't let themselves starve, so don't worry about it" thing but some dogs will only eat enough to stay alive and that just is not healthy.

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Could you blend their food with some chicken in it? That way they can't pick it out? Have you tried canned food? Did you try mixing it with cottage cheese or mashed potato? That has got to be frustrating. I know so many people like the, "They won't let themselves starve, so don't worry about it" thing but some dogs will only eat enough to stay alive and that just is not healthy.

I had just bought a couple of cans of Blue and he turned his nose up at it, Maggie ate some of it. Yes, I've mixed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cottage cheese, yogurt with the food.

This morning I processed pet botanicals roll with rotissarie chicken and a little bit of the gravy. Snubbed, then I put a few pieces of shredded chicken-they at that up but left the food. Then I put a few pieces of shredded cheese and chopped it up with a fork and mixed it well. That seemed to work as they ate a bit more of the food but didn't finish their portion...which was not a big one at that.

He must be eating something as he poos 2x a day!

[kjc]

I agree. I cook up chicken thighs and blend just the meat, no skin or fat or juices, and mix canned, dry and water. I store it in the fridge and heat it in the microwave(stir well) before feeding. If I run out or in a pinch, I've used chicken or turkey baby food instead of cooked chicken.
Sometimes I use stinky cat food too, just not too much!

[Mom to Hot Rod]

I was doing this also until he stopped eating this. I even used the baby food carrots and mixed it with his food. He at this for awhile and got tired of it.

It seems that 3/4 days is his limit. The NB rolls seemed to be the food that he liked the longest.

I know that a lot of the problem is me as I treat him after dinner with a zukes sized piece of food from our dinner. I try to give cooked carrots mainly since I used them as treats at other times too.

Originally Posted by kjc

I agree. I cook up chicken thighs and blend just the meat, no skin or fat or juices, and mix canned, dry and water. I store it in the fridge and heat it in the microwave(stir well) before feeding. If I run out or in a pinch, I've used chicken or turkey baby food instead of cooked chicken.
Sometimes I use stinky cat food too, just not too much!

[BonBon]

Have you ever fed them raw (pre-made like Nature's Variety or Primal)? I wonder how they would like that?

[jeanm1963]

What about Merricks, I know that you can add a little water and it makes its own gravy??? Its supposed to be a great food!!!

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Originally Posted by bonbon

Have you ever fed them raw (pre-made like Nature's Variety or Primal)? I wonder how they would like that?

I haven't tried raw as I am afraid of the protein-not that I know very much about it. I should ask the vet about this. He didn't like Evo dry though...didn't want anything to do with it. Is that similar?

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Originally Posted by jeanm1963

What about Merricks, I know that you can add a little water and it makes its own gravy??? Its supposed to be a great food!!!

They seemed to like Merrick's but started licking their paws when they were on it.

[jeanm1963]

I am using eagle brand hollistic, it really works for us!! I think they will send you a sample , its a great food, she also like solid gold wee bits.. have you tried either, my dog is the pickiest eater, just like my skinkids

[kjc]

Maybe he's getting too many treats during the day??? And if he knows he's getting a piece of your dinner, he may be waiting for that. He sounds very smart!

If you must feed him your food, save it and mix it in with his food. Keep the food he lasted the longest with, rotate the goodies you add to it. For example: Chicken BF x 2 days, Stinky cat food x 2 days, Veal BF X 2 days, Turkey BF X 2 days, Beef BF X 2 days That way he's getting a different flavor and should keep his interest longer.

I believe most veges are carbs and fiber. Fiber can make you feel full, fast. You may want to limit fiber type foods to see if his appetite increases.

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by Mom to Hot Rod

I haven't tried raw as I am afraid of the protein-not that I know very much about it. I should ask the vet about this. He didn't like Evo dry though...didn't want anything to do with it. Is that similar?

I've never fed Evo so I don't know much about it. It is a very good quality food that is grain free and high protein. Do you or your vet have specific concerns about protein? The advantage to the pre-made raw (if you were to try it and they liked it) is that it's already balanced for their nutritional needs. I'd be concerned about this if the picky eating continues long-term, causing them not to get all they need from their food.

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Originally Posted by bonbon

Have you ever fed them raw (pre-made like Nature's Variety or Primal)? I wonder how they would like that?

I am kind of afraid of the raw diet only because of reading about the protein levels. I should probably find out from the vet if it might be worth trying it at least. I also read a lot of others on hear really like it.
I don't know if it is anywhere the same or anything but I did try to give him/them Evo dry. He didn't want anything to do with it and Maggie ate a serving of it one day and never touched it again.

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Originally Posted by jeanm1963

I am using eagle brand hollistic, it really works for us!! I think they will send you a sample , its a great food, she also like solid gold wee bits.. have you tried either, my dog is the pickiest eater, just like my skinkids

I've not tried either. I will try and get samples of the eagle, thanks. Sollid Gold doesn't send any samples out.

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Originally Posted by kjc

Maybe he's getting too many treats during the day??? And if he knows he's getting a piece of your dinner, he may be waiting for that. He sounds very smart!

If you must feed him your food, save it and mix it in with his food. Keep the food he lasted the longest with, rotate the goodies you add to it. For example: Chicken BF x 2 days, Stinky cat food x 2 days, Veal BF X 2 days, Turkey BF X 2 days, Beef BF X 2 days That way he's getting a different flavor and should keep his interest longer.

I believe most veges are carbs and fiber. Fiber can make you feel full, fast. You may want to limit fiber type foods to see if his appetite increases.

I do treat when we come in from a walk, but it is a very small treat...the size of a zukes. And if I do give a zukes treat, I split the treat in half and that's what they get. I thought the same thing so I have actually been phasing out treats over the past several weeks. He had surgery the end of March and was starting to gain weight from lack of physical activity so I've cut back quite a bit.

I will try to do the 2x day with different foods. That may be my option for the time being. I'm trying to find some type of liquid that he likes so it will soak into his food. I've mashed the NB roll up with chicken broth and he ate it for a few days. I don't think he cared for plain broth all that much though so I've got to add some flavorings to it. lol. I've even tried mashed potatoes with chicken broth making it a soupy consistency and puting over his food...the little booger sucked it off! and spit out the floor!

I had heard that they should eat after "we" eat but that's not a viable solution as hubby gets home later than I would like to feed them.