Managing fussy eating in dogs

17th February 2023

If your dog is a fussy eater, this could be because you give them too many treats or you have changed their food drastically. Here’s how to combat fussy eating in dogs.

Dog treats

Limit the amount of food treats that you give your dog and don’t feed them scraps from the table as they may have developed a taste for these and prefer them to their normal food. Consider different ways of treating your dog that doesn’t involve food, such as through praise or by playing with them.

Changing food

If you’re changing the type or brand of food that you give your dog you should do this gradually, by mixing a bit of the new food in with their old food and changing the ratio gradually as time goes on. This should help prevent your dog turning their nose up at the new food and prevent an upset stomach.

Make food more appealing

Dog’s mainly use their noses to determine whether or not food is appealing to them. Wet food naturally has a stronger aroma, but if you prefer feeding your dog dry food, you could add some water to it, as it will release extra yummy food smells. Water in your dog’s food also has the added benefit of helping to keep them hydrated.

Is your dog unwell?

If your dog suddenly becomes fussy at mealtimes when they are normally good eaters, it could be that they are feeling unwell or have developed an illness. Take your dog to the vet for a check-up if you are concerned. If you have a small or medium sized dog, you could serve their food in a SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect. It tracks your dog’s feeding habits over time, enabling you to notice changes in their feeding behaviour which could be a sign of illness.

Feeding locations

If you feed your dog in a busy area of the house they might be too distracted to eat properly and would prefer some privacy when eating. By feeding your dog in a quiet area of the house and offering them reassurance at meal times they may be more willing to eat.