[Best*In*Show]

Ruby is what I would classify as: EP -- extremely picky. She will literally starve herself if she does not like the food. She's pretty skinny and has lost a little, not a lot, but a little weight from refusing food. I've been trying, without success, to get her on a healthy diet. So far, she likes cooked chicken and turkey and will eat it most of the time if it's freshly cooked and not day-old.

I've tried raw in various forms, shapes and sizes, chicken, pork, beef and chicken organs. I've even pan-seared the outside of a couple cuts thinking that might help, but she wasn't impressed. I added salt to some beef neck meat, nope. Teensy pieces of beef, nope. The chicken wings "drumsticks" she covered with the plastic bag I had placed them on.

I'd love to just hand her some chicken feet or something easy like that, but I don't know how to get her to eat it? She also will not eat any kibble that I have purchased so far.

The upside is that she is very "polite" and will "take" the food, but let it drop if she doesn't want it. The down side is that even with food that she likes, she has a habit of refusing them after the first meal.

Any experiences with this or advice?

 

[3dogmom26]

This dog has YOU trained. THE answer is tough love....period. You give her some food (whatever that may be) and give her 15 minutes to eat it.....if she doesn't, pick it up and put it back in the fridge/bag. At the next meal, do the same thing.....and keep doing this until she eats what is given to her. A healthy dog WILL NOT starve itself so don't worry. And try not to hover over her when you give her food because I'm sure she is feeling your tension. My female boxer used to be extremely picky until someone gave me this advice.......and now she eats anything I give her. Think about this.....if your human child refused to eat anything but sweets, would you just keep giving in? or would you put a plate on the table with veggies and healthy food and tell her that she eats that or she goes to bed hungry.......low and behold.......the kid WILL eat it eventually. Toughen up mom!

 

[briteday]

First I would visit the vet, get a thorough exam and have them run some basic blood work to be sure that nothing is physically wrong with the dog. Then you need to decide what is the best diet for your dog and stick to it. The food goes down for 15 minutes, take it or leave it. We have had foster dogs that ate almost nothing for a week before they adjusted to the idea and then ate like nothing ever happened for the rest of their lives. I've been told that most of these dogs wouldn't eat anything and were starving themselves. Well, when a healthy dog is hungry it WILL eat.

A picky eater has figured out that if they refuse food they get something different almost every day. Stop that train, pick up a good kibble for the dog, and feed only that food plus fresh water always. The dog should not get any treats, except you can offer pieces of the kibble for training purposes.

 

[Westhighlander]

Your dog has figured out you are a great chef. I think she is waiting for you to cook up something better.

 

[Best*In*Show]

Today was filled with high drama. But, I'm not giving in --timed her eating sessions spaced throughout the day -- and left her alone with her healthy food. She even gave me little "soft eyes", it was so sad.