The dog eats dry. Why Your Dog Won't Eat: Some Important Reasons and Ways to Improve Appetite

By virtue of different reasons the dog may begin to eat poorly or refuse dry food. It is important to understand why this happens and what can be done in such a situation.

Dry dog ​​food is the solution for busy owners. Modern premium feed supplies animals with everything they need: nutrients, vitamins and minerals. It takes very little time to pour food into the bowl and change the water. The volume of prepared feed is also required less than when eating natural products.

Given all the benefits, many dog ​​breeders tend to keep the dog on dry food. However, sometimes a pet may stop eating "drying". Problem solved different ways, depending on the reasons for the failure.

Why the dog does not eat dry food - reasons

The first and most dangerous reason why a dog does not eat dry food is a latent disease. You need to take a closer look at the pet and find out if there are any other symptoms of malaise, such as diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, swelling, and others. If, in addition to lack of appetite, lethargy and the above problems are observed, you should immediately seek help from a veterinarian.

The consultation consists in examining the animal and prescribing general tests. The dog does not eat well in the presence of ticks, a large number of fleas, with helminths and inflammation. At the end of treatment, the dog's appetite is restored.

Another common reason is switching to a different food. Even different foods of the same brand have different taste and aroma qualities. The dog will not be able to easily and quickly exchange the usual food for another.

Refusal of food is often observed when switching from cheap to expensive feeds. This is due to the fact that cheap products are crammed with attractive flavors, while expensive high-quality feeds do not contain such special attracting additives. It takes time and patience to get your dog used to the right food.

Another reason is the habit of begging from the table. Giving your dog treats from the table is wrong. This bad habit is quickly acquired by the dog, and it is very difficult to get rid of it. After such snacks, the dog is no longer attracted to dry food, and she stops eating it.

Much less often, there may be other reasons for a dog to refuse food:

• teething or falling out of teeth;
• vaccinations;
• period of sexual activity;
• reception medicines;
• childbirth.

What should the owner do

In cases of infection or other illness of the dog, when it stops eating dry food, you will need to contact the clinic and the help of a veterinarian. But what is the owner to do? healthy dog refusing food?

First you need to reconsider the portion size. The dog needs to be fed twice a day. Every time after a meal, the bowl should be completely emptied. If the dog does not eat everything in one go, then the food is nutritious, and the portion is large. The serving size is indicated by the food manufacturer on the packaging. It depends on the age and size of the dog. It is better to stick to these recommendations or pour a little less. Often, measuring cups are attached to large packages of food, with which it is convenient to pour the required amount of “drying”.

If the dog does not eat its own food, but begs from the table, you should not respond to all its requests, gradually weaning it off. If it is easier for the owner to prepare natural dishes for the dog, you can switch to them. But still, food should be served at the same time, and snacking only spoils the discipline and disrupts the animal's digestion. Sweet, salty or smoked pieces are especially harmful. They impair the health and natural taste preferences of the dog, they should be avoided.

Some dogs, especially older ones, experience dental problems. It is difficult for them to chew hard pieces of dry food. You should try pre-soaking the food in water. Granules of high-quality feed swell, not greatly increasing in volume, become soft and easily broken in the mouth.

Is it possible to force a dog

It is impossible to force a dog to eat something it does not want. Sometimes long persuasion helps. Breeders note that some especially loyal and human-oriented breeds are suggestible and start eating food at the request of the owner. But this does not work with sick dogs. A suffering animal first of all needs pain relief and treatment, and only then food.

Many people wonder how to get a dog to eat new, better food. The secret is to gradually mix the new food into the old one and get the pet accustomed to the new aroma and taste. Every day the portion of the old food is reduced and the share of the new is increased.

Teaching a dog to proper nutrition should not be accompanied by screams or physical effort on the part of the person. The dog may also become aggressive or, conversely, depressed. But food compulsions are never successful.

Another radical way is a two-day hunger strike. The dog is offered nothing but water for a couple of days. At the end of the hunger, most dogs pounce on any kind of food. This method is not at all suitable for puppies, pregnant or sick dogs.

Prevention

To avoid problems with the nutrition of the dog, the following actions are used as preventive measures:

1. Feed the dog at the same time, 2 times a day. Treats are given only during training as rewards.
2. The portion of the dog should be completely eaten and appropriate for age and weight.
3. Dry food should be premium or holistic.
4. Water should be freely available to the dog around the clock.
5. Frequent refusals of dry food or problems with stool are a serious reason to switch to natural food.
6. Puppies, old and sick dogs can mix dry food with wet food, soak the food in water and choose varieties with small granules.

Dry food has long been a familiar food for pets. This is due primarily to the practicality and rationality of its use. Many dog ​​owners find it more convenient and more profitable to feed their pets with dry food than to prepare a special meal for the animal. However, it may happen that the pet stops eating his usual food. If the dog has stopped eating dry food, the reason for this change should be investigated first.

An unexpected refusal of a pet to feed can be a serious problem for the owners. In this case, most likely, you will have to resort to the help of cooking. However, dogs, as you know, are not omnivorous animals: and if one pet loves millet porridge, then another may not like it.

The reasons strange behavior pet can be completely different. The problem can be related both to the food itself and to the physiology and health of the pet. Common reasons why an animal refuses dry food include the following:

1. Other brand of food. Animals have a habit of getting used to a certain type of food. Despite the visual similarity, many dry foods have a completely different composition, taste, smell, at least, this applies to the flavors that make up the composition. Therefore, changing the brand of the finished diet, as a rule, will provoke the refusal of the animal.
2. Poor feed quality. As you know, dogs have an excellent sense of smell, so if the usual packaging of dry food suddenly turned out to be unusable, then the animal will immediately feel it.
3. Dry food has arrived. Although dogs are not considered to be particularly picky eaters, they also sometimes need variety. Moreover, consumption of dry food alone may contribute to the development of various diseases in an animal.
4. Stress. It's no secret that animals, like people, are able to experience and fall into a state of stress. This may be due to environmental factors affecting nervous system animal, and with physiological, occurring directly in the body of the pet. It should be noted that this situation usually implies a complete refusal of the animal from food.
5. Reduced physical activity. Many breeds of dogs are among those animals that constantly require the manifestation of physical activity. Lack of physical activity can lead to a change in the behavior of the animal, in particular, to loss of appetite and refusal of dry food.
6. Cold or runny nose. As you know, the attractiveness of dry food for an animal is determined by the presence of a special nutritious smell. However, if the pet loses its sense of smell, dry food is no longer perceived by the pet as a potential food.
7. Physiological features. Physiological features include periods such as estrus or spree. At this time, the pet is far from eating. It is worth noting that in this case there is a general loss of appetite in the animal.

What to do and how to help a pet

Having found out the reason for the refusal of the animal from dry food, any measures can be taken to facilitate the return to the usual food or to change the diet. In general, the subsequent actions depend on the initial factors.

So, if the reason for the refusal is a new brand of feed or its poor quality, then you just need to change the packaging. You can return the brand familiar to your pet, be sure to check when buying a diet for compliance with quality and expiration date.

If the animal lacks variety, it is recommended to temporarily abandon the usual food. There are many simple recipes pet food that your pet will love. In addition, you can dilute the "drying" wet food or canned food with different compositions.

In case of stress, it is necessary to eliminate negative factors. As already mentioned, both the environment and disturbances in the animal's body can contribute to a stressful situation. In the case of environmental factors, it is necessary to change the environment of the animal, to be more sensitive, affectionate and attentive to it. If the cause of the stress condition is unknown, then you should contact the veterinary clinic.

In case of reduced physical activity, it is necessary to normalize the daily routine of the animal. The pet should be occupied with something, offer longer walks with various active games and workouts. But the easiest and most convenient way out of this situation is to buy toys for your pet, with which he will play in the absence of the owner of the house.

If the dog suffers from a cold or runny nose, it is recommended to give warm or hot food to your pet. This will contribute to his speedy recovery. You can also seek the help of a veterinarian to prescribe special medicines for a cold or runny nose.

Veterinarians have their own opinion on this matter and suggest following these recommendations:

1. Periodically, you should resort to a variety of diet pet. Everyone knows that monotony can get boring from time to time. And in the case of animals, the consumption of dry food can even contribute to the development of complications such as kidney or liver failure.
2. Sometimes it is recommended to add kefir or just water to dry food to add moisture to the contents. The fact is that soft soaked food pads do not cause damage to the body, unlike dry ones.
3. If you change the brand of dry food, you should wait until the animal sniffs it, gets used to it, or, if possible, return to the previous brand.
4. Some dry foods are made for dogs of a particular breed or temperament. For example, there is a nutritional commodity for both sedentary and active breeds.
5. Small dog breeds are not recommended to give large pads, as the large size of the food consumed at a time can contribute to indigestion.

Some owners may start to sound the alarm if the pet has a reduced appetite. However, inexperienced dog owners, instead of addressing the root cause of reduced appetite, begin to look for possible diseases in the animal. In fact, it might not be all that bad.

Naturally, the refusal of food, in particular dry food, does not always indicate any violations. It is possible that the pet is simply bored with monotonous food, or, on the contrary, the pet is so used to its food that it will not allow it to be deceived by substitution.

Why pull phrases out of context, all dogs are different, I'm just for the fact that you need to provide a choice and act based on the results.

I don't understand what kind of balance are we talking about in natural?

If a woman eats chalk during pregnancy, this is a sign of anemia, and not a sign that the body lacks chalk / earth, etc. And what to do if the dog does not eat well? We're on a mixed one. And we can't go one way or the other. He eats porridge for two days, and then he toils with foolishness. Vegetables, fruits do not eat. Cottage cheese maximum once a week and then under duress. He also eats his "crackers" badly. Also two or three days. ... we already ate different companies, and I starved him .... the next day after the year, he eats Everything that they give, and then again ... now we have the 125th attempt to switch to drying ... ( We also have health food...

I'm not writing for you, but for the TC, which I propose to give the dog a choice. Anemia that has arisen from scratch, the body is trying to compensate for it, a causal relationship, just like dogs eat feces, trying to compensate for the lack of bacteria in the intestines.

Well, apparently I was lucky, and all my dogs (3), who have been eating natural since childhood, are healthy and with excellent appetite, despite the fact that I feed them without any tricks, and I don’t give cottage cheese, if only once a month, and vegetables with fruits not every day and no snacks. Morning buckwheat with butter, evening meat for a walk, and that's all.

Not counting Lilla (4th), who has a bouquet, but I took her at the age of 9 from the forum, and she could not walk more than 5 meters, and how she lived and what she ate is not known, but after trying to transfer her to kidney food, her hind legs immediately began to fall off, so no medical treatment, nutritional treatment and that’s it, I don’t need a lying dog with kidneys.

One dog never ate in her life, her mother's collie, but she was frankly fed with a slop bucket.

Marina, with all my great respect for you. This is overkill.

Especially if the dog is the first, it may not be possible to find a balance in a straight dog.

Or a person does not have enough time for this.

Or money, the straight woman is right, it’s not just a pretty penny, but just the same in a fairly large amount.

Or is it a call to feed at least sawdust, but straight?

Well, comparing a dog with a pregnant woman is generally too much. If dogs constantly in the body, all their lives, go through the same restructuring as in pregnant women, then how complex these animals, dogs are. And how hard it is for the poor to live.

Lena, where did I call to feed the dog with sawdust?

Don't have time or money for a dog.

How many people write this to those who want to get a dog but are ready to feed pedi and chappies, and don’t even have time to walk with it, I’m not talking about doing it.

And yes, with this breeding and with the fact that the dogs are artificially bred, this may well be a very complex organism, incomparable with the body of a yard keeper.

Either they are born with dysplasia, or the heart has fallen off, underdeveloped, and a lot of everything who does an MRI, who does hormones, etc.?

I will repeat and highlight.

I do not call for nature, I call to trust the pet, and not to break it, and to understand that we bought it, its health is our direct responsibility, we signed up for this (feed, walk) by buying it or picking up, as Katya says, the dog to us did not ask.

Most pets eat food quickly and with pleasure, blissfully licking themselves after the last crumb eaten. But some without much enthusiasm eat dry food, or even completely refuse it. For a number of reasons, sometimes completely incomprehensible, the dog does not eat dry food, which causes concern for the owner, who does not understand the reason for refusing to eat. It happens that it is the fault of the owner that the dog refuses to “dry”.

What the dog breeder is doing wrong:

1. If initially the pet is used to eating natural food, and then, due to various circumstances, he is offered “drying”, naturally, he will refuse. None of the dry food can be compared in taste with the "natural". Of course, you can force your pet to switch to a dry diet.
2. If the dog does not eat dry food, although it used to eat only dry food, then the reason for the refusal may be a sudden change in brand or the poor quality of the purchased food. A person may not be able to distinguish fake from premium food, but a dog's sense of smell is extremely difficult.
3. Many small breeds are by definition picky eaters. When the owner sees that the pets eat poorly or even refuse to touch the bowl, he offers her various options: hand-feed, give something tasty. Dogs are not stupid: they understand that if they are naughty, a generous owner will give you a treat. What to do in this case? Try to teach your pet to eat either dry food or natural food.
4. If the pet has stopped “paying attention” to dry food, she may have become fed up with the taste that she feels for a certain period. Some owners soak the “drying” with yogurt or kefir, and when they stop doing this, the dog understands: something is not right. Natural reaction: "I won't eat it."
5. If the dog refuses to eat dry food, the owner should think about what to do to correct the situation. The root cause of refusing food can be too large a portion. It must be remembered that dry food is required much less than natural.
6. If the pet has stopped using "drying", then perhaps her sedentary image the reason for that. When the dog does not waste his energy, he becomes lethargic and indifferent to entertainment. Outcome: decreased appetite.
7. Many dogs refuse to eat dry food, as they are prone to stress, like people. They may struggle with long periods of solitude, moving, loss of an owner, and sometimes even the noise from a neighbor's renovation or the arrival of small children. Owners often do not know or forget that stress is not only a psychological, but also a physical reaction of the body to situations that are difficult to quickly adapt to. Analyze recent events, perhaps they are the reason that the dog refuses food. If there really is any stress factor, it must be eliminated or try to accustom the dog to the irritant. It is possible to use light sedatives on plant components, but in any case, it will take a long time to adapt.
8. Often, bitches lose their appetite during estrus, and in males, when they hear a “walking” girl nearby. These changes are normal and do not require intervention. The animal during this period has more important things to do than food.
9. Often, health problems lead to a lack of appetite. For example, a disease of the oral cavity (stomatitis), as well as upper respiratory tract(runny nose). More serious internal diseases can also lead to loss of appetite. Not all diseases are accompanied by pronounced symptoms, so loss of appetite is the first wake-up call to go to the veterinarian.

What should I do if my dog ​​refuses dry food?

• It is impossible to transfer a dog from natural food to dry food suddenly. It's dangerous for her health.
• It is necessary to add dry food little by little to the bowl with the usual food for a week (or maybe more).
• First, 1/7 of the prescribed norm, then 2/7, and so on until there is only one dry food in the bowl. So the dog's digestive system smoothly adapts to the type of food that is still unusual for it.

If a puppy with not yet strong teeth is transferred to dry food, it is better to soak dry granules with kefir or natural yogurt. When transferring a dog to dry food, it is not easy for every owner to realize that instead of two liters of porridge, now only 400 grams of granules are enough for a pet, and many begin to pour a full bowl. And when the animal cannot cope with such volumes of food, they begin to complain that the dog does not eat dry food well.

You should change the bowl to a small one and pour the food strictly in the proportions indicated on the package. By the way, when buying food, you should always check its expiration date and do not buy food by weight, as it may be expired and of poor quality. Veterinarians advise not to mix natural food with dry food in everyday nutrition. This option is only suitable for the transitional period.

If dry granules are constantly added to the porridge “for taste”, this will quickly lead to such obesity that it will be difficult to cure the dog. Also, if you have already transferred the dog to dry food, you can not give her "tidbits" or arrange " festive table» from natural food. At best, this will lead to indigestion.

For the same reason, you should not drastically change one food for another, even if it is of a higher quality. It is necessary to ensure that the dog has round-the-clock access to water, since it does not receive it in the feed. If the animal suddenly stops eating even their favorite high-quality dog ​​food, you don’t need to go to the pet store for “delicious”, it’s better to go to the veterinarian. The dog may have health problems. Feed should be selected according to the age of the animal, since over the years the needs of the body change, as does appetite.

1. Take good care of your pet's health. A healthy and fully functioning body will always have a good appetite. The slightest change in taste preferences, unwillingness to eat one or another food should be regarded as an alarm signaling the need for a comprehensive examination of the body. In such cases, it is better to play it safe a few times.
2. Balanced and complete diet. Before choosing the optimal diet, you should consult with your veterinarian. Food should be appropriate for the breed and age of the pet.
3. No frequent changes in diet. Dogs are not picky eaters at all, but they can become so if their owners indulge them with delicious bait too often. The diet must be stable, otherwise such experiments can cause disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract.
4. Regime compliance. As with the diet, the regimen must also be stable. There is no need to give your pet free access to food. Otherwise, the animal faces a rapid set excess weight and obesity.
5. As already mentioned, the dog needs a high degree of motor activity. To do this, the owners are recommended to change the standard routes of daily walks as often as possible. But you should also take dogs out into the countryside as often as possible, especially in summer, to play with them.

Tili

Dogs, like us, have their own tastes, habits, preferences. Your dog does not like dry food, so why not switch to another type of food? I think that it is necessary to take into account the tastes of the pet and try, within the framework of the possible, to create the most favorable and comfortable living conditions for him.

vskorol

Dogs, like other animals, are divided into those who eat only dry food and those who eat only natural food. So it's normal, don't worry.

It all depends on the quality of the food (how balanced it is, etc.) We also sometimes add broth, I want to pamper)))

If not eating dry food, buy cereals natural dog, cook the pan for a week, mix with fresh carrots, add ground meat (chicken navels, necks, filet). If you, for example, do not eat soup, do you replace it with another dish? It's the same with animals. All with their own character.

Ingewarr

Dogs are all painfully different, and recently they have become frankly flimsy - almost half of them have allergies. Who heard about it thirty years ago? First of all, products are to blame for this, which in themselves are less and less natural from year to year. As an example: my “hunters” could and can eat rotten meat without any problems, but recently one of them got a wild stomach upset after tasting a small piece of ice cream waffle.

From here we will proceed. For puppies, in theory, food in general should only be freshly prepared. Interestingly, a similar approach, and for adult dogs, is also followed in special kennels of law enforcement agencies, where indoor decorative dogs are somehow not found at all. So, there is a homespun truth in this, backed up by relevant experience.

I have been cooking my own for many years once a day, based on two meals a day. You will laugh, but in the villages, even pigs, which for us are a symbol of promiscuity in food, are tried not to give over-aged food. It turns out that homemade sows in this sense are much more vulnerable than us, sinners, capable of new year holidays eat up an ancient Olivier...

Christina45

The fact that the dog refuses to eat food in its pure form is absolutely normal, because he knows that you will give him something tastier. Getting carried away mixing dry food with something many breeders do not advise, this can lead to stomach problems. It is recommended to give dry food separately, and only after at least 40 minutes you can give something else

Bunny

Dogs taken from a shelter almost never eat clean dry food. In general, street adult dogs that have not received drying since childhood are accustomed to food in exactly the same way as you are doing now.

Kefir, meat and bird broths (not fatty), vegetable broths are fine to add to the food just before serving - this is how I distribute food to all my dogs.

Although now two of me can eat food and just lightly with the addition of water, but the latest (and most timid) eats exclusively with something tasty. "Naked" food with water refuses categorically and prefers to skip feeding. When there is not enough liquid "delicious", only she gets it. And I am absolutely not going to torment her and retrain her "in old age." The rest are completely understanding, although she is not at all a leader and not a leader.

I also add grated cheese, but not much. But oil, especially vegetable, is not necessary at all! Butter decyl can be added to swim in warm milk only as a medicine if the dog has a cold and is coughing.

All of the above nonsense about the fact that your dog is doing the right thing, that he doesn’t eat such rubbish, that he has good taste, etc. - you can immediately merge. Usually these opuses are written by individuals who feed their pets with rice with vegetable oil and bones. Until the last breath.

Doctor

There is no other way than to take hunger with malnutrition, but it does not always work. Still such a moment, a dog that is sick becomes picky about food, this can also be the reason. Blood tests do not always show digestive disorders. Ultrasound and stool analysis after two days without meat in the diet. If everything is in order there, you will have to feed natural food or wet food.

cat breeder

You need to take your dog to the dentist. I'm serious. Tartar and inflamed gums are the first reason animals refuse to dry. Experiment: soak dryer warm water for half an hour. Give it to the dog. Eating? So it's definitely a trip to the dentist.

Conclusion

There can be several reasons why pets change their eating habits. And before taking any action, they must be determined. It is best to consult a doctor. Perhaps the loss of appetite or its abrupt change is the result of diseases, so the pet may need a comprehensive examination. Owners must carefully follow all the recommendations and advice of a specialist, providing the pet with the most comfortable psychological and physiological environment.

Nutrition is a very important condition for the normal life of any animal. It is necessary to correctly compose a diet, choose food suitable for the pet, do not forget about the addition of vitamins. Some owners are faced with the fact that their dog does not eat dry food well. What should be done in this situation?

Why won't my dog ​​eat dry food?

First you need to determine the source of the problem. Not always the reason for refusal of food may be the harmful nature of the animal or the quality of the feed. Veterinarians are advised to pay the attention of the owner to:

• dog lifestyle (dogs that do not walk and do not train, consume much less food);
• feeding regimen (if the animal takes food too often, it will refuse part of it);
• vaccinations or medications (some drugs cause temporary loss of appetite in a dog);
• poor food (if the food is spoiled or of very poor quality, the dog refuses to eat it);
• stress (the first walk, moving, the appearance of a new animal in the house cause stress in the pet and a temporary unwillingness to eat);
• change in feed (perhaps you have previously given the animal a different brand of food, previously mixed vitamins or supplements into the granules);
• switching from natural to dry food (it will be simply unusual for a dog to eat food of a different kind);
• illness (one of the alarming signs of illness is refusal to eat).

Solution

Having found out why the dog does not want to eat dry food, you can begin to take action.

If the problem arose due to the health of the animal, then it is necessary to contact the veterinarian as soon as possible. Often a dog does not eat dry food when he has problems with his teeth and oral cavity:

• tartar;
• caries;
• cheilitis (inflammation of the lips);
• malocclusion;
• deviation in the development of teeth (polydontia, or polydentation);
• gingivitis (inflammation of the gums);
• plaque;
• stomatitis (inflammation of the mouth);
• pulpitis (inflammation of dental softness);
• periodontal disease (deep tissue damage near the tooth);
• periodontitis (inflammation of the supporting apparatus of the tooth);
• wounds in the mouth.

In this case, it is necessary to urgently undergo the necessary treatment.

If the owner decides to transfer his pet to another brand of dry food, you need to take into account the developed habits of the animal. Can't change too fast former food to a new one. This can lead to a situation where the dog does not eat food due to food stress. Breeders are advised to gradually add new food to the already familiar one, increasing its amount over time and replacing the old one.

Attention! Consider how much dry food your dog needs. The packaging always says how much food you need to give your pet, depending on its age, condition, weight, breed. Many inexperienced owners, when switching from natural food to dry food, continue to give the same amount of food, which leads to overeating, and then to obesity.

It will be a little more difficult for those who need to transfer the animal from natural food to dry factory food. The fact is that the rush to change the diet can result in health problems for the pet. Many owners don't know how to get their dog to eat dry food. It is also recommended to mix natural food with factory food. In everyday nutrition, this is not worth doing, but in order for the pet to get used to new food faster, you will have to give him such a “strange” assortment for some time. Increase the proportion of dry food very slowly. If the dog has brittle teeth, the granules can be pre-soaked in milk, kefir or yogurt.

It is far from always that a dog eats dry food badly because of its harmful nature. Pay attention to the behavior of the pet, the state of his health and the quality of the food you offer.

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