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my dog wont eat any type of dog food i've tried them all
HDHughes posted:
even mixing moist food with it.he only eats my cats food. any suggestions to get him to eat dog food. i left him not eat for over a day when i first got him and kept the cat food up when i saw that he started eatting it but when he wouldnt eat any dog food and i was afraid he'd starve i just let him eat it.
13 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:my dog wont eat any type of dog food i've tried them alleven mixing moist food with it.he only eats my cats food. any suggestions to get him to eat dog food. i left him not eat for over a day when i first got him and kept the cat food up when i saw that he started eatting it but when he wouldnt eat any dog food and i was afraid he'd starve i just let him eat it.
KittyKatJenn responded:
He is going to eat the cat food because he likes it. There has never been a dog that starved to death from not eating when he had food in front of him. If you leave the cat food where he can get it then he won't eat his dog food. He will eat. He may not eat for 2 or 3 days, but he will eat his food. Cat food is not good for dogs. They need dog food.
Report This| Share this:my dog wont eat any type of dog food i've tried them allHe is going to eat the cat food because he likes it. There has never been a dog that starved to death from not eating when he had food in front of him. If you leave the cat food where he can get it then he won't eat his dog food. He will eat. He may not eat for 2 or 3 days, but he will eat his food. Cat food is not good for dogs. They need dog food.
HDHughes replied to KittyKatJenn's response:
how many days is ok for him to not eat? i had kept the cats food up away from him w the dog food down and have tried all varietys starting w iams but he totally refuses to eat it weather mixed w moist or just dry. i will put the cat food up again. can you suggest a food he may like. hes 1 yr 7 months and 4 lbs. again i thank you.
Report This| Share this:my dog wont eat any type of dog food i've tried them allhow many days is ok for him to not eat? i had kept the cats food up away from him w the dog food down and have tried all varietys starting w iams but he totally refuses to eat it weather mixed w moist or just dry. i will put the cat food up again. can you suggest a food he may like. hes 1 yr 7 months and 4 lbs. again i thank you.
laura2gemini2 replied to HDHughes's response:
Keep the cat food away from the dog all the time. If it is sometimes there and sometimes not, the dog will wait till the cat food is around to eat.
Dogs arent picky with what they will eat. My dog will eat from the trash if given the chance. Put the dog food where the dog knows where it is. Eventually when the dog gets hungry enough and realizes the cat food wont be available, he'll eat. Its like a child going through a temper tantrum.
Dogs arent picky with what they will eat. My dog will eat from the trash if given the chance. Put the dog food where the dog knows where it is. Eventually when the dog gets hungry enough and realizes the cat food wont be available, he'll eat. Its like a child going through a temper tantrum.
Report This| Share this:my dog wont eat any type of dog food i've tried them allKeep the cat food away from the dog all the time. If it is sometimes there and sometimes not, the dog will wait till the cat food is around to eat.<br /><br />Dogs arent picky with what they will eat. My dog will eat from the trash if given the chance. Put the dog food where the dog knows where it is. Eventually when the dog gets hungry enough and realizes the cat food wont be available, he'll eat. Its like a child going through a temper tantrum.
Hi there,
Cat food is not deficient for dogs, it is just a bit too rich in fats and protein.
I applaud your efforts not to spoil your dog at this age. Puppy canned food would be alot like cat food. Can you start there and move into more adult dog food? Or put the canned cat food on the dog food?
Dog food is deficient for cats so the other way 'round is not good. Some dogs refuse all pet food and just eat people food and that is really unbalanced long term.
Keep working on it. You have some good ideas here. Dogs can go a few days without eating but I would try not to do that.
Also, selective eating can be a sign of illness. Your dog sounds healthy but checking with a vet is a good idea.
Dr. Sandy
Cat food is not deficient for dogs, it is just a bit too rich in fats and protein.
I applaud your efforts not to spoil your dog at this age. Puppy canned food would be alot like cat food. Can you start there and move into more adult dog food? Or put the canned cat food on the dog food?
Dog food is deficient for cats so the other way 'round is not good. Some dogs refuse all pet food and just eat people food and that is really unbalanced long term.
Keep working on it. You have some good ideas here. Dogs can go a few days without eating but I would try not to do that.
Also, selective eating can be a sign of illness. Your dog sounds healthy but checking with a vet is a good idea.
Dr. Sandy
Report This| Share this:my dog wont eat any type of dog food i've tried them allHi there,<br /> <br />Cat food is not deficient for dogs, it is just a bit too rich in fats and protein.<br /> <br />I applaud your efforts not to spoil your dog at this age. Puppy canned food would be alot like cat food. Can you start there and move into more adult dog food? Or put the canned cat food on the dog food?<br /> <br />Dog food is deficient for cats so the other way 'round is not good. Some dogs refuse all pet food and just eat people food and that is really unbalanced long term.<br /> <br />Keep working on it. You have some good ideas here. Dogs can go a few days without eating but I would try not to do that.<br /> <br />Also, selective eating can be a sign of illness. Your dog sounds healthy but checking with a vet is a good idea.<br /> <br />Dr. Sandy
HDHughes replied to Sandy Willis, DVM, DACVIM's response:
THANKS DR. SANDY! i'll try anything! i'll go get some canned cat food today and put it on the puppy iams and see if he will eat it, and we will see how that goes.my main goal at this moment is to get him completely away from the catfood and on puppy/dogfood where he belongs. he hasnt gained any weight since hes been about 4 months old and the vet said hes healthy that its just the way hes built, but he was eattin his IAMS at that time. his weight hasnt changed since the cat food but i still know its wrong and unhealthy for him. as for what i was told about, dogs will eat anything, thats not true for mine. he wont. he is very picky. he wont eat for days, wont eat trash, wont eat people food unless its steak. and i have only found one or two type of dog treats he will eat and there at the vets office.
Report This| Share this:my dog wont eat any type of dog food i've tried them allTHANKS DR. SANDY! i'll try anything! i'll go get some canned cat food today and put it on the puppy iams and see if he will eat it, and we will see how that goes.my main goal at this moment is to get him completely away from the catfood and on puppy/dogfood where he belongs. he hasnt gained any weight since hes been about 4 months old and the vet said hes healthy that its just the way hes built, but he was eattin his IAMS at that time. his weight hasnt changed since the cat food but i still know its wrong and unhealthy for him. as for what i was told about, dogs will eat anything, thats not true for mine. he wont. he is very picky. he wont eat for days, wont eat trash, wont eat people food unless its steak. and i have only found one or two type of dog treats he will eat and there at the vets office.
KittyKatJenn replied to HDHughes's response:
Have you thought about trying maybe a homemade dog food? There are a lot of recipes out there for homemade dog food. It isn't a good thing long term because the nutrients aren't all there, but maybe you can do that and start mixing it with regular food.
Report This| Share this:my dog wont eat any type of dog food i've tried them allHave you thought about trying maybe a homemade dog food? There are a lot of recipes out there for homemade dog food. It isn't a good thing long term because the nutrients aren't all there, but maybe you can do that and start mixing it with regular food.
HDHughes replied to KittyKatJenn's response:
i'll try that too. if what dr. sandy doesnt work. ty too.
Report This| Share this:my dog wont eat any type of dog food i've tried them alli'll try that too. if what dr. sandy doesnt work. ty too.
rascalsmommy responded:
I have the same problem with my Yorkiepoo and for a while I did put cat food on top of his dog food. However, I've found a lot of palatable dog food at a specialty dog store. Merrick comes to mind first. There have many different "meals", all human grade. Wellness is another brand my dog seems to like. They also have several "meals",.
I NEVER buy dog food from the super market. They all have by-products and cheap grain as fillers. No matter what you see advertised on TV, don't fall for it. You can go on the internet and search "Dog food ratings". You'll be surprised at the resullts.
I NEVER buy dog food from the super market. They all have by-products and cheap grain as fillers. No matter what you see advertised on TV, don't fall for it. You can go on the internet and search "Dog food ratings". You'll be surprised at the resullts.
Report This| Share this:my dog wont eat any type of dog food i've tried them allI have the same problem with my Yorkiepoo and for a while I did put cat food on top of his dog food. However, I've found a lot of palatable dog food at a specialty dog store. Merrick comes to mind first. There have many different "meals", all human grade. Wellness is another brand my dog seems to like. They also have several "meals",. <br />I NEVER buy dog food from the super market. They all have by-products and cheap grain as fillers. No matter what you see advertised on TV, don't fall for it. You can go on the internet and search "Dog food ratings". You'll be surprised at the resullts.
Spartygal responded:
I had the same problem with my dog when I was growing up. It turned out that it wasn't a preference for the cat food itself, but the small size of the cat food that he liked. (He was a small dog too.) We put him on puppy food and he never touched the cat food again. I'm not recommending puppy food necessarily -- this was 20 years ago in a very rural area and there weren't nearly as many options as there are today.
Anyway, I have a hunch that if you switch to a dog food with really small pieces he might respond well. The canned food or softer, more chewable kibble are good ideas too.
Anyway, I have a hunch that if you switch to a dog food with really small pieces he might respond well. The canned food or softer, more chewable kibble are good ideas too.
Report This| Share this:my dog wont eat any type of dog food i've tried them allI had the same problem with my dog when I was growing up. It turned out that it wasn't a preference for the cat food itself, but the small size of the cat food that he liked. (He was a small dog too.) We put him on puppy food and he never touched the cat food again. I'm not recommending puppy food necessarily -- this was 20 years ago in a very rural area and there weren't nearly as many options as there are today.<br /><br />Anyway, I have a hunch that if you switch to a dog food with really small pieces he might respond well. The canned food or softer, more chewable kibble are good ideas too.
laholland replied to Sandy Willis, DVM, DACVIM's response:
thank you Dr. Sandy. I have recently acquired a 2 yr. old male chihuahua, and he does not want to eat his fod either. he will take a few bites, but then run over to the dry Iams I have down for the cats. I also have tried all brands of food..he is healthy,no medical problems, I feel he may eventually grow out of it and start eating his food exclusively.
Report This| Share this:my dog wont eat any type of dog food i've tried them allthank you Dr. Sandy. I have recently acquired a 2 yr. old male chihuahua, and he does not want to eat his fod either. he will take a few bites, but then run over to the dry Iams I have down for the cats. I also have tried all brands of food..he is healthy,no medical problems, I feel he may eventually grow out of it and start eating his food exclusively.
I have a diabetic dog, and belong to an online email support group. When any of our members has a hard time getting their dog to eat (and it is imperative that they eat and get their insulin), there are several suggestions for things to put on top to temp them to eat: cheese (cheddar or parmasean), cottage cheese, baby food, tuna or the water that comes with it, chopped up boiled eggs or scrambled eggs. Maybe one of these would work to get your little dog started on the dog food?
Report This| Share this:my dog wont eat any type of dog food i've tried them allI have a diabetic dog, and belong to an online email support group. When any of our members has a hard time getting their dog to eat (and it is imperative that they eat and get their insulin), there are several suggestions for things to put on top to temp them to eat: cheese (cheddar or parmasean), cottage cheese, baby food, tuna or the water that comes with it, chopped up boiled eggs or scrambled eggs. Maybe one of these would work to get your little dog started on the dog food?
mercksa responded:
Assuming there are no medical problems, the problem is probably the quality of the food. I had the same problem with my dog, and she had a much healthier appetite once I upgraded the food.
A lot of dog foods have a lot of poor quality fillers and very little protein (per my research). Examples of things you want to avoid include corn, wheat, excess starches (which dogs don't really need), and poor quality and / or unspecified meat products. I have included a link that will explain how to read labels (in the FAQ section) and you can also see how your food ranks against others.
A word of warning. I used to work for an animal organization, and it is often difficult for animal professionals and vets to make food recommendations because of corporate sponsorships. This is not a slam against anyone, I just know it can get complicated.
Anyway, go to the website and avoid anything from the grocery store. I really think this could be your dog's way of telling you he / she needs more protein (which is found in catfood).
Good luck!
A lot of dog foods have a lot of poor quality fillers and very little protein (per my research). Examples of things you want to avoid include corn, wheat, excess starches (which dogs don't really need), and poor quality and / or unspecified meat products. I have included a link that will explain how to read labels (in the FAQ section) and you can also see how your food ranks against others.
A word of warning. I used to work for an animal organization, and it is often difficult for animal professionals and vets to make food recommendations because of corporate sponsorships. This is not a slam against anyone, I just know it can get complicated.
Anyway, go to the website and avoid anything from the grocery store. I really think this could be your dog's way of telling you he / she needs more protein (which is found in catfood).
Good luck!
Report This| Share this:my dog wont eat any type of dog food i've tried them allAssuming there are no medical problems, the problem is probably the quality of the food. I had the same problem with my dog, and she had a much healthier appetite once I upgraded the food.<br /><br />A lot of dog foods have a lot of poor quality fillers and very little protein (per my research). Examples of things you want to avoid include corn, wheat, excess starches (which dogs don't really need), and poor quality and / or unspecified meat products. I have included a link that will explain how to read labels (in the FAQ section) and you can also see how your food ranks against others.<br /><br />A word of warning. I used to work for an animal organization, and it is often difficult for animal professionals and vets to make food recommendations because of corporate sponsorships. This is not a slam against anyone, I just know it can get complicated.<br /><br />Anyway, go to the website and avoid anything from the grocery store. I really think this could be your dog's way of telling you he / she needs more protein (which is found in catfood).<br /><br />Good luck!
An_243492 replied to laura2gemini2's response:
That's not true. My 2 year old Pom-Chi has never eaten dog food. After 4 days we gave him dog yogurt treats and that's all he will eat. We have purchased every bag of dog food out there. He will not eat table scraps of any kind. No meat, chicken. He sometimes will eat scrambled eggs and oatmeal. When you try to give him human food he sniffs, licks it and turns his head. The vet said his tests all come back healthy and he is right on weight schedule. The vet said let your dog eat anything he wants except for the bad stuff like chocolate, raisins and so forth. I say if your dog likes cat food then let him eat it. If he is healthy obviously it's not bad for him.
Report This| Share this:my dog wont eat any type of dog food i've tried them allThat's not true. My 2 year old Pom-Chi has never eaten dog food. After 4 days we gave him dog yogurt treats and that's all he will eat. We have purchased every bag of dog food out there. He will not eat table scraps of any kind. No meat, chicken. He sometimes will eat scrambled eggs and oatmeal. When you try to give him human food he sniffs, licks it and turns his head. The vet said his tests all come back healthy and he is right on weight schedule. The vet said let your dog eat anything he wants except for the bad stuff like chocolate, raisins and so forth. I say if your dog likes cat food then let him eat it. If he is healthy obviously it's not bad for him.
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