My almost year old cocker is a really fussy eater, he'll be fine on a brand for a few days/weeks and then goes off it, I've tried the usual tricks putting it down for 10 mins and taking it back up if it's uneaten etc. and he will go all day without eating rather than eat something he doesn't want.
He will eat tinned fish pilchards or mackerel without fail, so I wondered if it was texture thing, so about a week ago I started mixing a little tinned puppy food into the complete dry food he'd refused and he's been eating it, however, he's had the runs.
Up until yesterday I'd have described him as loose, but last night I returned to find liquid poo all over his crate and him, same again this lunchtime.
He's fine in himself, has an appetite and is drinking, so I don't think it's anything other than the food isn't agreeing with him, he's just devoured some plain rice.
So, I was thinking of keeping him on rice and fish for a few days, but then what do I try next?
I can't keep buying expensive complete foods for him to eat initially and then refuse. He's 11 months so almost ready for adult food but not quite.
Advice and recommendations would be appreciated, except for giving him raw meat, I'm veggie and that's a step too far.
If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.
The doghouse
Puppy Food/The runs
TeaOneSugar · 14/06/2013 17:20
Assuming he is otherwise well, with fussy eaters you do have to be so persistent as they learn very very quickly that if they ignore a food you'll cave and provide something different.
It often takes a lot longer than one day to get the food withdrawal method to work so you do have to stick with it, they arent going to starve and as long as they are drinking, they should give in eventually.
Apart from Chappie tins (bizarre I know but I have known it to work for many with gut troubles), the one food I would definitely recommend is natural instinct. We buy it over the internet, its a raw food (they do different varieties e.g. puppy/adult etc and the staff are helpful) you keep it in the freezer and defrost one tub at a time - so not to everyones taste or budget - BUT it has turned our dogs poo into small dry bullets which is AMAZING to pick up (it's the little things that keep me happy 
), we also cook sliced carrots and smush them into it to slow his eating down as he loves it that much!
It sounds like all the dietary yo-yo-ing has not agreed with your pup, and some for whatever reason just don't get on with the same foods as the majority of other dogs, but you do have to really persist - dogs dont have the tastebuds we do, its ok for them to have the same foods again and again so you really have to choose a food and commit to it. They usually like fish etc as they are naturally attracted to foods that are stinky, another tip to encourage eating often used for sick animals is taking the chill off their meat so it's room temperature or warm as it brings out the smell.
Hope you manage to sort it out!
I've gone and bought the same
I popped into our local pet store and they recommended a dry dog food by 'Symply'. It's wheat free and meant to be good for sensitive stomachs. I'll start mixing with his Burns and we'll see how it goes.
Good luck
Not counting my chickens just yet but we've had 2 perfect poos today
First time in a long time so here's hoping!
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