Change in diet..

[EndeavourVoyage]

My vet has advised to put my dog on a different diet due to suspected allergies. Problem is my spoiled little hound won’t eat the new food, how long would you leave the food down and how long can she starve herself for?

[Kate123cl]

Following this thread if you don't mind. Our Bichon won't touch diet food so we're going to try the wet food version to see if it makes a difference.

[BiteyShark]

What is it specific about the food that the vets gave you and can you replicate it in any other brand to try.

I know that lots of people say dogs will eventually eat anything if you 'hold out' long enough but when my dog was younger and due to illness was all skin and bone he would still not eat if he didn't 'like' the food.

[heidiwine]

My hound is pretty spoilt too. He’s a fussy bugger with a delicate constitution. He’s also not very bright so if he’s turning his nose up at food I add the tiniest sliver of sardine and a dribble of water from the can. That usually does the trick.

[EndeavourVoyage]

Went out tonight and left the food down and she has cleared the lot, I think she was just waiting it out to see if I would give her something better. She has been put on a vegan diet for two weeks to see if it helps her itching as she could have an allergy to animal protein. She has just had some cucumber tomatoes and pine nuts for supper. I do hope it works at she has such sensitive skin and chews at herself all the time. We are only 2 days in so time will tell.

[BoeandBall]

I'm having trouble with my puppy not eating dry food - can anyone advise me?

[BiteyShark]

BoeandBall looking at threads on here it's common and I had that as well. Dogs tend to eat with their nose iykwim and kibble is relatively non smelly and boring. Have you thought of switching to a good quality wet food (can't comment on raw as never done it). allaboutdogfood.co.uk is great for comparing different brands, types and cost.

[fleshmarketclose]

Sometimes if you soak kibble in some warm water it can help get a pup to eat @BoeandBall

[RTFT]

Our choc lab is prone to putting on weight so we have her on Millie's Wolfheart low fat kibble + Wainwrights light wet food mixed together. She loves it

[mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork]

Vegan for 2 weeks? I'm with the dog - sounds dismal.

[BoeandBall]

Thanks for your advice everyone, he's been eating wet food but we've bought loads of dry food so I'm wanting him to eat that so I don't waste money. I might try and soak it or add dog gravy to it, thanks

[BiteyShark]

BoeandBall I fed mine about 75% wet with 25% kibble at each meal. This meant I could still use up the dry as he seemed to start to like it when mixed with lots of wet. Yes it takes longer to use up but in the end you don't lose any money.

EndeavourVoyage I can understand why she was holding out for more. Going from animal protein to vegan overnight must be a shock. I have never heard of doing that as only seen it suggested to move to a unique and unusual animal protein when doing an exclusion diet. Or is it that if symptoms improve in the 2 weeks the vet will introduce different animal proteins one at a time to see if they can work out the trigger?

[EndeavourVoyage]

BiteyShark. Yes after the exclusion we then introduce 1 meat at a time to see what is causing the issues, she is much better today and has scoffed her dinner, but did sit looking at the DH’s salmon in the over for 15 mins expecting the skin off the bottom. I am a vegan so if she is better on it then it will be great for me as I hate dishing her food out normally!

[BiteyShark]

Ah that makes sense then and glad she ate her dinner. They really do know how to do the 'feed me' eyes

[BoeandBall]

@BiteyShark when I mix the wet with the dry he knows that the dry food is still there and won't eat it. I've mixed the dry food with water and he's eaten some of that

[EndeavourVoyage]

BoeandBall. Have you tried putting a mashed sardine on his dry food?

[Floralnomad]

broad try putting grated cheese in with the kibble , mine has kibble for breakfast and wet and kibble mix at tea and he won’t eat the breakfast unless ive put cheese on it .

[BoeandBall]

I've not tried any of those things, I'm thinking mixing dog friendly gravy would be a nice idea or maybe yogurt?