Another BARF thread ...sorry!

[fanoftheinvisibleman]

I know there are lots but I am so confused as to what to do.

My pup is now coming up to 9 months and has always had food 'issues'! He is the worlds most reluctant eater and also has a sensitive tummy. I finally got him reasonably settled on Arden Grange and he was eating fairly well but still misses a fee meals or only eats half. It maybe happens 2 or 3 times a week.

I was fairly happy with this as it was better than he had been. I thought he was lean (hence my indignation when a vet nurse declared him a chunky specimen when I was whittling about his food intake) so I tried to stop being pfb about whether he eats or not.

However, at a recent vet visit the vet said he is slightly underweight. He is 7.2 kg which is slightly above average for a Border Terrier but he is leggy compared to some. Vet said he would like to see him around 8kg and to up his intake abit. Easier said than done as he is going through one of his ignoring kibble phases

I'm starting to consider BARF. On the same note I have just bought a sack of Arden Grange (as yet unopened) from p@h but I can't afford to waste it. I'm also scared of BARF in terms of how to go about it. Where to even start!

I have also read that you cannot mix raw and kibble. How do you make the switch slowly for a sensitive tummy then? I had wanted to just try givimg him q chicken wing to see how he got on whilst using food up but I presume then I can't or is it ok?

Just don't know what to do. The little bugger has lounged around asleep all morning and still hasn't eaten today yet. It is as bad as having a baby!

That's really kind of you, thanks .

... now all we need is a few pictures of your precious pooch on your profile!

We give ours a multivitamin as well, super dog ultimate nutrition..... Plus 2 times per week yoghurt, cottage cheese and egg yolk.. Our quantities won't be relevant to you as ours is a giant breed.... (plus oil and tree bark powder - this because breed prone to tummy issues)

I had to stop raw feeding - stupid dog wouldn't eat beef, lamb, pork or organ meat...even if I cooked them.

Basically he'll only eat chicken or turkey, lol, oh and tripe, if I give him something he doesn't like, he'll just not eat, we got to about 3 days before giving in and that was 3 days where I couldn't give him his medication either because that has to be given after food.

I wasn't happy with the variety of his food providing everything he needed long term just feeding him poultry, so he's back on commercial food with the odd bit of raw.

He had absolutely no problems switching to raw though, in fact it's the best his digestions ever been. (stupid dog, if only he'd eat stuff, lol)

It's hard work isn't it tab? I am trying to do one thing new at a time so I can keep an eye on his dodgy guts but has wolfed down chicken quarters, thighs and mince, lamb ribs and mince, tripe, raw egg and yoghurt so far. Trying chicken liver tomorrow! I am tempted by the multi vit and probably salmon oil too.

Ladyturmoil, I have uploaded some pics. Always happy to show off my gorgeous little doggylong legs

Oooh, he's gorgeous fan

Mine is a nightmare, he's massively fussy - I've never had a dog turn their nose up at food before.

He's like that with all food - I've tried really hard not to pander to him, but that's easier said than done when he'll just not eat for days if he decides its not something he likes. I thought raw might do it. I mean what dog turns down meat?

Yours is already eating more variety than mine would, lol.

That is exactly what was getting to me, the idea of a dog who would miss meal after meal. But he bounces around at meal times now and fingers crossed hasn't turned anything down yet although prods and pokes bigger chicken bits for a while. Though to fair tab, a chicken quarter to mine is probably like giving yours a small turkey I hope he improves his pickiness for you one day.

I ordered the superdog vits and salmon oil last night (ouch!) so thanks all for recommendations.

Thanks LadyTurmoil...I think he's a gorgeous scruffbag but then I am a little biased.

I'm still giving him the stuff he likes, just as an extra if you see what I mean.

The big issue was that he wouldn't eat liver or kidney, not by itself, frozen, minced or even flash fried - I know that's where a lot of the nutrients are, so it was kind of a deal breaker.

Yeah chicken quarters are only just big enough to make mine chew, and they're gone in seconds, lol

Ahh well, we have that hurdle to cross yet but trying chicken liver tonight so we'll take it from there!