Not eating dog food unless cooked rice is added

[Lotty32]

My cocker is nearly 11 and is becoming fussy about his food. I have changed it a few times - and now add cooked rice to the food. Is this normal? Don't really mind cooking rice for him but just wondered if others have experienced this? Thx

Our Lhasa Apso is getting fussy as well, she's eleven. We're on Lily's Kitchen at the minute. Have to admit I'm a bit hard hearted and put it down and take it away if she doesn't eat it. I figure she will eat if she is hungry. I also put just a small amount down three times a day instead of twice now and that seems to help so maybe she prefers to eat smaller and more often nowadays.

we just got a new dog lodger and he wouldn't eat either, but adding rice or a tiny bit of poached chicken works...along with putting the whole lot for 30 seconds in the mee-crow-wave-aaay.

We discovered the microwave trick when ds2 zapped a cold coffee in it and dogface was lying despondently in the porch, he sat bolt upright and sat underneath the shelf and looked all expectant!

So as well as singing the chickeny breakfast song, we also have to warm it up ...but he is eating!

Our 13 yr old dog was sick with vestibular disease during the summer and in recovery she would only eat her dog food with mince and water mixed in. 6 months later its the only way to feed her cos she won't accept anything less. She also eats smaller, more regular meals. At this stage I'm happy if she eats tegularlyand whatever helps her to find it appealing

The other thing I used to do with my old (now passed away) older dogs was make a bone broth. So boiled chicken carcass or meat bone after a Sunday roast. Then poured a bit over each meal. Seemed to work a treat.

Thx all - I also add a squeeze of bovril - never thought I'd turn into an wonder they cooked for her dog!

I have this problem with my 12 year old Border Terrier. He is a nightmare to feed. You never know which of the above tricks will work.

I have something simmering in the kitchen so it smells meaty.

Why? Why do they do this to us? Any tips on brands of food? I use Cesar Senior most of the time, but surely there must be a food which any old dog would love to eat?

How long do you hold out before adding the extras to the food.
Me I hold out at least 24 hours.

Mine can get fussy/bored of his food, I get these cheap hard cheese granules in a pot and sprinkle upon his food, usually does the trick! and don't need to use much at all but because it's smelly it works

Good plan re the smelly cheese - what are they called - are they in the UK?

might try this, my dogs been a bit under the weather for the past week and forthe first few days i was giving him chicken and rice, now he is being very fussy about going back to plain dog food
so might add some rice in and hope it helps as hes eating very little at the moment

Not sure if it would work with an older dog but when mine was around 1 she got fussy with her food. I discovered adding a small amount of salmon oil (bought it from Fish 4 dogs) to her kibble and mixed it, she scoffed it down. When we ran out of that I tried just regular olive oil and that worked too.

That salmon oil doesn't work for us. I can try olive oil.

I have just heated up his dog food. No, he won't have it.