Puppy off food

[FernieB]

5 month old puppy has been a great eater to now. He's on kibble which he loved and also ate some chicken, sausage etc as training treats. In the last week it's been a battle to get him to eat his kibble. I've tried tinned food which he has usually devoured when offered but he's not interested.

He is teething and is being treated for a minor ear infection.

I've tried a different kibble which he was vaguely interested in but didn't eat much. He will still eat bits of chicken and sausage but not his meals.

Any suggestions for what I try now?

Nothing. Stick to kibble
Add a little meat through it. If you constantly change his food he will end up with a sore tummy and be quite fussy. My pup is on food with no chicken or chicken derivatives in as he’s intolerant and it’s not easy to find food he will eat. You do not want this.

Where you can train with kibble. For things you really want use a higher value treat in very small amounts but I’d include them in his daily food allowance. You could also try a kong,licky mat, scatter feeding, playing with his food - my pup has a kong ball, these methods of enrichment are really good for dogs, they calm themselves through licking, sniffing and chewing. You do have to be a bit creative. We do some bowl feeds, but majority is enrichment and fun.

Forgot to say I weigh out his daily food in a bowl in a morning and just divide it between training foods/bowl feeds depending on the plans that day. So you know he’s getting enough. My boy is 10 months so doesn’t always eat his fully daily amount but he’s happy, good weight, shiny coat and sparkly eyes so he’s getting enough. I’d beware of sausage too, don’t give too much as it can be bad for them, save it for recall or leash walking, something you really want him to do then the valve becomes higher. Arden grange liver paste is my highest go to treat for recall and it’s only used for recall. Pricey but fab stuff. Liver also is a great Hv treat

Thank you. That's reassuring. I've stuck to kibble with s little chicken today and he's eaten some but not his normal vast guzzling quantities and without much enthusiasm. Im hoping it's just his teeth bothering him

Oh god I’m going to say something totally different here I know a few days late…
But just to say - would you want to eat the same food every day for as long as you live?
Vary his diet! I enjoy eating different things each day and so I don’t see why an animal shouldn’t either!