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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

VERY fussy eater. Help!

16 replies

ToxicPoppy · 26/08/2023 23:13

My 18mo springer x has always been a very picky eater, which was a huge stress when he was tiny, as he simply wouldn’t eat the required 3 or 4 meals a day that was recommended. It’s just got worse as he’s got older.

He was on raw when I first got him, but he stopped eating that completely at about 16 weeks, and, after 3 days of throwing food away, I caved and tried to find something he liked. He won’t touch dry food at all, and I’ve yet to find a tin or tray he will eat. He’s currently on Butternut Box, but eats half, if not less, of the amount he apparently should be having. If he doesn’t fancy it, he’ll happily skip several meals in a row. It’s not cheap and it’s very frustrating throwing away food I’m actually struggling to afford to buy in the first place!

He’s not particularly motivated by treats etc either, and won’t touch a treat if he’s on a walk. He’s the only dog I’ve ever known that won’t touch cheese!!

I’ve tried feeding him from different bowls, off a lickmat and in a Kong (they are incredibly difficult to get food back out of when a dog doesn’t eat it!). He will eat chicken, but I can’t just feed him chicken.

He has a couple of treats a day, but often carries them around like a toy rather than eating them.

He’s not exactly underweight, but he is very slim and his lack of appetite is a constant worry.

Any tips or tricks? I’ve tried serving food warm/cold/with a bit of gravy on etc etc.

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 26/08/2023 23:15

Stop trying!!
My older dog was like this. We switched her to raw. Then if she doesn’t eat it’s taken away. Then half that amount offered at the next meal. If it’s eaten then more next time. If not then half again.
The issue with trying lots of things is they learn not to eat in the hope you will offer something more attractive next time.

QuillBill · 26/08/2023 23:22

My dog is a terrible eater. We got her when she was eleven months and she is seven now and I don't think she's ever immediately eaten a meal. The vet said she was probably from a puppy farm and taken off her mother too early and is now distrustful of food.

I make her wet food in the slow cooker and after much trial and error found a kibble she will eat and I mix the two together. She will sometimes eat from a saucer but prefers it if you tip it on the floor.

Original poster

ToxicPoppy · 26/08/2023 23:25

Yes you may well be right about him holding out for something better. I just can’t stand to think of him hungry! He’s incredibly active and I have no idea how he fuels his energy with the tiny amount he eats!

OP posts:

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 26/08/2023 23:30

Honestly if he's healthy you need to stop worrying. He won't starve.

Original poster

ToxicPoppy · 26/08/2023 23:34

He seems healthy. The vet isn’t concerned, but did say he could do with gaining a kg or so. I think I definitely need to stop worrying so much and just pick a food and stick with it. Never had a picky dog before!

OP posts:

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 26/08/2023 23:39

If there's a food you know he'll eat (even if he doesn't love it) I would just stick with that. Give him twenty minutes and if he doesn't eat it, get rid and try again next meal time.

A kilo underweight isn't much at all in a springer spaniel so I really wouldn't worry about it. He'll eat when he's hungry.

Original poster

ToxicPoppy · 26/08/2023 23:49

He’ll eat some of the Butternut Box most of the time, but it’s just so bloody expensive when I’m chucking so much of it away. I’ll stick with it for now though, and try to stop worrying so much.

OP posts:

MuttsNutts · 27/08/2023 04:53

You have said yourself, he has plenty of energy, so he’s fine. Stop trying so hard. If he never eats more than half of what you put down, only put down half the amount you do now. If he were to finish it, you could always offer a little more.

Don’t worry about quantities ‘recommended’ by food manufacturers - they always say too much (it’s in their interest to).

BiteyShark · 27/08/2023 06:07

I have a picky eater.

Tried many different brands with some eye watering expensive ones which he would leave.

We had a lightbulb moment a few years ago and said if he wasn't bothered about food that much then why not offer a reasonable priced half decent food so throwing it doesn't matter as much.

We ended up on butchers wet tins which doesn't cost a fortune and get a couple of different mixed varieties so he gets offered a different flavour each day. This has actually worked very well and we hardly throw anything and if he does turn his nose up at it then it's not a big deal.

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 27/08/2023 06:07

My dog is really fussy too! She won't have any form of dog treat. She's just not food motivated at all.

She actually now only eats cat food. I know it's not great but she's nearly 10 and I've spoken to the vet about it, so I've given up fighting her.

Mindymomo · 27/08/2023 06:18

My 5 years old border collie is on Butternut boxes and I found that he wouldn’t eat all the 600g pouch that was recommended for his weight in one day, so I changed the order to 500g pouches. He does now seem to eat it all and it saves money. I do sometimes put any cooked meat or fish on top. Another tip for Butternut users, if you have freezer space and can afford to get deliveries every 28 days it works out cheaper.

IngGenius · 27/08/2023 09:02

Put out less food than is recommended. If he does not eat it, pick it up and give a smaller meal the next time

Get him used to eating at set times, no treats do not offer any other food apart from the meal times.

When he gets used to eating at set times you can slowly increase the amount of food he is getting (if he really needs it) A healthly active springer you should really be able to see the ribs.

You say he eats half of the butternut food then give him even less than this to start with and stick to it for several days, then very slowly increase the amount but only if he is eataing all the food.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 27/08/2023 09:11

ToxicPoppy · 26/08/2023 23:49

Can't you just give him less of it?

I know it's meant to be fresh food but surely it will keep in the fridge for a few days once opened?

We feed normal wet food and once opened, one tray lasts our beagle four days.

SummerSazz · 27/08/2023 09:15

My dog was very fussy as a puppy and we tried loads of different foods.

Ended up on Carnilove which is expensive (high meat content and no potato/grains) but she loves it so we continue.

She did also eat Butchers which a PP recommend but that didn't work out well with her poo so we stopped that.

Spanielsarepainless · 28/08/2023 07:46

I would not feed him anything for 24 hours then offer him a small meal at the time you want him to eat. Then a slightly larger one at the next time and work from that. Don't give him so much. Quantities recommended by the producer are generally twice what you need to feed an adult dog.

Floralnomad · 28/08/2023 10:21

My dog is very fussy , also has a sensitive stomach but he likes the Naturediet wet food . It’s also good quality and relatively inexpensive compared with some other brands .

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