May 24, 2011
My 2 dogs became ill a month ago and ever since then they won’t eat their regular food. I’ve been offering them their favorite treats, but even then they walk away unless I handfeed them. Please let me know what you think.
Full Question:
Hi Cindy,My 2 dogs are eating Honest Kitchen Embark. Both of them became sick about 1 month ago with diarrhea and some bleeding (1 week apart) and I put them on a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice. After 2 weeks of a bland diet I slowly introduced them back on the Honest Kitchen and they will not eat it. I have tried everything and finally gave up and put them back on fruits and cottage cheese which they loved and now refuse to eat that as well. Every morning and night it's a hassel to get them to eat. I tried some beef last night and they walked away and bananas were their favorite and I have to hand feed them before they will actually start eating. I don't know what to try next. The vet said if they don't eat it pick it up and wait until the next time they eat, but that doesn't seem to bother them. Please let me know what you think.
Joyce
Cindy's Answer:
If the vet gives them a clean bill of health, I think I will agree with his advice. It sounds like the dogs are now waiting to see what ‘goodies’ they will get if they don’t eat their regular food. A healthy dog won’t starve and by offering a variety of treats and hand feeding you are actually making this worse.
Offer their food, give them 15 or 20 minutes and if they don’t eat, pick up the food and then wait until their next normal meal time. No treats, no hand feeding.
If they skip meals for a day or two, don’t worry about it. If you cave in and give them something special to get them to eat, then you will actually be reinforcing the picky behavior.
They will eat eventually, it just may take a bit of "tough love."
Cindy Rhodes
Offer their food, give them 15 or 20 minutes and if they don’t eat, pick up the food and then wait until their next normal meal time. No treats, no hand feeding.
If they skip meals for a day or two, don’t worry about it. If you cave in and give them something special to get them to eat, then you will actually be reinforcing the picky behavior.
They will eat eventually, it just may take a bit of "tough love."
Cindy Rhodes
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