My dog doesn't like his food?

Question

I have a 4 month old lab and he has always ate science diet because our vet convinced us that is was "the best." well, he has NEVER acted excited when we feed him he sniffs it and maybe takes a bite and then leaves it. if he gets hungary enough he will eat at least half of it. I don't leave his food out all day cause i know that is bad so i have a time limit and i go pick it up and throw it away. and then try again at his next feeding. his vet says he is a very healthy dog, muscular, and not under or over weight. could it be possible that he just doesn't like science diet? oh and he does eat treats (and no i do not give him treats all day and that is why he is not eating) And i do feed him the right serving for his weight. any suggestions? should i try another food? and if so what is a good choice?

Answer 1

Science Diet is really on the bad food list.  I recommend Innova EVO - It's a kibble diet but closest to feeding a raw diet.  My homeopathic vet prefers a raw diet, but says that Innova EVO is very good too.

Answer 2

Science Diet is garbage!! Research a Raw Food diet.

Answer 3

Ditch the Science Diet. It's crud.

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A lot of vets will recommend what they sell in their office. They get profit from the brands they keep on their shelves, that's why they push it.

Truth is, vet schools don't focus a lot on nutrition. It's not saying that a vet is a bad vet because he recommends those foods, a lot of vets just are told "this is good food", so they pass the message along without proper nutrition knowledge. Also, some dog food brands (like Hills) support vet schools, so vets have heard of it from the time they start college, which makes them think it's good as well.

Hills company, the makers of Science Diet, are heavily involved in vet schools. "Hill's scientists author more than 50 research papers and textbook chapters each year and teach at leading schools of veterinary medicine" (Source of quoted section: http://www.hillsvet.com/zSkin_2/company_... )

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Read the ingredients before you buy.

Here is my "short list" of rules when I am looking at dog food ingredients:

1) When I chose a dog food, I chose one high meat content. I want to see preferably at least 2-3 out of the top 5 ingredients be meat or meat meal (first ingredient must be!). Meal is simply the meat with the moisture removed.

2) I want to see higher quality grains, such as barley, brown rice, and oatmeal, instead of seeing wheat and corn. Or an alternative starch/carbohydrate such as potatoes or sweet potatoes.

3) I don't want to see any byproducts.

4) I don't want to see a lot of fillers.

5) I don't want to see preservatives that are believed to be carcinogens (BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin).

6) I don't want to see artificial colorings such as the Red, Blue, and Yellow dyes.

7) I don't want to see added sugars (sugar, corn syrup).

8) I don't want to see mystery meats (meats identified only as "meat" or "poultry".)

Here is an article about byproducts:

http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?...

And an article on what ingredients to avoid:

http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?...

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There is no food that is the *best*, different individual dog may thrive on different foods. What you want to find is the HIGH-QUALITY food that *your dog* does best on.

Here are some examples of GOOD dog foods:

* Artemis Fresh Mix

* Blue Buffalo

* California Natural

* Canidae

* Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul

* Eagle Pack Holistic Selects

* EVO

* Fromm Four Star

* Innova

* Merrick

* Nature's Variety

* Orijen

* Solid Gold

* Taste of the Wild

* Wellness

* ZiwiPeak

Or check this website; the 4, 5, or 6 star rated foods are all good foods. http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_...

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Answer 4

I think you should try another food. I use Beneful, and my dog absolutly loves it. She will actually come in at her breakfast and dinner time and start barking and whining because she wants her food. I hope this helps.

Answer 5

Science diet is horrible. Not to mention the animal testing they do. (They feed dogs science diet then they cut them open to see how it is working)

Get on a good dog food. Even Purina is better than that junk. Don't listen to your vet.

Your dog knows what is good and Science Diet certainly isn't!

Answer 6

Mine didn't like it.  For a while I had them on a special blend of duck and venison food - the vet suggested we try food from animals than were not grass-fed.  

One of my dogs was always fed human food, and refused to eat dog food.  A splash of milk or broth does the trick.  

I also puree vegetable scraps and use it as a gravy over their food.

Stay away from commercial treats and gravies - they're mostly just chemicals and fat.  Get a cheap food processor to make your own gravy.  Try your hand at making dog cookies.  Or stick to healthy, natural snacks like crunchy carrots and apples.  Just avoid grapes/raisins and apple seeds.  

Of course, make sure your vet has ruled out any illness that might cause a loss of appetite!

Answer 7

I would say try a new food, it may not be appetizing to him. If that doesn't work, try another, then go see the vet. I would try Iams. My pug has been an Iams dog her whole life. Iams is one of the best foods because it is very bland and doesn't have "bad things" that is what my vet said. They have puppy food too! They have pro active, small/toy, senior, lamb and rice, etc. Iams also has treats, and bones. Do some research and see what you can find, like the best dog foods, or something to that effect! Good luck, and hope he likes it!!!!

Answer 8

Yes, science diet is not good food. Perhaps you'd have better luck with one of these excellent foods:

Innova Evo

Merrick's Before Grain

Nature's Variety Instinct

Orejin(sp?)

and many more.

Also, some people feed a raw diet and their are many excellent books and web sites for you to research that subject.

Answer 9

Don't worry. I was tricked too. I actually fed my pup two bags of that garbage and one bag of Purina Dog Chow (garbage also) before I found out that they're garbage.

So the good food include INNOVA EVO, Taste of the Wild, Nature's Variety, etc.

These brands and their store locations can be found at the following website: http://www.freewebs.com/ajvdogtraining/t...

PS: I wish someone told me this website earlier. xD

Answer 10

get a different type pf fppd like pedigree or butchers or ceaser.  see how he does.  and are you feeding him puppy food.  

The best thing to do id to feed the dog a complete diet so it has all the nutrients and vitemans and minerals it needs.  just try a different brand the ones. Oh my god i forgot the best Bakers complete.  but feed him on puppy food.  not adult food.  just that you never mentioned feeding your pup puppy food so i didnt know if you were feeding him it.