Does anyone have a picky eater?

Question

My 11 month s**+ Tzu eats very little. I have had dogs all my life, and all were hearty eaters, but this one has got me flummoxed I have tried dog meat, dry food, cooked chicken, fish,and raw food. He eats a little, then walks away. His mouth and teeth are fine, he sleeps, then runs about playing with his toys, so he seems okay. His coat is a bit dull though. Am I worrying unnecessarily.

Answer 1

my dog is fussy, hes a cavalier, he will only eat the science plan food, try that its expensive though, just add chicken or something with it. Try chicken and rice all dogs like that or pasta n chicken.

Answer 2

Try the 15 min. rule.Pick a good dry food,put the food down,ignore the dog,after 15 mins pick the food up.No treats or snacks until the next meal,again put the food down,ignore the dog,pick the food up after 15 mins.It's tough love but it works,the dog will not starve itself

Answer 3

I had the same problem. I never really sorted it out I just kept feeding her dry food because it could be left all day if needed. Even if I put in fresh meat she wouldn't care. The Vet Never found a cause. she ended up living until 13 and we had to put her down due to tumors.

Answer 4

I have a shih tzu too. This is my second one. They certainly know what they want don't they? Have you tried scrambled eggs - both mine love it - excellent for their coat too. So is evening primrose oil. I open a capsule and pop it in his food. Have you tried brown rice mixed up with meat and small biscuits? Apparently they love brussel sprouts too. Mine likes red peppers, but not green, and when I make cowl he sits and barks by my side until I give him raw carrot!!! He seems to eat lots for a few days, and then very little for a few days. Have you tried taking the other hand? Put down his food, if he doesn't it, take it away and give him the same meal next time. He should get the idea that if that's all that's on offer, if he's hungry enough, he'll eat it in the end. Good luck with him. Hope this helps. x*x

Answer 5

Yes! I have the same problem! He only eats when he needs to! :) x

Answer 6

A couple of thoughts.  First, how is his weight?  If he is gaining normally and not underweight, then it sounds like he is getting what he needs from what he eats.  Second thought -- how do you respond to his picky eating?  Most owners respond by trying desperately to get the dog to eat every morsel.  Try this instead.  Put his food down for him and give him 20 minutes to eat.  At the end of the 20 minutes pick it up.  Don't feed him again until his next scheduled feeding.  (For your sake, I'd feed him twice a day rather than only once a day.)  At the next scheduled time, he gets 20 minutes to eat and then the food goes away.  He'll learn to eat when the food is there.  

Good luck!  

Answer 7

My Dachshund Gretchen was a real picky eater..Than last year I started feeding her Natural Balance Beef Roll and she eats it with no hesitation..

Answer 8

No you're not worrying unnecessarily. Call the vet.

Trying this or that will take time call your vet and he or she can suggest

things that you or I wouldn't really think of as quickly. My main thing would be to find out what the parents of your dog were fed, as well as if he was taken from his mother before he truly was weaned.

Answer 9

when my cat was a kitten she was just the same would hardly eat anything, i use to really worry about her she was very thin. but suddenly she started to eat and now shes a really big 8 year old cat, every time someone comments on her size now i smile because i remember when she was a scrawny little thing

Answer 10

My elder dog is a picky eater, I put his food down, leave and if it isn't  eaten within 30 minutes pick it up and try again later. I used to hover over him and his food bowl, try to hand feed him, etc. If your dog is otherwise healthy, he'll eat when he's hungry.

Answer 11

Yes, I had a s**+ tzu and they eat very little but if you try and spoil them with special food your making it worse. Just put out his food and he will eat when he is hungry and take him to a dog groomer and get him cleaned and cut.

Answer 12

my dog is... but a dog forces its owner to feed it what it wants by not eating the bad stuff, if you dont feed you picky dog for a while, he'll eat anything. they can easily go without fodd for a while, an adaptation from their wilder ancestors.

Answer 13

My 9 month Italian Greyhound is the same way. We have tried 5 or 6 different brands of kibble and he doesn't really care for them. We also try feeding him canned food but he doesn't really like that either. I have found that when I put the food down for 15 minutes and he doesn't eat it, he normally has something for the next meal. Dogs won't starve themselves in most cases. So you could try a feeding schedule. If he doesn't eat for 2 days, I would bring him into the vet and explain it to him. Shih tzu's are smaller dogs and don't tend to eat a lot in general. My dog gets about 1/3-2/3c food a day if we're lucky and he's in great shape.

Answer 14

my cats are like that. one of them will only eat sainsburys own fish sashets.

x

Answer 15

Is picky eater like a online game? COOL I WANNA PLAY

Answer 16

if he is physically ok then i wudnt worry 2 much, but if his gums start 2 bleed or anything like that then u shud take him 2 a vet. i wudnt worry 2 much,but if u r still concerned id take him 2 the vets 2 ask their opinion and 4 any advice

Answer 17

you should go to the vet.