Food issues

Hi

We have a few issues with Gordon and food. He has always been a fussy eater even when we picked him up from the breeder she said we would have to coax him. Any way he was on Collards when we first had him but didn't seem interested so we switched him on to homemade food, chicken, ham, scrambeled egg ect but again could take it or leave it.... then onto raw and at first loved it but went off it again so he's now back on to home cooked food, he eats better than us!!!...... sorry for long post, but he still doesn't seem interested. We are both really worried about his lack of appetite but vet says his weight is fine. What do we do, we don't want to keep changing his diet but when he doesn't eat we get so worried.

Would really appreciate some advice

Thanks Tracy xx

Sorry never had a low appetite/fussy dog lol. Im sure someone with experience will be along soon.
It must be a worry, but if the vet is happy with him he must be healthy enough

Hi! How many times a day is he fed? Do you leave food down all day or take it up after a certain amount of time? also, what sort of activity/exercise is he getting?

Hi Lisa he gets 2 x 1 hour walks a day and more at the weekend. We feed twice a day and tend to leave the food for about an hour, if he doesn't eat the food we try to feed inbetween x

Maybe try moving to one meal a day, if he's more hungry may be more inclined to eat?

My mums old dog is fussy and always has been, some days she will eat and some days she won't! She's always been slim because if this but healthy and is 14 now and still going strong!

Thanks Sazzle will try that, it's prob our fault that we keep changing his diet, but we just worry when he doesn't eat. His dad gave him some of his steak tonight but he turned his nose up!!, but iv just give him some banana which he's ate   . Some friends have said to put his food down if he doesn't eat it take it up and eventually he will be so hungry he will eat it but i'm not keen on doing this. Its given us some peace of mind that is not just Gordon who can go a whole day without eating xx

I have the exact same problem my 9 month old staff is so fussy we've tried so many different foods she stuck with nature diet for 2 weeks and then raw for past month and a bit but has started refusing to eat this past week and it's hard to tough love her with raw since theres 4 kids in the house so probably going to go back to nature diet with rec raw bones to keep her teeth clean or ND 5 days a week and raw 2 days

 :-<  :-< Chris their a nightmare, I feel as though we have tried everything, we tried Natures diet but he wouldn't stick with it, I don't know if its our fault cos we keep changing his diet when he wont eat. I would prefer to put him back on raw, but if he doesn't eat it then how long do you leave them without food when they get fussy?? . Last Sunday we took him to a park in Nottingham where they have deer and he was going mad eating their poo! yet we took a picnic and he turned his nose up at the stuff we bought for him!!. Think i'm going to have a word with the vet and if we have to use some tough love then so be it but not looking forward to it

My Flo will often miss breakfast. If she hasn't had it by lunchtime we remove it otherwise it would just turn into one huge feast at dinner time.

If they are hungry they will eat it. As long as the vet says the weight is all good then I would just remove it and feed once a day. It's not really tough love as he will eat it straight away if he is hungry and you have given him some really tasty things too. Try not to worry too much  

Maybe it's also because its warm peppa don't eat as much butshe do catch up in night time .if she refused a steak though I would have called the vet  

Axl is a real pain in the butt for food he's so fussy. I give him a bit of tuna, mackerel or sardines mixed in with his kibble and he will scoff that so maybe try some fish?

I think he's getting more fussy because you changing his diet so he's happy with new food for a while and loose his interest because he knows you will give him something else. We did the same with Debo. NOw he eats 2X a day and leave it for about 30 - 1h,sometimes he won't touch his breakfast or super but I don't worry any more. Dogs won't starve themself so don't worry.

If you are already feeding a good quality food (if the ingredients list begins with a single protein source this is better than the first ingredient being a grain) try to stick with it. Some days Rocky will eat better than others so try not to worry too much about that. Our list of recommended foods is below, would also add James Welbeloved and Wainwrights to it:

http://staffy-bull-terrier.com/dry_food

Just put the food down for 10 minutes, if it hasn't been eaten by then take it away.

Thanks for the replies, had a word with the vet yesterday and she didn't seem overly concerned, his weight is fine, we are giving him 1 meal a day at night to see how it goes, they don't half worry you   

Hi. We've had the same prob with 6mth old Jack. Tried different good quality dry food coz of his funny skin n tummy. Sometimes he'll eat n sometimes he won't. But we've found that he'lleat when our daughters dog is next to him eating at the same time LOL

bow is an incredibly fussy eater and the good quality food (fish4dogs, nature diet, jwb) was making her really ill. she would gulp it down and end up making herself ill and in doggy hospital on a drip. the same happened with raw food (my pteferred choice). instead she is now on canned food as this is the only thing that isnt making her ill. she has been ok now for 3 months. i am guilt ridden as i know i am not giving her the most nutritional diet but id rather her be happy and healthy. bows problem is her digestive system cant handle such rich foods after a few daysof feeding. its a huge worry especially as tarw my other dog who is 8 months old will eat ANYTHING, anytime of day.