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Topic: my dog won't eat dry food.
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doggieluver
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posted September 11, 2003 02:22 PM
For some reason my dog will not eat dry dog food, I've changed brands and types thinking she just didn't like them but she will not eat them until she's starving. She likes the canned moist food but that stuff isn't cheap so I'm not sure what to do to get her to eat the dry food. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
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~Beth
Posts: 4 | From: Missouri | Registered: Sep 2003
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ebbyshuman
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posted September 11, 2003 08:14 PM
i have found that adding a little warm water just to soften it up a bit works really well for me. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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Cristina L. Rogers
Posts: 8 | From: Billings, Montana | Registered: Sep 2003
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DogExpert
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posted September 12, 2003 07:49 AM
There are cheap canned foods for dogs if you look for them, don't go for the big brands because they are always the most expensive.
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¤Dog Expert¤
Posts: 140 | From: England | Registered: Aug 2003
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Dawn
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posted September 12, 2003 07:12 PM
Do not feed your dog cheap food. It is not nutritionally balanced, contains inferior products, and he'll have to eat more of it. Now, you don't have to buy the extra expensive stuff, but you do need to invest in quality. Dry or wet, the principle is the same.
Posts: 428 | Registered: Nov 2002
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Vernon
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posted September 14, 2003 05:02 PM
I agree with Dawn, only feed your dog human grade dog food. Read some of Ann Martin's books if you feed the cheap stuff, they will make you do alot more research. Our dog eats like we do and she gets a multivitamin to take up the slack.
[ September 14, 2003, 05:03 PM: Message edited by: Vernon ]
Posts: 13 | From: Austin Texas | Registered: Sep 2003
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binka_nugget
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posted September 26, 2003 03:14 PM
I agree. Even though the cheap stuff would work for your budget better, in the long run, the slightly more expensive food will be worth it. If you don't feel like mixing wet dog food, you can try VitaGravy (or something..like that). I can't remember the exact name but I think that's it. When kai went through the phase of not liking kibble alone, I added a tiny tiny tiny bit of gravy and parmesean cheese. I slowly weaned him off it and now he's eating fine.
Posts: 23 | From: BC, Canada | Registered: Jul 2003
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Rottys.Net
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posted October 05, 2003 04:49 PM
Dont even buy the canned food - there all filled with **** and make your dogs breath smell. Some good brands are expensive as they spend more time marketing their product than enhancing it.
I great food is boilded mince with veggies and noodles. Its cheaper and very easy to eat than canned food and much higher in nutrition. There are different minces so choose carefully - some have a higher fat content so look out for the premium.
You boil a batch to than freeze for until your ready. The preparation only takes 45 mins and your dog wont have bad breath.
2 minutes in the microwave - let it cool and you have a healthy meal.
Sometime I wish I could eat what I feed my boy.
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Peter
http://www.rottys.net
Posts: 17 | From: Australia | Registered: Aug 2003
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Dawn
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posted October 05, 2003 10:43 PM
I do not feed canned because of teeth issues. Keep in mind though that not all canned food is bad. Cheap canned food will be of poorer quality in the same way that cheap dry food will.
Posts: 428 | Registered: Nov 2002
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hilliary
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posted October 06, 2003 05:42 PM
I agree that canned is bad for the teeth. The dog will eat when it gets hungry enough. They really don't need as much food as most people think they do. If it makes you feel better, change to a raw diet, then you know exactly what they are getting. Raw can consist of raw chicken and vegetables. I've never done it myself, because it is alot of work and my dogs don't have a problem eating anything.
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http://lisasdoghouse.20m.com
Posts: 9 | From: Cincinnati | Registered: Oct 2003
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fullhouse9873
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posted October 06, 2003 11:12 PM
I add just a spoonful of canned food to about 2 cups of dry food - then I add a little warm water and mix well so that it makes a gravy. Our older dog is really picky - and this seems to please him.
Posts: 247 | From: Jefferson, WI | Registered: Sep 2003
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Donna H
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posted October 22, 2003 06:25 PM
How old is your dog? Have you had her teeth checked? perhaps her mouth is sore and it is painful to eat the hard food.
However, if her mouth is OK I would go with a high quality food and add water to it then gradually use less and less till you can get her eating it dry.
Good luck, Donna
Posts: 4 | From: Cheyenne, WY | Registered: Oct 2003
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Freckles
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posted November 06, 2003 05:14 PM
I am sure with the "modern" thoughts on food this will not set well... but, we have had a lot of dogs reach ripe old ages. Good quality food is more expensive.... but, so are vet bills! The suggestion of teeth or gum tenderness is a good one... especially as dogs get older... dry food just hurts! Well, here is my "country" solution... about a 1/4 cup or less of good old bacon drippings will whet the appetite of most any dog. (And it does increase the shine of the coat). Just pour a little over once in a while... or if no one out there eats bacon anymore.. beef broth (canned soup type) works. Then you can wean them off after awhile. We have found that the cheaper brands of food are not only nutritionally deficient, but the stool and breath are more offensive.
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Lou in Texas
Posts: 122 | From: Southlake, TX | Registered: Oct 2003
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KiKi
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posted November 11, 2003 12:43 PM
I've never tried the bacon drippings, (sounds yummy ) but I have used melted butter, (the real stuff). My male is very picky and I have tried numerous types and brands of dog food. The one that he finally liked and has stayed with is called Bil-Jac. It's available in dry and also comes fresh (frozen). They have a web site with information on the ingredients and they also give you locations where it can be purchased. bil-jac.com. The dry formula looks almost like small pelets and is easily chewed. However, if you like you can moisten it to make it softer.
Posts: 18 | From: Aliquippa, PA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Freckles
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posted November 11, 2003 05:50 PM
We have used Muenster natural dog food the last 3 years or so. We have had several beneficial side effects (other than very good nutrition). There are several natural combinations that may be the source. But, Freckles does not have a "dogie odor", no dogie breath! and we have not had to use any type of flea/tick repellant. We went off of it (don't ask me why) and found a couple of ticks and a flea or two and her stool had a terrible odor...we put her right back on it and problems disappeared. It is a Texas produced product, and I am not sure how far reaching the market is. But, you might just want to check out the website.
http://www.muenstermilling.com
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Lou in Texas
Posts: 122 | From: Southlake, TX | Registered: Oct 2003
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lou3
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posted November 14, 2003 11:34 AM
keep trying with the dried food, add a little gravy or something else to make it taste better. Tinned food is generally bad for dogs because it isnt as palatable as dried food and is bad for their teeth because it contains a lot of sugar and doesnt have the abrasive action of dried food. She'll eat it eventually.
You could try mixing in a very small amount of tinned food just to give it the taste, if u mash it into a paste and then make sure you mix it real goodso it coats the dried food it should work. Works for my dogs and one of my pointers is the pickiest dog i ever met.
Lou
Posts: 461 | From: uk | Registered: Nov 2003
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weimlover
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posted December 10, 2003 03:53 PM
Larry (my weim) goes through phases where he won't eat his dry food. If you are feeding your dog a good dry food, it still might be cheaper than the canned. When Larry won't eat his dry food I put a little bit of water in it, and heat it up in the microwave for half a minute...make sure it's not too hot..depends on how much food! Then I add some more dry food and mix it up. Then there is a nice mixture of hard and soft food. A little of both worlds!
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sara b the weim lover
Posts: 6 | From: georgia | Registered: Dec 2003
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michael A
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posted December 16, 2003 11:39 PM
I have two great danes, a female who is 3 years old and a boy who is 2. For the last 5 months my girl dane is not eating dry food any more. She has always been picky with food, but now she doesn't eat it at all, to the point of starving herself. I notice in the last month or so she has lost lots of weight. I took her to the same vet since she has been a pub and he noticed the weight loss. She lost almost 11 pounds, I was devasted. After running blood test, urine and stool the vet found nothing wrong except a little high level of enzymes in the liver. They ruled out worms, diabetes etc... I put her on antiobiotics and medication to lower the liver enzymes. After a month she still ways the same, I changed her food entirely to wet (canned food) and she seems to like it, but now she tends to throw up food at times. I am so worried and don't know what to do. I have spent over $1,500 on test and now they want to do an ultra sound to see if her liver is a normal size. Has anyone had this problem? What can I do to help my girl? She seems to beg constantly for food and seems to drink water constantly but not food. Please help any advice, I am constantly worried sick about her and don't know what else to do.
[ December 16, 2003, 11:40 PM: Message edited by: michael A ]
Posts: 3 | From: san diego | Registered: Dec 2003
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Dawn
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posted December 17, 2003 08:01 AM
Not sure exactly what liver levels were up, but everything you described (including the elevated levels) are classic symptoms of kidney failure. Now I would think that your vet would have caught that though. Maybe take her back and ask him specifically about it.
Posts: 428 | Registered: Nov 2002
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michael A
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posted December 17, 2003 11:35 AM
Thanks for replying Dawn. The vet told me it wasn't liver failure as that was my initial concern. Everything thought she was diabetic, but they also ruled that out. I think I will get this ultra sound and xray done and see if they can figure this out. Ultra sound will identify the size of liver and if its a normal size. Regarding liver enzymes, the doctor stated most dogs liver enzymes are usually a little high because their bodies are constantly fighting something as dogs eat and pick up everything outside. Hopefully things will improve for my girl
Posts: 3 | From: san diego | Registered: Dec 2003
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Dawn
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posted December 17, 2003 11:44 AM
You said liver failure. Not sure if you meant liver or kidney. I'm not sure of the symptoms of liver failure, but what you've said is consistent with kidney failure.
Posts: 428 | Registered: Nov 2002
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michael A
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posted December 21, 2003 10:56 PM
yes its liver not kidney. She has been tested for kidney problems and everything is fine. Her liver enzymes are high that is all. The doctor will do an ultra sound and xray beginning of January. Talking to other great dane owners they said she is fine, just a picky eater. I will just have to fatten her up with what she wants to eat for now.
Posts: 3 | From: san diego | Registered: Dec 2003
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mojo
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posted December 22, 2003 10:25 AM
i didn't read all of the replies but i had a hard time getting my pup to eat anything at all! what i did was put her on a strict time schedule, and only left the food out for 30 minutes twice a day. i feed her once at 12 noon and once at 8pm.
Posts: 52 | From: queens | Registered: Oct 2003
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