My dog doesn't eat!!!

[equineluver14]

ok I probably should have posted this like 3 years ago lol but my dog just absolutly hates dry dog food! it doesn't matter wich kind it is (and I've tried like all of them) a while ago I put her on Life's abundance pet food, that was created by a wholeistic Veterinarian and for a while seemed like she liked it, which was like a huge relief to me because she wouldn't eat anything else. Now she doesn't eat it AT ALL the only way I get her to eat is if I shove it in her mouth 1 at a time and then she seems to sortof like it. But its awful always having to make her eat by forcing her to. She will eat moist dog food and she will eat any cat food. I can't seem to keep her away from the cat food.
She will also eat human food, but NEVER dry dog food. I've even tried pouring rice milk and warm water in her food, but that does no good. Is it bad for her just to eat moist dog food? Or is it a neccessity for her to eat dry dog food? I don't know of any moist dog foods that are even 100% nutritionaly complete and balanced. Anyone???

[koni]

Koni sometimes won't eat, unless i put some of his food in my hand. I tried mybe 2 times, and I wasn't going to allow him to eat from my hand. So I fed him smaller amount that day, and what he didnt finish he didnt eat. I didnt starve him, because I feed him twice a day. Well come that night, he ate his food. So you may want to try the same thing, but I never deprived him of food for an entire day, just one meal.

I thought dry dog food is recommended to keep teeth clean or prevent something. Not too sure.

[equineluver14]

I tried this already with no success, she STILL doesn't eat it. she will either beg from my little sisters (and of course they give in ) or just eat the cat food.
thanx tho
oh yeah I knew there was something the dry dog food did it keeps the teeth and gums healthy. Well she does like those chew toys and dog bones sooo....

[Trace]

Stop all treats and human food. Put the cats food up so she cannot touch it.

Pick a good quality dog food and stick with it. She will eat when she is hungry.

Everytime you give her a treat, let her eat the cat food or give her human food you are just trying to make it harder for yourself.

I have a picky eater - if he gives me a huge problem I will mix some rice or pasta in with his dog food - I always add a little water to their food anyways. This does help.

[weimlover0816]

IMO, your dog should not eat solely moist food, because of the teeth/gums issues that Koni said; I don't believe that toys are enough to keep them clean and healthy. Have you tried mixing a quarter of a can of wet food in with the dry (cut down the dry accordingly at the same time so the proper serving size is met) and see how she does. Sometimes they are just picky eaters, and know if they wait long enough, they'll get what they want... LOL, and people say WE train dogs... hehe

[weimlover0816]

Just a note, and we've talked about it here before: adding water to dog food that has citric acid listed as a preservative is a no-no. Bad for doggy's digestion. just FYI

[equineluver14]

K...Thanx every1

[Moo]

I posted as listed above.

But as a word of sympathy, my dog has never eaten a bowl of dog food by itself, and I don't think he ever will. He's picky, picky, and I can starve him of everything else, but that's exactly what he will do - starve. And after a day, he will vomit all his (lack of) stomach contents all day...

[Dax]

Equine, not too long ago we discussed the BARF diet in detail, one thing that sticks in mind is to consult an animal nutrionist. Since the problem has been going on for 3 years, it may be past the point of "NO TREATS".

[Blistering Wind]

Equine, my dog is the same way. He will starve himself. I gave in and now just mix a can of dog food with his dry (make sure NOT to overfeed canned and dry).

He eats, I'm at a point of trying to get more weight on him (siberian husky diet thread).

I don't treat very often and luckly he doesn't even like the cat's food. But don't let a dog eat cat food, it isn't good for their bodies. Different "proteins" in a cat's diet that are not included in a dog diet.