I decided to feed Ruckus Iams healthy naturals as recommended by my vet.

but he is not touching his food. he is not even smelling it. But he has been doing this before the Iams. He is such a finicky dog! One time he went three whole days with out eating!

I leave his food out for 30 mintues, and put it up. then just feed him again next feeding time. He has not ate a bite is 24 hrs.

he is acting fine, playing, keeping up on our long hikes, etc. so I do not think that he is sick. he has always been finicky. I bought him some Iams savory sauce to go on his food, but he still will not eat it yet.

I bet he will be hungry tomorrow!

What can you do for a finicky dog? He is this way with chews, and treats too!

I understand why he is finicky. We feed him table food sometimes, and in the past if he wouldnt eat his kibble i would put canned food in it. And if he still didnt eat it I would warm in up. and sometimes he would not eat that, so I would mix in people food... and if he didnt eat it then I would add some hot water to it....
I imagine that has made it worse, but I didnt think about it at the time.

ruckusluvr

My other dog Lynn is finicky too, but she is loving this Iams with the sauce on it!

shazamataz

Hi ruckusluvr, someone just asked a similar question ot yours, here was my reply to them:

Firstly I would have to say he needs to be seen to by a vet just to rule out any medical problems he may have.

However, mine do that quite often, usually it is when they have eaten the same food for more than a week.

Just like people some dogs can get sick of eating the same old thing day in, day out.

What I do is to make sure I always feed the same base food and then add a "flavour" to it every 2-3 days.
Either by mixing in half a can of moist food in different flavors or adding some sardines or even beef or chicken mince to the base ingredient.

Mine also flat out refuse to eat plain dry food unless I mix a little canned in with it just to make it a bit more tempting.

Definately cut out the table scraps, while it is tempting him to eat now, it will only cause problems in the long run.

ruckusluvr

thank you very much. This morning he actually decided he would eat. He finished the whole bowl of just dry with some of that savory sauce on it.

I know he does this when it is hot, but we have been in a cool front! either way, he is eating now... maybe he will keep it up!

shazamataz

Good to hear.

If he doesn't like eating in the hot weather (who does really?) then perhaps half an hour before meal times you could do some things to cool him down.

Try giving him some cold treats like rope toys soaked in water then frozen, or even a little unsalted chicken broth.

You can make up ice packs out of zip lock bags... just fill them up about 1/3 of the way and then lay them flat to freeze... wrap them up in a towel and place them on his bedding.

Even simple things like a cool wet cloth rubbed on the inside of their back legs and on their feet and ears can cool them down a lot.

ruckusluvr

Thanks for the tips!
Ruckus loves to get in his swimming pool when it is hot, but I only fill it up a few inches or he will not get in! LOL

Catsmine

A little late this year, but next summer try some chicken bullion ice cubes to cool him down. They're not just for teething, Shaz.

shazamataz

Had to spread the rep Cats but yep, good idea!
I try not to steal your ideas all the time haha

Catsmine

Not mine. I just posted it here first. I got it from Don Jones. He judged best-in-show at Westminster this past year.

shazamataz

Very nice, I haven't seen Westminster or Crufts for the past few years... I miss my cable tv.

Mum has quite a few old ones on tape though, I fell in love with a PBGV named Cedrick one year, he was gorgeous.