What Is Finicky Eating?

As a rule, finicky eating is when a dog will only eat certain things. It is sometimes manifested in a dog who refuses to eat the complete and balanced dog food you offer or doesn't eat enough. Finicky eaters usually do so out of preference, but you should keep in mind that dogs might also refuse to eat because of a medical condition. If you have a dog who has happily eaten his dog food for some time and suddenly stops, read about Refusal to Eat.

Also keep in mind environmental factors. Many pet owners comment that their dogs eat less during hot weather. Environmental factors can also influence how much dogs eat.  It is not unusual to see dogs consume less during warmer weather conditions.

Change in Diet

One possible cause of finicky eating is a sudden change in diet. Some tips on making diet changes more tolerable:

• Before taking your new dog home, find out what type, flavor, and brand of food your dog has been eating. Acquire some of this food.
• If the food your dog has been eating is acceptable to you, continue feeding it.
• If you want to switch your dog to a different food at any time, begin with a day or two of feeding the same food he had before. Then mix that food with your chosen brand or flavor for a few days, slowly decreasing the amount of old food and increasing the amount of new. This transition should take place over a 7-10 day period. Do this any time you change foods or your dog may develop digestive upset.

Making Food More Palatable

If your dog doesn't like the different food, hang in there and try to make it more appealing.

• If you've chosen dry food, add a little water to moisten it.
• Mix a little wet food with the dry to entice your dog.  Slowly decrease the amount of wet food until he's back to only dry.
• Allow your dog time to adjust.
• If he won't eat, have a talk with your veterinarian. You may be experiencing a complete refusal to eat.

Scheduling and Controlling Diet

An indulgent family member rather than the pet may be the problem. By feeding treats and food from the table, your pet's hunger may be satisfied, and he may either refuse to eat or only nibble a few bites of the food he should be eating.

• Don't feed your dog people food, and if you feed treats, do so sparingly and reduce the amount of complete and balanced dog food you offer to account for the extra calories.
• Make sure your dog isn't eating somewhere else. The garbage can is a common temptation for dogs. Keep garbage out of reach; not only might it reduce your dog's appetite for dog food, it can cause other problems, including diarrhea.
• Scheduling specific feeding times throughout the day is beneficial. Your dog will know when food is coming and will learn to eat at the scheduled time.

If none of these tips help, ask your veterinarian to examine your dog for other conditions that may be leading to these eating habits, especially if your dog seems to be unexpectedly losing weight.